Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/397

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
1899.]
America.—United States.—Gold Standard.

tion from Manilla on April 8, and another in May. During twenty days' absence his force marched 130 miles, had twenty-two fights, capturing twenty-two towns, destroying 300,000 bushels of rice, killing 400 rebels and wounding 800, and with the loss of six men killed and fifty-one wounded. A severe battle was fought near San Jacinto on November 12, in which Major John A. Logan, jun., was killed. General McArthur's force entered Tarlac, the Filippino capital, the same day, and scattered the Government; and General Lawton's cavalry captured Aguinaldo's secretary and several of his officers with the Government records. Other victories were won by the United States force, with the co-operation of the Navy, before the end of the year. On December 19 General Lawton, the second in command under General Otis, was killed at the attack on San Mateo by a Filippino sharpshooter.

Admiral Dewey, after his arrival in New York (Sept. 26) from Manila, was welcomed with great enthusiasm, and a great naval parade took place (Sept. 30) in his honour. Enormous crowds of spectators lined the shores, and a very brilliant and impressive display was made by the warships and other vessels in the harbour and rivers. On the following day the demonstrations were continued with a grand military parade in New York, the admiral receiving the freedom of the city and a gold loving-cup valued at $5,000. In Washington another demonstration was made (Oct. 3), and a magnificent sword awarded by Congress was presented to the hero of Manila by Secretary Long, in the presence of the highest officers of the republic. President M'Kinley spoke in praise of his distinguished services, and Admiral Dewey replied in a brief speech, expressing his thanks for the honour extended to him.

By virtue of the agreement made between Great Britain, Germany and the United States in November, the United States became possessed of Tutuila and its subsidiary islands of the Samoan group. Tutuila has one of the finest harbours in the Pacific.

In a convention of the American Bankers' Association held at Cleveland, Ohio, early in September, a resolution was passed unanimously recommending Congress in the next session to establish more unequivocally and firmly a gold standard, by providing that the gold dollar should be the standard and measure of all values. It recommended also that all obligations of the Government and all paper money, including National Bank notes, should be redeemed in gold, and that legal tender notes, when paid into the Treasury, should not be reissued except for gold. This recommendation was heeded by Congress in December, and a gold currency bill was adopted.

Eleven States elected State and judicial officers and members of the State Legislatures on Monday, November 6. The Republicans retained their majority in New York. In Ohio the Republicans elected Mr. George K. Nash Governor by over