Evening star., 1898-12-05

to their homes and aided by united Ameri-
can and Spanish effort, might be put in
way to support themselves, and by orderly
resumption of the well-nigh destroyed pro-
ductive energies of the Island, contribute
to the restoration of its tranquility and
well-being Negotiations continued for
some little time at Madrid resulting in Of
fers by the Spanish Government which
could not but be regarded as inadequate.
1t was proposed to confide the preparation
of peace to the insular parliament yet to
be convened under the autonomous DEGREES
of November 1897, but without impairment
in anywise of the constitutional powers of
the Madrid Government which, to that
end, would grant an armistice, if solicited
by the insurgents, for such time as the gen
eral-in-chief might see fit to fix. How and
with what scope of discretionary powers
the insular parliament was expected to set
about the preparation of peace did not
appear. If it were to be by negotiation
with the insurgents, the issue seemed to
rest on the one side with a body chosen by
a fraction of the electors in the districts
under Spanish control, and on the other
with the insureent population holding the
interior country, unrepresented in the So
called parliament, and defiant at the sug-
gestion of suing for peace.
Formal Declaration of War.
Grieved and disappointed at this barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach
a practicable solution, l felt it my duty to
remit the whole question to the Congress.
In the message of April II, 1888, l an
direction of immediate peace in Cuba, and
hu hn
effort of the Executive was brought TO an
end. 1 again reviewed the alternative
courses of action which had been proposed
concluding that the only one consonant
with international policy and compatible
with our firm-set historical traditions was
intervention as a neutral to stop the war
and check the hopeless sacrifice of life
even though that resort involved hostile
constraint upon both the parties to the
contest, we'll to enforce truce as to
guide the eventual settlement" The
grounds justifyng that step were the in
terests of humanity; the duty to protect the
life and property of our citizens in Cuba:
the right to check injury to our commerce
ana people through the devastation of the
Island, and, most important, the need of
removing at once and forever the constant
menace and the burdens entailed upon our
government by the uncertainties and periIs
of the situation caused by the uncomfortable
disturbance in Cuba. l said:
The long trial has proved that the object
for which Spain has waged the war can
not be attained. The fire of insurrection
may flame or may smOlder with varying
seasons, but. it has not been. and it is plain
that it cannot be, eXtinguished by present
methods. The only hope Of relief and re-
pose from condition which can no longer
b. endured is the enforced paciffcaton #
Cuba. In the name Of humanity, in the
name Of civilization. in behalf of endangcr-
ed American interests which give us the
right and the duty to speak and to act, the
war in Cuba must stop
In view of all this, the Congress was
asked to authorize and empower the Presi-
dent to take measures to secure a full and
final termination of hostilities between
Spain and the people of Cuba and TO Sc
cure in the Island the establishment Of
stable government capable of maintaining
order and observing its international obli-
cations, insuring peace and tranquility, and
the security of it's citizens as well as our
own, and for the accomplishment of those
ends to use the military and naval forces
of the United States as might be necessary;
with added authority to continue generous
relief to the starving people of Cuba.
The response OF the Congress. after nine
days of earnest deliberatiOn, during which
the almost unanimous sentiment of your
body was developed ON every point ave IS
to the expediency of coupling the proposed
action with formal recognition of tn Re
public of Cuba as the true and lawful COY
ernment Of that Island-a proposition
which failed OF adoption-the Congress. af-
ter conference. on the 10th of April, by
vote Of II to 10 in the Senate and 81 to q
in the House Of Representatives, passed
the memorable joint resolution declaring
First. That the people of the Island Of
Cuba are, and Of right ought to be, free and
Second. That ii is the duty of the United
States to demand, and the Government Of
the United States does hereby demani that
the Government of Spain at once elnquish
its authority and government in the Island
of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
Third. That the President Of the United
States be, and he hereby is, dirc.-el ard
empowered to use the entire land and naval
forces of the United States. and 70 call
into the actual service of the United States
the militia of the several States to such
extent as may be necessary to carry these
resolutions into effect.
Fourth That the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition Or intention 10
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control
over said Island except for the pacifica ton
thereof, and asserts its determination when
that is accomplished to leave the govern
ment and control of the Island to its peo-
pie.
Passports to Spanish Minister
This resolution was approved by the Ex-
ecutive on the next day, April 20th. copy
was at once communicated to the Spanish
Minister at this capital, who forthwith an
that his continuance in Washing
ton had thereby become impossible, and
asked for his passports, which were given
him. He thereupon withdrew from Wash
ington leaving the protection of Spanish
interests in the United States to the French
Ambassador and the Austro- Hungarian
Minister. simultaneously with its COM
munication to the Spanish Minister here
General WoodfOrd, the American Minister
at Madrid, was telegraphed confirmation of
the text of the joint resolution and directed
tn p