Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-06

uuuluS OIL the naval bOdTu VI inquiry
| established that the origin of the ex-
plosion was external by submarine
mine, and only halted, through lack of
positive testimony, to
FIX THE RESPONSIBILITY
of it's authorship.
| All these things carried conviction to
the most thoughtful, even before the
| finding of the naval court, that crisis
in our relations with Spain and to-
ward Cuba was at hand. So strong
was this belief that it needed but a
brief executive suggestion to the Con-
| gress TO receive immediate answer to
| the duty of making instant provision
| for the possible and perhaps speedily
| probable emergency of war, and the
| remarkable, almost unique, spectacle
was presented of a unanimous vote of
both Houses, on the 9th Of March, ap-
i prOpriating fifty million dollars "for
the national defense and for each and
every purpose connected Herewith to
| be expended at the discretion of the
President" That this act of provision
came none too soon was disclosed when
| the application of the fund was under
! taken. Our coasts were practically I'M
defended. Our navy needed large pro-
vision for increased ammunition and
| supplies, and even numbers to cope
with any sudden attack from the navy
of Spain. which comprised modern YES
sells of the highest type of continental
perfection. Our army also required
! enlargement of men and munitions.
The details CT the hurried preparations
for the dreaded contingency is told in
tho ranNrtc of tho Saprntp ripS nf a u
and of the Navy, and need not be re-
peated here. It is sufficient to say that
the outbreak Of war, when it did come,
found cur nation not unDreDared to
meet the conflict.
Still animated by the hope Of peace
full solution and obeying the dictates
of duty, no effort was relaxed to bring
about q speedy ending of the Cuban
struggle. Negotiations to this object
continued actively with the government
of Spain, looking to the immediate con-
clusion Of a siX-months' armistice in
Cuba, with view to effect the recog-
milton Of her peoples
RIGHT TO INDEPENDENCE.
Besides this, the instant revocation
OF the order of Recommendation was
asked, So that the sufferers, returning
to their homes and aided by united
American and Spanish effort, might be
! put in way TO support themselves,
and by orderly resumption of the we'll
nigh destroyed productive energies Of
the island, contribute to the restoration
of its tranquility and well being. Ne
gotiations continued for some little
time at Madrid, resulting in offers by
the Spanish government which could
not but be regarded as inadequate.
Grieved and disappointed at the bar
rem 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, 1898, I announced that with
this last overture in the direction of
immediate peace in Cuba, and its dis
appointing reception by Spain, the eff
fort of the executive was brought to
an end.
The response of the Congress, after
nine days of earnest elaboration, was
practical declaration of war.
This resolution was approved by the
Executive on the next day, April 20.
A copy was at once communicated to
the Spanish Minister at this Capitol,
who forthwith announced that his con-
tinuance in Washington had thereby
become impossible and asked for his
passports, which were given him.
Gen. Woodford, the American Minis
ter at Madrid, was telegraphed con-
frmation of the text of the joint reso-
luton and directed to communicate it
to the government Of Spain with the
formal demand that it at once relin-
6rIiSh itS onfhOrjtu and r71r ont IN,
the island of Cuba and withdraw it's
forces therefrom, coupling this demand
with announcement of the intentions
of this government as to the future of
the island, and giving Spain until noon
of April 23d to reply.
After the instruction reached Gen.
WOodford, on the morning of April II
but before he could present it, the
Spanish Minister of State notified him
that upon the Presidents approval of
the joint resolution the Madrid govern
ment, regarding the act as equivalent
to an evident declaration of war" had
ordered it's Minister in Washington to
withdraw, thereby breaking off
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
Gen. Woodford thereupon demanded
his passports, and quilted Madrid the
same day.
Spain having thus denied the de-
mand of the United States and initiated
that complete form of rupture of rela-
lions which attends a state of war, the
executive powers authorized by the res
olution were at once used by me to
meet the enlarged contingency of actual
war between sovereign states. On
April 22d. l proclaimed a blockade and
on the 23d | called for volunteers to
execute the purpose of the resolution
By my message of April %, the Con-
gress was informed of the situation,
and I recommended formal declaration
of war. The Congress accordingly
voted on the same day the act approved
April %, 1898, declaring the existence
of such war from and including the 21st
day of April, and re-enacted the pro-
vision of the resolution of April 20,
directing the President to use all the
| armed forces of the nation to carry
that act into effect. Due notification of
the existence of war as aforesaid. was
given April %, by telegraph, to all
the governments with which the United
States maintain relations, in order that
their neutrality might be assured dur
ing the war. The various governments
responded with proclamations of neu-
trality. The obligations of neutrality
were impartially DISCHARGED by all, oft
en- under delicate and difficult circum-