The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-28
DECLARATION OF WAR
CHASED BY THIS MESSAGE,
Text of the Document which Brought
About the Formal Action
by Congress.

WASHINGTON, April 28.-The presi.
dents message to congress, recommend.
ing a declaration of war, whid, was
acted upon said:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
of the United states Of America:
/ transmit to the congress, for It's con-
sideration and appropriate action, copies
of correspondence recently HAD with the
representative of Spain in the United
States, with the United States minister
at Madrid and through the latter with
the government of spain, showing the
action taken under the joint resolution
approved April 20, 1885, "for the reCogni
tfon of the Independence of the people of
Cuba, demanding that the government of
Spain relinquish Its authority and govern.
ment in the island of Cuba, and to with.
draw its land and naval forces from Cuba
and Cuban waters, and directing the
president of the United States to use the
land and naval forces of the United States
to carry these resolutions into effect"
Upon communicating to the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand
which it became the duty of the executive
to address to the government of spain in
obedience to said resolution, the minister
asked for his passports and withdrew.
The United States minister at Madrid
was In turn notified by the Spanish min
drawal of the Spanish representative
from the United States had terminated
diplomatic relations between the two
countries and that all official cOmmunica-
tions between their respective representa-
tives ceased Herewith.
| commend to your especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
minister at Madrid by the Spanish min
lister for foreign afIairs on the 2lst instant
whereby the foregoing notification was
conveyed II will be perceived therefrom
that the government of Spain having
cognizance of the joint resolution, of the.
United States congress, and in view OF
the things which the president is thereby
required and authorized to do, responds
by treating the reasonable demands of
this government as measures of hostility,
following with that instant and complete
severance of relations by its action, which
by the uSagCS Ot nations accompanies an
existent state OF war.
The position of spain being thus made
known and the demands of the United
States being thus denied, with a com
plete rupture of internal course by the
act of Spain, | have been constrained in
exercise of the power and authority con-
ferred upon me by the resolution afore.
said to proclaim under date of April -,
1895 a blockade of certain ports of the
north coast of Cuba lying between Car
denas and Bahia HOndo, ana Of the port
of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba;
and further, in exercise of my cOnstitu-
tional powers and using the authority
conferred upon me by the act of congress
approved April %, 1898, to issue my proc
lamation dated April %, 1885, calling for
volunteers in order to carry into effect
the said resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies
Of these proclamations are hereto APP
pended.
In view Of the measures so taken, and
with a view to the adoption of such other
measures as may be necessary to enable
me to carry out the expressed will of the
congress of the United States in the
premises, / now recommend TO your hon
orable body the adoption of joint resoIu-
ton declaring that a state of war exists
between the United States of America
and the kingdom of Spain, and | urge
speedy action thereon to the end that the
definition of the international status of
the United States as bellgerent power
may be known and the assertion of all its
rights and the maintenance of all its du-
ties in the conduct of public war may
be assured WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Following is the resolution passed by
congress and signed by the president:
A bill declaring that war exists between
the United. States of America and the
kingdom OF Spain. BE IT enacted, ETC.:
First-That war be, and the same Is
hereby declared to exist, and that war has
existed since the 2lst Gay OF April a. u
1898 including said day, between the
United States Of America and the hing
dom OF Spain.
Second-That the president of the
United States be, aud he hereby is di.
rected and empowered to use the entire
land and naval forces Of the United States
and to cali into the actual service of the
United States the militia of the several
states to such extent as may be necessary
to carry this act into effect.
The debate in the senate was based
on an amendment offered by Senator
Turpie, providing for the recognition OF
the belligerent rights of the insurgent
Cubans, the amendment being practl
cally in the following language;
We hereby recognize the rights Of the
Cuban army under General Maxine
Gomez to be treated as belligcrents, the
freedom and independence of the Cuban
people having heretofore been recognized
by act of congress.
This was defeated-3S to "a.
The resolution was later signed by
Speaker Reed, Vice President Hobart
and the president.