Connecticut western news., 1898-04-28
The War Message.
The following is the presidents mes- sage asking for a declaration of war:

The War Message.
 The following is the presidents mes- sage asking for a declaration of war:
 I transmit to the congress for it's consid- eration and appropriate action copies of recently had with the rep of Spain in the United States. with the United States minister at Madrid and, through the latter. with the govern nent of Spain, showing the action taken under the joint resolution approved April ,O 1898 For the recognition of the inde- pendence of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relnquish its au- Cuba and to withdraw It's land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters an, directing the president of the United States to use the land and naval forces of tht United States to carry these resolutions into effect"
 Upon communicating to the Spanish min- lster in Washington the demand which il became the duty of the executive to ad. dress to the government of Spain, in obe dence to said resolution. the minister asked for his passports and withdrew. Thl United States minister at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish minister foi foreign affairs that the withdrawal or the Spanish representative from the Unitec | States had terminated diplomatic relations between the two countries and that all of- ficial communications between their re- spective representatives ceased herewith.
 I commend to your especial attention the note addressed to the United States minis. ter at Madrid by the Spanish minister Tor foreign affairs on the 2ist inst, whereby | the foregoing notification was csnveyed. lt will be perceived thcrefrom that the gov. | ernment 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 au- thorized to do, responds by treating tho demands of this government az measures of hostility, following with that instant and complete severance of relations tions accompanies an existent state Of war | between sovereign powers.
 The position of Spain being thus made | known and the demands of the United States being denied, with a complete rup- ture of intercourse by the act or spain. have been constrained in exercise or tho power and authority conferred upon me by | the joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim undes date of April 22, 1898, blockade ot certain ports of the north coast of Cuba, | lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, | and the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba, and further Tn exercise ol my constitutional powers, and using tho authority conferred upon me by the act of approved April 2. lS9S, to issue my proclamation dated fApril 25, lsSe, call | ing for volunteers in order to carry into | effect the said resolution of April 2O lsgS | Copies of these proclamations are hereto
 In view of the measures so taken and with a view to the adoption of such other measures as may be necessary to enabl1 me to carry out the expressed will or tho congress of the United States in the prem | lses I now recommend to your honorable | body, the executive body. the adoption of a |
 
 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 a beligerent power l may be made known, and the assertion of l all its rights and the maintenance of all it's duties in the conduct of public war may | be assured.
 Declaration of War.
 The following Is the act of congress declaring war: A bill declaring that war exists between |
 the United States of America and tho |
 kingdom of Spain.
 Be it enacted by the senate and house Of | representatives:
 First.-That war be and the same Is | hereby declared to exist and that war has | existed since the Fist day of April, A. D. | 1898. including said day. between the United | States of America and. the kingdom of Spain.
 Second.-That the president of the United | States be and he is hereby directed and empowered to use the entire land and na. | val forces of the United States and to call | into the actual service of the United statei | the militia of the several states to such ex. | tent as may be necessary to carry this act
 The Rules of War.
 The following is the proclamation of the president defining the rules of war:
 Whereas. By an act of congress approved April 25 1t is declared that war exists and that war has existed since the Fist day Of ADril. A. b. lNgS. including SalQ uaN, De- tween the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain; and
 Whereas, It being desirable that such war should be conducted upon principles in with the present views of nations and sanctioned by their recent practice, it has already been announced that the policy of this government will be not to resort tb but to adhere to the declara- tion of Paris.
 Now. therefore, l. William Mckinley president of the United States of America, by virtue of the power vested in me by tho and the laws. do hereby de- clare and proclaim:
 First.-The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war. war are not liable to coniiseation under the flag.
 Third.-Blockades in order to be binding
 Fourth.-Spanish merchant vessels in any ports or places within the United States shall be allowed till May 2l. 1898, | for loading their eargoes and de- | parting from such ports or places, and such Spanish merchant vessels. if met at sea by any United States ships, shall be permitted to continue their voyage If. on examination of their papers. it shall ap- pear that their carGoes were taken on | board before the expiration of the above | term. provided that nothing herein con- | tained shall apply to Spanish vessels hav- ing on board any officer in the military or (except such as may be necessary for their voyage). or any other article prohibited of of war, or any dispatch of or to the Spanish government.
 Fifth.-Any Spanish merchant vessel | which. prior U April 21. 1898. shall have l sailed from any port bound for any port Of | place in the United States shall be per mitted to enter such port or place and to discharge her cargo. and afterward forth | with to depart without molestation. and | any such vessel. if met at sea by any | United States ship. shall be permitted to continue her voyage to any port not block ] aded.
 Sixth.-The right of search is to be ex- ercised with strict regard for the rights of | neutrals and the voyages of mail steamers l are not to be interfered with except on tho | clearest grounds of suspicion of a viola- | ton of law in respect of contraband O;