The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-21
RESOLUTIONS SIGNED

By tho President aud tho UItinhntum,
Giving Spain Untli Saturday to Roply,
Sent 10 Minister WoodfortI. L---=y
WASHINGTON, April 2o.-The Gu
ban resolution is now. law OF the land
and the ultimatum to Spain is an &c
complished fact. The President at II "a
o'clock affixed his signature to the Joint
resolution OF congress requiring Spain
to evacuate the island OF Cuba. The
ultimatum meanwhile had beer, pre-
pared at the state department by,aks-
sistant Secretary Day and at 1880
o'clock announcement was made at the
white house tina. It had been signed by
the President and had been sent to the
Spanish government. The ultimatum
was brought over to the white house
about 1880 o'clock by Assistant Secre-
tary Day. who went over It with Pres
ident Mckinley before the latter af-
fixed his signature. After the public
announcement. Assistant Secretary
Day said that the ultimatum had been
transmitted this morning to Madrid,
addressed to United States Minister
Woodford, who will deliver It TO the
Spanish government.
As soon as the final determination to
send 1t had been reached and It was
started on its way to Madrid. Senior
Polo y Bernabe. the Spanish minister,
in accordance with diplomatic courte-
sies, was furnished q copy OF the paper
by the colored messenger OF Assistant
Secretary Day.
There We're present In the cabinet
room with the President when he sign
ed the resolutions, Secretary Alger,
Attorney Griggs, Secretary Bliss, SEN
ator Elklns and Mr.. Charles Emory
Smith.
The, signing OF the Cuban resolutions
by the President was an exceedingly
interesting event, although without
special incident. General hlger had
brought over from the war department
a pen which he requested the President
to use In appendIng his signature to
the document. The pen had an ordI-
nary gutta percha holder. and as It was
handed to the president by. his secre-
tary, Mr.. Porter, those present gath
cred around the table to witness the
act There was considerable feeling
manifested by those about, but there
was no demonstration or congratulate
tions. The small crowd very soon dis
persed and within ten minutes the nor
nal condition OF things at the. white
house had been resumed. Secretary
Alger remained with the President and
as soon as the rush was over the two
took q walk In the white house grounds,
returning In less than half an hour.
Although the text OF the ultimatum
was not made public. 1t Is known that
with It ID transmitted to the Spanish
government, through Minister Wood
ford, q copy OF the Joint resolutions of
congress, together with the statement
that they have received executive ap-
proval. In compliance with their terms
the President makes demand on
Spain TO withdraw her land and naval
forces from the island and It's waters.
and In the event that q satisfactory re-
sponse TO this demand Is not received
by the President by Saturday next, he
will proceed with the armed forces of
liIcs Null ItSClu-
tons into effect. The President does
not name any hour OF the day on Sat-
urday prior to which Spain must make
answer, Il at all, to our demands, but n
reasonable assumption Is that any time
up to midnight Saturday will be re-
garded as a compliance with the terms
Of the ultlmatum. One OF the members
OF the cabinet In speaking. Of this fea-
ture. said that the government, would
not hold q stop watch on Spain in this
emergency, and could well afford on
our own account to give her three days
to decide a question which may involve
the destiny OF the nation. ~ 81
From this time forward war prepnra-
tions will 20 forward with renewed nc
tlvity and both the army and the navy
will bc put In position for. active oper-
atiors. There seems to be little doubt
that the first move will be to blockade
ono or more OF the Cuban ports nnd Ms
soon as an nrmy OF occupation can be
transported to them n demand will be
made for an unconditional surrender.
and In the event Of n refusal the work
OF reducing them BY bombardmcnt will
be !; begun Immediately. II IS !. not
thought thatt the assembling OF the ma
val forces will bct delayed even. for n
dny n md ~ Ia NOT lInlikelys hn I'm nnrt :