The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-12-14

Dor OF Havana on mission OF lnterna-
tional courtesy and good villa catastro.
phe the suspicious nature and horror OF
which stirred the nations heart pro.
fouudly. 1t is 4 striking evidence of the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguish.
ing our national character that this shock
ing blow, falling upon our generous peo-
pie already deeply touched by preceding
events in Cuba, did not move them to all
instant, desperate resolve to tolerate no
longer the existence of condition of dam
ger and disorder at our doors that made
possible such deed by whomsoever
wrought. Yet by instinct Of justice pa.
thence prevailed and the nation anxiously
awaited the result of the searching inves-
tigation ut once set on foot. The finding
of the naval board of inquiry established
that the origin OF the explosion was eX.
ternal By a submarine mine. and only
halted through lack of positive testimony
to fix the responsibility of its 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 toward
Cuba was at hand. So strong was this
belief that it needed but brief executive
suggestion to the congress to receive i'm
mediate answer to the duty of making in
slant provision for me possible and per.
haps speedily probable emergency of war,
and the remarkable, almost unique.
spectacle was presented Of unanimous
vote of both houses on March appropri.
ating $4,000, 900 for the national defense
and for each and every purpose connected
Herewith, to be expended at the discre-
tion OF the president"
Still animated by the hope Of a peaceful
solution and obeying the dictates of duty,
no effort was spared to bring a speedy
ending of the Cuban struggle.
Grieved and disappointed at the barren
outcome OF my sincere endeavors to reach
a practicable solution, felt it my duty to
remit the whole question to congress.
The congress was asked to authorize and
empower the president to take measures
to secure full and final termination Of
hostilities between Spain and the people
of Cuba.
After nine days of earnest deliberation.
during which the almost unanimous sen.
timent of your body was developed on
every point save as to the expediency OF
coupling the proposed action with for
NAL recognition of the republic of Cuba
the true and lawful government OF that
island-a proposition which failed of adop'
ticn-the congress, on April 10, by vote
of 42 to IS in the senate and 3ll to 6 IN the
house Of representatives. passed the mem
orable joint resolution declaring the peo-
pie of Cuba free and independent, de-
manding that Spain at once relinqu!sh
authority over the island and empowering
the president to use the entire land and
sea forces of the United States to that
end.
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 capital. who
forthwith announced that his continuance
in Washington had thereby become I'M
possible, and asked for his passports,
which were given him. simultaneously
with its communication to the Spanish
minister, General Woodford. the Amerl-
can minister at Madrid, was telegraphed
confirmation of the text of the joint reso-
luton and directed to communicate 1t to
the government of Spain with the formal
demand that it at once relinquish its au-
thority and government in the is and OF
Cuba and withdraw it's forces theretrom.
Rupture of Relations.
That demand, although, as above
shown, officially made known to the Span
ish envoy here, was not delivered at Mad
rid After the instructions reached Gen
eral Woodford on the M orning Of April
81, but before he could present it, the
Spanish minister Of state notified him that
upon the presidents approval of the joint
resolution, the Madrid government re-
garding the act as equivalent to an evil
dent declaration Of war;" had ordered its
minister in Washington to withdraw,
thereby breaking off diplomatic relations
between the two countries. General Wood
ford thereupon demanded his passports
and quilted Madrid the same day.
Spain having thus denied the demand
of the United States and initiated that
complete form OF rupture of relations
which attends state of war, the execu,
tive powers authorized by the resolution
were at once used by me to meet the en-
larged contingency of actual war between
SVoeSo. A>S my ibS"oosoS VI pa
25 the congress was informed of the situa-
tion and recommended formal declara-
tion of the existence of n state of war be-
tween the United States and Spain. The
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April %, 1893, de-
claring the existence of such war from
and including April 81 and re-enscted the
provision of the resolution of April 20 di-
retting the president to use all the armed
forces of the nation to carry that act into
effect.
1t is not within the province of this mes
sage to narra;e the history Of the eXtraor-
dinary war that followed the Spanish
declaration OF April 81. but brief recital
OF its more salieut features is apropos.
The first encounter of the war in point Of
date took place April 21. when detach-
ment Of the blockading squadron made q
reconnaissance in force at Matanzas,
shelled tn, h-,rbor forts and demolished
several ne e works in construction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific fleet under Commo
dore George Dewey had lain for some
weeks at Kong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation Of neutrality being issued
and the customary q bours notice being
given. it repaired to Mrs bay near Hong
Kong whence it proceeded to the Philip
nine islands under 1elcgraphic orders to