The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-04-29

WASHINGTON, April 25.-The presi-
dent sent to congress the following
message recommending a declaration
Of war against Spain:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
T1vES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA--I
transmit to the congress for its consideration
and appropriate action copies of correspond
ence recently had with the representatives 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
90, 1888, For the recognition of the independ-
ence of The people of Cuoa, demanding that the
government of Spain relinquish its authority
and government in the island of Cuba, and to
with lraw 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 reso-
lutiOnS into effect"
Upon communicating with the Spanish min
iszer in Washington the demand which it be-
Came the duty of the executive to address to
the government of Spain, in obedience to said
resolution, the said minister asked for his pass
ports and withdrew. The United States minis
ter at Madrid in turn notified by the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs that the
withdrawal of the Spanish representative
from the United States had terminated
diplomatic relations between the two countries
and that all official communication between
their respective representatives ceased there
with.
l recommend to your especial attention the
note addressed to the United States minister at
Madrid by the Spanish minister for foreign af-
fairs, on the 21st inst, whereby the foregoing
notification was conveyed. 1t will be perceived
therefrom that the government of Spain,
having cognizance of the joint resolution Of the
United States congress. and in view of things
which the president is thereby required and
authorized to do responds by treating the rep
resentative demands of this government as
measures of hostility, following with that in
Stant and complete severance of relations by its
action, whereby the usage of nations accompa-
nieS 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 rupture of intercourse
by the act of Spain, have been constrained, in
exercise of the power and authority conferred
upon me by the joint resolution aforesaid, to
proclaim under date of April %, 1898, blockade
of certain ports of the north coast of Cuba, ly-
ing between Car1enaS and Bahia Honda and
OF the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast OF
Cub; and further, in exercise OF my consttu-
tional powers, and using the authority
ferred upon me by the act of JngreSs, approved
April p, 1893, to issue my proclamation dated
April %, 1898, calling for volunteers in order to
carry into effect the said resolution of April 20,
1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereto
appended.
n view of the measures taken, and with a
view of the adoption of such other measures as
may be necessary to enable me to carry out the
expressed will of the congress of the Unitod
States in the premises, 1 now recommend to
your honorable body the adoption of joint
resolution declaring that state of war exists
between the United States of America and
the kingdom of Spain, and I urge speedy
action thereon to the end that the
definition of the international status of the
United States as a belligerent power may be
made known, and the assertion of all its rights
and the maintenance of all it's duties in the con-
duct of public war may be assured.
TSigned1 WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Executive Mansion, Washington, April 3,
lS92