The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-26
M'KINLEY,s MESSAGE.
The President Calls Upon Congress
to Declare War.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-The presi
dent today sent congress the following
message, recommending a declaration
of war against Spain:
l transmit to the congress for Its con-
sideration and appropriate action copies OF
correspondence recently had with the rep
resentative of Spain in the United States
with the United States minister at Madrid,
and through the latter with the govern
ment OF Spain, showing the action taken
under the joint resolution approved April
20, 1898, "for the recognition of the indie
pendence of the people of Cuba, demanding
that the government Of Spain relinquish its
authority and government in the island Of
Cuba and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and d.
recting 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 min
lister in Washington the demand which 1t
became the duty of the executive to address
to the government of Spain, in obedience to
said resolution, the said minister asked for
his passports and withdrew.
The United States minister at Madrid was
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 all Off
cial communications through their respective
representatives ceased Herewith.
I recommend to your special attention the
note addressed to the United States min
lister at Madrid, by the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs on the 21st inst, whereby
the foregoing notification was conveyed 1t
will be perceived therefrom that the govern
ment Of Spain, having cognlZance Of the
joint resolution Of the United States con-
gress, and in view of things which the pres
fdent is thereby required and authorized to
do. responds by treating the representative
demands Of this government as measures of
hostilities, following with that instant and
complete severance of relations by Its ac-
ton whereby the usage of nations accom-
panies 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 Of Spain, I
have been constrained in exercise OF the
power and authority conferred upon me by
the joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim
under date Of April %, 1888, a blockade of
certain ports Of the north coast of Cuba,
lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda,
and of the port of Cienfuegos on the south
coast of Cuba. and further in exercise of
my constitutional powers, and using the
authority conferred upon me by the act Of
congress, approved April %, 1885, to issue
Ing for volunteers in order to carry into eff
feet the said resolution of April 20, 1898.
Copies of these prcclamations are hereunto
appended.
III view or measures so taken, and with
view to the adoption of such other meas
ures 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 honorable body the
adoption of joint resolution declaring that
q state OF war exists between the United
States Of America and the kingdom of
Spain, and l urge speedy action thereon to
the end that the definition of the 1nterna-
tional status Of the United States as a bel
Hgerent 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.
William Mckinley.