The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09

contribute to the restoration Of its
tranquility ard we'll being. Negotia-
tions continued for some little time at
Madrid, resulting in offers by the
Spanish government which could not
but be regarded as inadequate. 1t was
proposed to confide the preparation OF
peace to the insular parliament, yet
to be convened under the autonomous
address of November IS, 1897, but with
out the Impairment in any wise Of the
constitutional powers of the Madrid
government, which to that end, would
grant an armiStice, If solicited by the
insurgents, for such time as the gen
eral-in-chief might see fit to fix. How
and with what scope of discretionary
powers the insular parliament was eX-
pected to set about the preparation
Of peace did not appear. If it were to
be by negotiation with the insurgents,
the issue seemed to rest on the one
side with a body chosen by a fraction
Of the electors in the districts under
Spanish control, and on the other with
the insurgent population holding the
interior country unrepresented in the
so-called parliament, and defiant at
the suggestion Of SUNG for peace.
THE ENTIRE NATTER LEFT TO
CONGRESS.
"Grieved and disappointed at this
barren outcome Of my sincere endeav-
OrS to reach a practical solution, | felt
it my duty to remit the whole question
to the congress. In the message Of
April II, 1898, l announced that with
this last overture in the direction of
immediate peace in Cuba, and its dis
appointing reception by Spain, the ef-
fort Of the executive was brought to
an end. I again reviewed the alterna-
tive courses of action which had been
proposed, concluding that the only one
cOnsonant with international policy
and compatible With our firm set his
tOrical traditions was intervention as
a neutral to step the war and check
the hopeless sacrifice Of life, even
though that resort involved hostile
cOnstraint upon both the parties to
the contest, as we'll to enforce & truce
as to guide the eventful settlement
The grounds justifying that step were
in the interest of humanity, the duty
to protect life and property of our cit
iZenS in Cuba, the right to check in
jury to our commerce and people
through the devastation of the island
and, most important, the need of re-
moving at once and forever the con-
stant menace and the burdens entail
ed upon our government by the uncer-
tainties and perils of the situation
caused by the uncomfortable disturbance
in Cuba. I said:
" The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has Waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire Of in
surrectiOn may flame or may smolder
with varying seasons, but it has not
been, and 1t is plain that it cannot be
eXtinguiShed by present methods The
only hope of relief and repose from a
condition which can no longer be en-
dured is the enforced pacifcatiOn of
IN no of h11, iIyr tIo.a
name Of civilization, in behalf of en-
dangered American interests which
give US the right and the duty to speak
and to act, the war in Cuba must stop
''In view of all this. the congress was
asked to authorize and empower the
president to take measures to secure a
full and final termination of hOstili-
ties between Spain and the people of
Cuba and to secure in the island the
establishment OF a stable government,
capable of maintaining order and OBJ
serving its international obligations,
inSuring peace and tranquility and the
securing of its citizens as we'll as our
own, and for the accomplishment Of
those ends to use the military and ma
yal forces of the United States as
might be necessary, with added au-
thOrity to continue generous relief to
the starving people of Cuba.
THE RESOLUTION OF APRIL 18TH
THE response of the congress, after
nine days of earnest deliberatiOn, dur
ing 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
a formal recognition of the republic
of Cuba as the true and lawful govern
ment of that island-a proposition
which failed of adoption-the congress,
after conference on the 10Th of April,
by a vote of AZ to 80 in the senate. and
311 to in the house of representatives
approved the memorable joint resolu-
tiOn declaring:
l. THAT the people Of the island of
Cuba are. and of right, ought to be.
free and independent.
2. q" That it is the duty Of the United
States to demand, and the government
of the United States does hereby de-
mand, that the government of Spain
at once relinquish its authority and
| government in the island Of Cuba and
withdraw it's land and naval forces
| from Cuba and Cuban waters.
3. a." That the president of the United
| States be and he is hereby directed
| and empowered to use the entire land
! and naval forces of the United States
| and TO call into the actual service Of
! the United States the militia of the
! several states. to such extent as may
! be necessary to carry these resolutions
! into effect.
: I. That the United States hereby
! disclaims any disposition or intention
! to exercise sovereignty. Jurisdiction. OF
| control over said island except for the
! pacificatiOn thereof and asserts its de
| termination when that is accomplish
! ed to leave the government and con
! trOl Of the island to its people
| DEPARTURE OF SPANISH MINIS
TER
! This resolution was approved by
! the executive on the next day. Apri
! 10Th. y copy was at once COmmuni-
! Gated to the Spanish minister at this
! capital who forthwith announced that
| his continuance in Washington had
| thereby become impossible, and asked
| for his passports. which We're giver
! him. He. thereupOn, withdrew from
! Washington. leaving the protection OF
| Spanish interests in the United States
! to the French ambassador and the
/ Austria Hungary minister.
| simultaneously with its communi-
cation to the Spanish minister here
! General Woodford, the American min.