Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-12-09

oIll animated Dy tEo nope OF " pcacefui
solution and pbeylna the dictates OF duty.
no effort was spared 20 bring speedy
ending OF the Cuban struggle
Gricyed and disappointed at the barren
outcome OF my sincere endeavorst 70 reach
n practicable selutions felt IL my duty to
remit the whole question TO congress.
The congress WIS asked TO authorize aud
empower the president to take measures
toaecurs fun aud final termination OF
hostilities between Spain and the people
/. of Cuba. - - ,s,
After nine days Of earnest dssiberation.
during which the almost unanimous SEN
timent OF your body was developed on
every point save az TO the expediency OF
NAL recognition Of the republic OF Cuba
the true and lawful government OF that
island--a proposition which failed Of adop'
tion-the congress. on April 10, bya vote
of ~ TO 80 Ia the senate and 81 90 lin the
house Of Representatives. passed. the mem
ornble Joint resolution declaring the peo-
pie OF Cuba free. and independent. de-
handing that Spain at once relinquish
authority over the island aud empowering
the president to use the entire land and
sea forces Of the. United States TO that
end. ~. 4h
This resolution was approved by the
executive on the next day, April 90 : A.
copy was nc once communicated TO tho
Spanish minister mt this capital. who
forthwith announced thatlhis continuanc
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 Ameri-
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
deh:aud that 1t mt once relinquish It's au-
ihority and government 10 the Island OF
Cuba and withdraw It's forces thereirom.
Rupture Of Relations
That demand, although, rs above
shown, officially made known to the Span
lsh envoy here, wasnot delivered mt Mad
rid After the instructions reached Gen
cral. Woodford on the morning Of April
e. but before he could present IL, the
Spanish minister OF state notified him that
upon the presidents approval Of the joint
resolution, tho Madrid government re-
gardlng the act MS equivalent 10 an EVIL.
dent declaration OF war" had ordered It's
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 cxecu
tive powers authorized by tho resolution
were at once used by me to meet the en-.
larged contingency OF actual war between
sovereign states. by my message OF April
IS the congress was informed OF the situa-
ton and | recommended formal dcclara-
tion of the existence OF n state of war be-
tween the United States and Spain. Tho
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April 25, $685. de-
claring the existence OF such war from
and including Apsu 81 and re-enacted the
provision of the resolution Of April 20 di-
retting the president to use all the armed
forces o. the nation to carry that act into
effect
II II not within the province OF this mes
sage to narrate tho history Of the ex,raor-
binary war that followed the Spanish
declaration Of April 81. but brief recital
OF les more salient features Is apropos.
The first encounter OF the war In point OF
date took place April 81. when detach.
ment OF the blockading squadron made y
reconnaissance In force at Matanzns,
shrlled the harbor forts and demolished
several ne works IN construction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific feet under Comma.
dore George Dewey had lain for somo
weeks at Kong Kong Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality being issued
aud the customary "a hours notice being
given, II repaired 10 Mrs bay near Hong
Kong whence It proceeded to the Philip.
pine islands under telegraphic orders Ia
capture or destroy the formidable Spanish
fleet then assembled at Manila. At lay.
break on the morning OF May the Amer.
lean force entered Manila bay aud after
few hours engagement effected the total
destruction OF the Spanish fleet. consist.
ing OF ten warships and a transport, be-
sLles capturing the naval station and forts
at Cavite, thus annihihting the Spanish
naval power in the Pacific ocean and com.
pletely controlling thebay OF Manila with
the ability TO take the city at will.
Following the comprehensive scheme OF
general attack powerful forces were as
selnbled ut various points ON our coast to
invade Cuba aud Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were adopted al
several exposed points. a
Young Hobson's Brave Deed.
The next acts OF the war thrilled no.
only the hearts OF our countrymen. bu,
the world by it's herolsm. On the nigh, OF
June 8 Lieutenant IIobson, aided by
seven devoted volunteers, blocked the mar,
row outlet ut Santiago harbor, by sinking
the collier Mcrrimac In the channel under
a fierce fire from the shore batteries, es.
Gaping with their lives as by miracle,
but falling into the hands OF the Span.
iards. They were subsequently exchanged.
On Juno -. the advance OF the invading