Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-27

congress tor not actlng sooner on the
declaration of war.
The Senate agreed to the House war
bill. The amendments Of the foreign re-
latiOns committee were dropped.
In executive session the Cuban bellig
crency amendment to the war declaration
was lost by Il vote Of 246 to SO.
spain Dec ares War.
Diplomatic relations are broken off between
Spain and the United States, and the state
or war having begun between the two cOun-
! tries numerous questions Of international
law arise which must be precisely defined
chiefly because the injustice and provoca-
ton come from our adversaries and it is they
who. by their detestable conduct, have
caused this grave conflict.
We have observed with StricteSt fidelity
the principles Of international law and have
! shown the most scrupulOus respect for NOR
ality and the right of government. There
! is al opinion that the fact that we have not
adhered to the declaration of Paris does not
exempt US from the duty Of respecting the
principles therein enunciated The prin-
clple Spain unquestiOnably refused to admit
, theE was the abolition Of prVateering The
government now considers it most indispen-
sable TO make absolute reserve on this point
, III order TO maintain our liberty Of action
and uncOntested right to have recourse TO
pllyateering when we consider it eXpedient
cruisers auxiliary to the navy, which will
be composed Of vessels of our mercantile
marine and with equal distinction in the
work of our navy.
Clause THE state of war existing be-
! tween Spain and the United States annuls
the treaty of peace and amity of October 81
1898, and the protocol Of January u, 1871
ard all other agreements, treaties, or con-
VentlOnS IN force between the two countries
Clause 2-From the publication of these
presents thirty DAYS are granted to all
ships of the United States anchored in our
! harbors to take their departure free Of
hndrance.
Clause Notwithstanding that Spain has
rot adhered to the declaration of Paris,
the government respecting the principles
of the law Of nations proposes to observe,
and hereby orders to be observed, the fol
lowing regulations of maritime law.
|. Neutral flags cover the enemy's mer-
chandise except contraband of war.
2. Neutral merchandise, except contra
band Of war, is not seizable under the enc
mys flag.
5. A blockade to be obligatory must be
effective-viz.: 1t must be maintained with
sufficient force to prevent access to the
I. The Spanish government. uphoIding
its right to grant letters Of marque, will
at present c0nfne itself to organizing, with
the vessels Of the mercantile marine a
force OF auxiliary cruisers which will CO.
operate with the navy according to the
needs Of the campaign and will be under
naval control.
.. III order to capture the enemy's ships
and contiScate the enemy'S merchandise and
contra band OF war under whatever form
me AUXILIARY cruisers will exercise the right
or search on the high seas and in the wa
tiers under the cnemy's Jurisdiction. in ac-
cordance with international law and the
regulations which will be published.
e. Defines what is included in CONTRA
band of war, naming weapons, ammunition.
equipments, engines. and, in general, all
the appliances used in war.
{. To he regarded and Judged as pirates
with all the rigor of the law. are captains.
masters, officers, and twO-thirds of the
crews Of vessels which. not being Ameri-
can, shall commit acts of war against
Spain, even if provided with letters of
marque issued by the United States
The Spanish Government in Danger.
New York, April 25.-Spain's dangers
from within are becoming fully as grave
as those from without. says the Madrid
correspondent of the World. The war
with the United States promises to cost
her the last of her colonial possessions
III the West and East Indies
But no one can tell what will be the
result Of her rapidly domestic
troubles-the cabinet crisis. the dissen-
slons among statesmen and warriors. the
intrigues of the Carlists the promoting
of Weyler and Robbed and the popular
agltatlOnS. The street demonStra tions in
the capital and elsewhere have assumed
such threatening character as to cause
the gravest concern to the Queen and her
! government.
All these political dangers are aggra-
waited by the financial disturbances in
| Madrid and dozen principal towns in the
the silver reserve Of the Bank of Spain.
fall in the prices of securities of every
kind, rise Of exchanges, sending the
gold premium to 10 per cent
These things have made the politicians
and everybody else pay less attention to
the news from America and Cuba. start
| ling as it is. The newspapers attribute
/ the financial panic to the Hebrew bankers
| and Spectators
1t is impossible to describe how bitter
| the Spaniards are against the English and
| the feeling increases every day. Eng
land is the only European power" the
| Spaniards say, that is paralyzing the
energetic action Of the other countries to
force America to take her hands off
! Cuba"
This feeling is fOstered by the CONT
mental diplomacy. which encourages Spain
| to hope that the powers will interpose as
! they did between Japan and China and
between Turkey and Greece to prevent
any excessive settlement after the war
| that could damage the finances of the in
situations of Spain.