The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-04-30
DECLARATION OF War.
Both Houses of Congress Promptly
Responds to Request Made
by the President.
PASS HOUSE WITHOUT DEBATE
An Incident Without Parallel in the
History Of Legislative
Bodies

w "ehiHS GUM, H. u, april Go.-1he
President today sent Congress the fol-
lowing message, recommending a declara-
ton of war against Spain:
The bill is as follows:
A BILL declaring that war exists between
Kingdom of Spain
be 1t enacted, by the Senate and House of
Representatives. in Congress assembled:
FlrSt-Ihat war be and the same is hereby
declared to exist, and that war has existed
since the 2lst day of April, A. u. 1898 in
or America and the Kingdom of Spain.
Second-Ihat the President of the United
State be and he is hereby directed and EN-
powered TO use the entire land and naval
torceS of the United States and to call into
actual service Of the United States the
militia of the several states, to such an ex-
tent as may be necessary to carry this act
into effect
The Message.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Of the United States of America: |
transmit to the Congress for its considera-
ton and appropriate action copies of CORE
spondence recently had with the representa-
tive OF SPAN III the JnIteu States, with the
United States minister at Madrid and
through the latter with the government of
Spain showing the action taken under the
loint resolution approved April 20, 1898,
for the recognition of the independence
government of Spain relinquish its authority
and government III the island of Cuba. and
( " NiiHuIaW Us ldul ana naval forces from
Iupa ana cuban waters, and directing 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 with the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand which
L became the duty Of the executive to ad-
dress TO the government of Spain, in obedi-
ence 10 said resolution. the said minister
asked for his passports and withdrew. The
United States minister mt Madrid was in
turn notified by the Spanish minister for
foreign affairs that the withdraw wal Of the
Spanish representative from the United
States had terminated diplomatic relations
between the two countries, and that all
0lnclai communication between their
spectiye representatives ceased Herewith.
recommend to your especial attention the
note hddress to the United States minister
al Madrid by the Spanish minister for for
slgn affairs on the 2lst instant, whereby the
foregoing notification was conveyed II viii
be perceived therefrom that the government
OF Spain, having cogniZance Of the joint res
GIutl9n OF the United States Congress, and
IN view Of things which the President is
theret. required and authorized To do re-
spends by treating the representative de
LnanIS OF TINS government as measures of
hostility, following that with instant and
complete severance Of relations by its action.
whereby the usage of nations accompanies
an existent state OF war between sovereign
powers.
The position of Spain being thus made
Enown and the demands of the United States
being denied with " complete rupture of in
Constituted d in t ' Of the poWer naTf DsH sGd
authority conferred upon me by the Joint
resolution aforesaid, to proclaim under date
of April -. lS!S blockade Of certain ports
( of the north coast Of cuba. lying between
Cardenas and Bahia Honda and of the port
u Iienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba;
ana further, in exercise of my constitu-
tlonal powers and using the authority con
! terred uDon me by the act of Congress. ap
/ proved April -, 1905. to issue my proclama-
/ tion. dated April 23. 1S9s. calling for vol
untcerS in order to carry into effect the
said resolution Of April 90, 1S9S Copies Of
I these proClamationS are hereto appended.
/ In view Of the measures 50 taken, and
4 with view to the adoption of such other
measures as may be necessary to enable me
/ to carry out the expressed will Of the Con
greSs Of the United States in the premises
I | now recommend to your honorable body
I the adoption of a joint resolution declaring
! that state of war exists between the Unit
| ed States of America aud the kingdom Of
Spain, and l urge speedy action thereon, to
/ the end that the definition of the interna-
/ tiOnal status Of the United States as n bellg-
srent power may be made known. aud the
assertion Of all IFS rights and the mainten-
public war may be assured
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, u. c.,
, April Ok. 1898.
In the House.
Washington. ID. c., April 25.-The gal
leries of the House were thronged this
morning in anticipation of the President 5
message asking Congress to make form
al declaration of war. 1t was read i'm
mediately after prayer and was listened
10 with profound attention.
There was no demonstration. at the con
cluSiOn of the reading and no demand
for the reading of the diplomatic CORE
spondence thar accompanied the message.
| The speaker simply ordered il referred,
under the rules. to the committee on for
eicn affairs. and To he printed for the in
| formation of the House.
The House then proceeded with the con
pf ut Nt n ~ ITlSl
hess. No interest was manifested in the
proceedings until after | o'clock
Acting Chairman Adams entered the
hall and the news that the committee
had unanimously agreed upon n bill de
claring tn" existence of state Of val
| was known all over the House. Mr..
Adams held hurried consultations with
the speaker and MessrS. Dinsmorc
and Berry Of the minority of the com
mittee
At LOO p. m. he asked unanimous con
sent for the consideration of the bill de-
Claring the existence Of Il state of wal
between this country and the kingdom OF
Spain. There was not murmur Of dis
sent. The bill was read. The House
held its breath.
Mr. Mcguire Dem. Call arose to ask
a question. hut refrained. The question
was put on the third reading and passage
of the bill aud in Il magnificent chorus the
whole House responded Aye.
The announcement of lis passage was
greeted with Il round of applause and 4
cheer or two from the floor ana galleries
and then the House resumed consIdera
ton of the election case.
There was no excitement. 1t required
exactly one minute and torty-onc seconds
for the House to pass the bill. No such
imDreSSiyc action can be recorded in the
legislative annals Of any country.
The House of Representatives had slmp
ly paused IN the consideration OF ltS rou
tine business 10 pass declaration of war
Mr.. Mcguire explained subsequently
ba+ his ,,urnosa i'm rising was To ash
,,.b,+b.r he 5,rInratinn in the hill tbat
VIZ 'u. ,:t -, -,. -;
| war H3u eNletfu since tFAtl i "aN 81
tended 10 legallze the SEIZURE OF tht
Bueua Ventura. Il consider that act an,
the other seizures up to this time sai5