The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-04-20
THIS MEANS WAR /!
Spain Must Evacuate Cuba or
Fight.
That Is Uncle Sans Ultimatum
to the Naughty DOns.

That Is Uncle Sans Ultimatum
to the Naughty DOns.
After spirited deadlock Mon.
day between the Senate and House,
both houses finally reached an
agreement Monday night at 2:45
A. NJ. on the following
JOINT RESOLUTION for the recog-
milton of the independence of Cuba,
demanding that the government of
Spain relinquish it's authority and
government in the island of Cuba !;
to withdraw its land and naval forces
from Cuban and Cuban waters, and
directing the president of the Unit
ed States to use the land and naval
forces of the United States to carry
these resolutions into effect.
Whereas, abhorrent conditions
which have existed for more than
three years in the island of Cuba,
so near our own borders, have
shocked the moral sense of the
people of the United States, have
been a disgrace to Christian civili-
zation, eliminating, as they have
in the destruction of United
States battleship with 266 of it's
officers and crew while on a friendly
visit in the harbor of Havana, can
not longer be endured, as has been
set forth by the president of the
United States in his message to
congress of April 11th, 1898, upon
which the action Of Congress was
invited; therefore,
Resolved, First, That the people
of the island of Cuba are and of
right ought to be free and indie
pendent.
Second, That it is the duty of the
United States to demand, and the
government of the United States
does hereby demand that the gov
ernment of Spain at once relinquish
its authority and government in
the island of Cuba, and withdraw
it's land and naval forces from Gu
ba and Cuban waters.
Third, That the president of the
United States be, and he hereby is
directed and empowered to use the
entire land and naval forces of the
United States and to call into ac.
tual service of the United States
the militia of the several States to
such an extent as may be necessary
to carry this resolution into effect.
Fourth. That the United States
hereby disclaims any disposition or
intention to exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over said is
land except for the pacificatiOn
thereof, and asserts its determina-
ton, when that is accomplished, to
leave the government and control
of the island TO it's people.
The above resolutions reached
the president for his signature yes.
ter at 1:15 P. NJ. The latest advi.
ces from Washington state that af-
ter two long conferences yesterday
with his cabinet, it was decided by
the president to sign his ultima.
tum to Spain and the resolutions
simultaneously at 10 o'clock today
and Immediately cable them to
Madrid. The ultimatum will give
Spain 4S hours or until Saturday
morning to make final answer, and
if she refuses to accede to the de-
mands of congress and the presi-
dent, the naval squadrons of the
United States will be ordered to at
once move on Havana and Porto
Rico. The war spirit is running
high in Spain and she is not likely
to yield without a stubborn fight.
Congress is considering bill au-
thorizing the president to cali for
10000 volunteers, besides the reg
ular army. Preparations for war
are being rapidly pushed in both
countries, and the first clash of
arms will no doubt be heard before
another issue of The LEADER
reaches it's readers. And so far as
this country is concerned, It will
be distinctly war in behalf of
liberty and humanity.