Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
,,,l PRESIDENT ) H..SSAGE

~ i}uSlutSS ever it~'-tAS'''
y review of tie relation of the
|Tpited States to otter powers, always
apfropriate, is this year of primary
fn1ortance.
l,i my last annual message very full
80. sideration was given to the ques-
lion of the duty OF the Government
of the United State toward Spain and
ilic Cuban insure ion as being by
tar the most important problem with
vhich we have been called upon 10
deal.
The war continued on the old foot
r- without comprehensive plan. de-
vcloping only the same spasmodic en-
counters, barren Of strategic result,
t.s;It had marked the course of the
earlier ten years REBELLION as well as
TIE present instruction from its start
No alternative saF ~ physical eNhauS-
tiou of either coEtGatant and there
withal the practicai ruin of the island
lay in sight. but how far distant no
one could venture Il conjecture.
At this juncture. on the 10TH OF Feb.
vaary last, occurred the destruction of
the battle ship Maiue while rightfully
living in the hart = of Havana on
mission of interna ;0nal courtesy and
sGod villa catastrophe the suspicious
nature and horror g which stirred the
cations heart prot lndly. The finding
OF the Naval Bon of Inquiry estab-
iiShed that the or. IN of the explosion
WAS external by a e4bnarine mine and
only halted. throued lack Of positive
testimony, TO fix tHe- responsibility Of
its authorship.
NJ thesc thirgs c,rried conviction to
tie most thoughtful, even before the
l!nding of the naval court, that cris-
is in our relations with Spain and to-
ward Cuba was. at hand.
Nor was the app henSion of coming
strife confined to our own country.
II was felt by the continental powers.
which, on April C. through their Am
nassadors and El oys. addressed TO
~ Executive an AOressIon of hope
,hat humanity and moderation might
.lark the course I; this Government
nd people. and TIT further negotla-
; items would lead to an agreement
nhich. while socuri z the maintenance
# peace, would fAord all necessary
,l,arantees for the establishment of
order in Cuba.
in responding to hat representation.
said l shared tn, hope the ENJOYS
l?a expressed th.;t peace might be
.cServed in manT er to terminate the
chronic condition of disturbance in
cuba.
again reviewed the alternative
curses Of action Y hich had been pro-
Nascd, concluding that the only one
rGmDatible with C'Ir iirm-Set hiStor-
al traditions. was intervention as H
i,eiltral to stop the war and check the
hopeless sacrifice .: life, even though
hat resort involved hostile constraint
non both the parties to the contest. as
eil to enforce Il trace as to guide the
pntual settlement.
The grounds i,,-sifying that step
r-are the interests of humanity; thu
,aty to protect the life and property
# our citizens in Cuba; the right Ia
heck injury 10 cur commerce and
npople through the devastation of the
Sland, and, most important, the need
4 removing at OF and forever the
instant menace AID the burdens en-
allied upon our government by the
rlcertainities and perils of the stu
.iGn caused by the unendurable dis
;,rbance in CuDa. i said:
That the long tr;l has proved that
he object for which Spain has waged
lo war cannot be attained. The fro
insurrection n!iy fame or may
s,lolder. smolder with varying sea
lis, but ii has not been and it is. plain
hat it can, not h.s eXtinguished by
resent methods. The only hope of re
.lf and rep0se fro Il condition which
IN no longer be endured is the en-
creed paciiicatioO of Cuba. In tha
anne of humanity in the name on
vilzation, in beGalf of endangered
nerican interests which gave us the
ght and the duty to speak ard tn
lrt. the war in Cufi must stop.
In view of this, the Congress was
sked to authorize and empower the
PRESIDENT to take measures to secure
4 full termination of hostilities be-
sween Spain and ;j;e people of Cuba
The response of ene Congress, after
aine days of earnf deliberation. dur
rg which the amo t unanimous senti
ment of your body was developed o1
very point save 9 to the eXpediency
# coupling the pro Tlsed action with Il
formal recognition II the Republic of
Cuba as the true nd lawful govern
ment of that is nd-a proposition
which failed of adC .tion-the Congress,
after conference O., the 10Th day Of
April. by vote of y to 50 in the Sen
ate and 81 to 5 in the House of Rep
resentatiyts, pass. the memorablo
Joint resolution. de iaring.
First.-That the -ope of the Island
Of Cuba are. and u right ought to be
free end independent.
Second That it IS the duty of thu
United States to demand. and the Gov
ernment of the nited States does
hereby demand, t. It the government
Of Spain at once. re:inquish its authori-
ty and government in the Island of
Cuba and Withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba ald Cuban waters.
Third, That the President of tho
United States, be, and he hereby is.
directed and empowered to use thu
entire land and naval forces of thu
United States, and to call into the
actual service of the United States, the
militia of the several states, to suc,i
extent as may be necessary to carry
these resolutions iIfo effect.