Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
French Amnassa,or and the Austro.

simultaneously with this commune.
cation to the Spanish Minister here.
Gen. WOodford. the American Minister
at Madrid, was teIegraphed confirma-
ton of the text OF the joint resolution
and directed to communicate 1t to the
Government of Spain with the formal
demand that it at once relinquish its
authority and government in the Island
of Cuba and withdraw its forces there
from coupling this demand with the
announcement of the intentions of thia
Government as to the future of the
island, in conformity with the fOurti
clause of the resolution. ard givin:
Spain until noon of April % to reply
That demand, although as abova
shown. officially made known to thu
Spanish Envoy here, was not delivered
at Madrid After the instruction reach
ed Gen. Woodford on the morning on
April 81. but before he could present
it. the Spanish Minister of State noti.
fed him that upon the Presidents ap'
proval of the joint resolution the Ma
drid Government regarding the act as
"euuivelant to an evident declaration
of war" had ordered its Minister III
Washington to withdraw, thereby
breaking off diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries and ceasinI
all official communication between
their respective representatives. Gen.
Woodford 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 Il state of war, the eX-
ccutive powers authorized by the res
olution were at once used by me TO
meet the enlarged contingency of act
ual war between sovereign states.
On April % ] proclaimed blockade
of the north coast of Cuba, including
ports on said coast between Cardenas
and Pahia Honda. and the port OK
Cpnfucgos on the south coast OF Cuba
ard on the % | called for yolunteerl
to execute the purpose OF the resolli
ton. BY my message OF Aprll 20 IN"
Congress was informed of the situa'
ton, and | recommended formal de
claration of war between the United
States and Spain. The Congress ac-
cordingly voted on the same day the
net approved April %, lS9S, declaring
the existence of such war from anu
including the DIST day of April. and re
Cracted the provision of the resolution
of April 90 directing the President TO
use all the armed force of the nation
to carry that act into effect.
Our Country thus, after an interval
of half n century Of peace with all
nations. found itself engaged in dead
ly conflict with foreign enemy
Every nerve was strained to meet tn
emergency. The response to the initial
call for 125.00O volunteers was instant
and complete. as was also the result
of the second call of May - for 10000
additional volunteers, and the ranks
of the re gular army were increased u
the limits provided by the act of April
261S9S.
The story of this successful cam
paign is told in the report OF the
Secretary of War, which will be laid
before you. The individual yalor or
officers and soldiers was never mora
strikingly shown than in the several
engagements leadin'. to the surrender
of Santiago, while the prompt move
ments and successive victories won
instant and universal applause. To
those who gained this complete tr!-
umph, which established the ascend
ancy of the United States upon land.
as the fight off Santiago had fixed our
supremacy on the seas, the earnest
and lasting gratitude of the nation is
unsparingly due. Nor should we alond
remember the gallantry of the living.
The dead claim our tears. and our
losses by battle and disease must cloud
any eXultation at the result and teach
us o weigh the awful cost of war, how
ever rightful the cause or signal tha
victory.
1t is fitting that l should bear tes
timony to the patriotism and devo
ton of the large portion of our army
which. although eager to be ordered tn
the post of greatest exposure, fortu'
rately was not required outside of thu
United States. They did their whol1
duty, and. like their comrades ut the
front have earned the gratitude of tho
nation.
In like manner the officers and men
of the army and navy who remained in
their departments and stations faith
fully performing most important duties
connected with the war, and whose
requests for assignments in the field
and at sea was compelled to refuse
because their services were indispen.
sible here. are entitled to the highest
commendation. 1t is my regret that
there seems to be no provision for their
suitable recognition.
In this connection it is n pleasure
for me to mention in terms of cor.
dial appreciation the timely and use
rul work of the American Red Cross,
both In relief measures preparatory 20
the campaigns, in sanitary assistance
at several of the camps of assem-
hlage, and. later, under the able and
experienced leadership of the president
Of the society. Miss Clara Barton, on
the fields of battle aud in the hospitals
at the front in Cuba. Working in con
junction with the Governmental au
thoritios and under their sanction and
approval, and with the enthusiastic
cooperation of many patriotic women
and societies in the various States, tho
Red Cross has fully maintained ita
already high reputation for intense
earnpStneSs ard ability TO eyerciS