The San Francisco call., 1898-04-22

@ g q g 2 2 3 e 6 Q 9 q q z > q 6 q Cuba. The real strength of her navy will be kept far away from Cuba and in posi- tions which will enable her to prey upon. vulnerable points along our coast and upon our commerce, and thus harass us in prolonging the war indefinitely in retaliation for forcing her out of Cuba.
 The events of the day in Washington and Madrid which have severed diplom- acy and eliminated in war will long be remembered in the history of both countries.
 Here, as in Madrid, the war spirit is in tense and every step taken on both sides has been for Wagin9 war vigorously and with all the forces at the. command of the respective countries.
 Up to this time nei= ther COuntryhaS made a formal declaration of war. Yet both COun- tries recognize that a state of war exists.
 When Minister Woodford received his passports this morning, before he had an opportunity to present his ultimatum demanding that Spain pick up her goods and chattelS and leave Cuba, the President considers that Spain has flung down the gauntlet. He promptly picked it up by issuing orders for our military and naval forces to begin op- erations for carrying out his plans for intervention.
 The proclamation which the Presi- dent will issue tomorrow, calling for volunteers, and the notification to for
 
 ade of Havana harbor, will be evidence enough that war is upon us.
 If necessary, however, the Congress Df the United States which, under the constitution, has the sole power of de- claring war, will within five minutes after the first shot has been fired, pass the required resolutions. Some of the members of the Foreign Relations xuhn I toll said that this course would probably be necessary to avoid any further com plicationS with foreign powers in re- gard to neutrality.
 The question of privateering also re- ceived some consideration by members of the Foreign Relations Committee to- day. Generally Congress fully agrees with the President that the policy of this country should be against resort to that form of legaliZed piracy
 If Spain shou persist in pursuing warfare of this character, Congress may feel called upon later to exercise any right granted by the constitution. which permits the granting of letters of marque and reprisals. The whole tendency of both the administration and Congress, however, is violently op- posed to anything of this kind, and should Spain seek to prolong war by engaging in it it is believed the prin- pical powers of Europe will combine to prevent it, and that in this way Spain may be forced to give up the fight after We have busted her from Cuba.
 History was made at the White House to-day with lightning ra- pidity. This has been one of the most eventful days at the Executive Mansion in the history O. this Government.
 The first sensation of the day was the announcement that the Spanish Gov ernment had given our Minister, Wood ford, at Madrid, his passports.
 More startling md at the same time exasperating was the official statement that Minister Woodford had received his passports before he had an op- portunity to present to Sagasta the Presidents ultimatum.
 This information was delivered to the President at 10 o'clock by Assistant Secretary Day. When Judge Day ar rived there were present Senator Davis, chairman of tie Committee on Foreign Affairs; Senator Lodge and Senator Cullom of that committee, Senator AL xl