Evening star., 1899-04-11
The War Is Ended.

This afternoon the war with Spain was
formally and finally ended by the ex-
change of ratifications of the peace treaty
by representatives of the two powers Ihls
ceremony at the White House fell on an
appropriate day. One year ago on TINS oate
President Mckinley sent to congress
message reviewing the conditions In Cuoa
and declaring that the only course open TO
the United States was an armed interven-
ton to end the hostilities between SPAIN
and her coIonists and to preserve the dig
nifty of the United States. That message
was the first formal step in the progression
to a state of war. The subsequent events
followed fast Two days later, April 13, the
House passed a resolution of intervention.
April 16 the Senate passed an amended
resolution. April IS the houses agreed upon
a conference report. April 20 the President
signed the Joint resolution and sent copy
10 the Spanish minister in this city VINO
Immediately applied for and received MS
passports. April Il an ultimatum was sent
10 Spain through the American minister at
Madrid who, however. was given his pass
ports before he could deliver the document.
April - the first gun of the campaign was
fired by the steamer Nashville in capturing
the Buena Ventura, a Spanish ship April
23 the first call for troops was issued by
the President. April %, just two weeks
from the date of the first message calling
for congressional expression, the President
sent another message asking for a formal
declaration of war, which was passed by
both houses on the same day.
Thus in the course of fortnight from the
date of the first executive act all the essen
tial proceedings to bring the two nations
into conflict had developed. There is ques
IN "A ( n when
war began. Some assert that it opened
with the withdrawal of the Spanish minis
ter from Washington April ~, others that
il dated from the sending of an ultimatum
to Spain and the dismissal of the American
minister at Madrid, April Il. Others still
insist that it began with the firing of the
shot by the Nashville April -, while a
fourth opinion is that it was not until April
-, when the formal declaration of war was
enacted, that the contest was opened. The
President and Congress held to the view
that the war began April 21. with the sew
erance of diplomatic relations. The Presi-
dent reciteS the fact in his message of April
- and the formal declaration of war pro-
claimed that a state of war had existed
since the dismissal of Minister Woodford
from Madrid. Whatever may have been
the situation in this regard it remains true
that the first and the last formal steps in
the whole episode were taken on the same
day. one year separated, thus establishing
remarkable coincidence. 1t has been d
mOmentOus year, filled with world-stirring
events. The months have brought glory
and responsibility and sorrow to the United
States, widened the national horizon, added
10 the public area. taught many wholesome
lessons and brought the people of the sec
tions in closer relations than ever before.
The ceremonies at the White House today
mark the close of period which is without
parallel in the nation S history and almost
unexampied in the record of the world.