Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — CONGRESS QUICK TO ACT [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS QUICK TO ACT

Formal Declaration of War Is Made in a Hurry. RECOMMENDED BY A MESSAGE It Declares Spain's Action Was Begin* ning of Hostilities. President McKinley Asked Congress to Make a Formal Declaration of War, and a Bill in Accordance with Hi* Message Passed the House in One Minute and Forty-one Seconds— Senate Acts Almost as Quickly. On Monday, in response to a message from the President recommending that such action be taken, Congress by unanimous vote passed a formal declaration of war. The declaration was prepared by the attorney general and the date named April 21, 1898, as the day upon which Spain is held to have begun the war by breaking off diplomatic relations with the United States. The choosing of this date validates the captures made by the United State's ships of war and the legality of which might have been questioned. The declaration made is also necessary to abrogate our treaties With Spain and to give formal notice to all the world that war actually exists.

It took the House just one minute and forty-one seconds to [miss the bill, and the Senate acted almost as quickly. The measure is brief and follows: “A bill declaring that war exists between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain. “Be it enacted, etc.: “1. That war be and the same is hereby declared to exist and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, A. D. 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain. "2. 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 the actual service of the United States the militia of the several States to such extent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect.” McKinley’s Message. The text of the message calling forth the above declaration is here given: To tin* Senate and House of Representatives of tlie United States of America: I transmit to Congress for its consideration and appropriate action copies of correspondence recently had with the representative of Spain In the United States with the United States minister at Madrid, and through the *atter with the Government of Spain, showing the action taken under the joint resolution approved April 21), 1898, “for the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the Government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the 2 land of Cuba and to withdraw its land and navnl forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect.” Upon communicating with the Spanish minister in Washington the demand which It became the duty of the Executive to address to the Government of Spain, in obedience to said resolution, the said minister asked for ills passports and withdrew. The United States minister at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs tlnit the withdrawal of the Spanish representative from the United States had terminated diplomatic relations l>etween the two countries, and that all official communications between their respective representatives ceased therewith. I recommend to your especial attention the note addressed to the United States minister at Madrid by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 21st Inst., whereby the foregoing notification was conveyed. If will be perceived therefrom that the Government of Spain, having cognizance of the joint resolution of the United States Congress, and in view of things which the President is thereby required and authorized to do, responds by treating the representative demands of this Government as measures of hostility, following with that Instant nud complete severance of relations by Its action whereby the ustfge of nations accompanies an existent state of war between sovereign powers. The position of Spain being thus made known, and the demands of the United States being denied, with a complete rupture of intercourse by the act of Spain. I have been constrained, in exercise of the power and authority conferred upon me by tlie Joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim, under date of April 22, 1898, a blockade of certain ports on the north coast of Cuba lying between Cardonas and JJahal Honda, and of the port of Cienfugos bn the south coast of Cuba: and further. In exercise of my constitutional powers, and using the authority conferred upon me by the act of Congress approved April 22. 1898, to Issue my proclamation dated April 23. 1898, calling for volunteers In order to carry into effect the said resolutions of April 20, 1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereto appended. In view of tlie measures so taken, and with a’view to the adoption of such other measures as may be necessary to enable me to carry out the expressed will of the Congress of the United States in the premises, 1 now recommend to your honorable body the adoption of a joint resolution declaring tkat a state of war exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, and I urge the speedy action thereon, to the end that the definition of the International status of the United States as a belligerent power may be made known, and the assertion of ail its rights and the maintenance of all Its duties In the conduct of a public war may be assured. WILLIAM M KINLEY.