Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Asks Congress to Adopt s Joint HesoIntlon Drclnrlng War with Spain. Washington, April 26. Ths president Monday sent congress the following message recommending a declaration of war Sgalnat Spain: “To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: I transmit to the 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 latter with the government of Spain, showing the action taken under the Joint resolution approved April 20, IM)K, ‘for the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority snd government in the Inland of Cuba, and to withdraw Ita land and naval force* from Cuba and Cuban watera, and directing the preaIdent of the United States to uae the land and naval forces 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 obedlancs to said resolution, the said minister

asked for his passports and withdrew. The United States minister at Madrid was In turn notified by the Spanish minister for foreign affairs that the withdrawal of the Spanish representative from the United States had terminated diplomatic relations between 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 instant, whereby the foregoing notification was conveyed. It will be perceived therefrom that the government of Spain, having cognizanoe of the Joint resolution of the United States congress and in view or 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 and complete severance of relations by its action, whereby the usage 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 the Joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim under date of April 22, 1896, a blockade of certain ports of the north coast of Cuba, lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and of the Port Cienfuegos on 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 resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereto appended. "In view of the 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, I now recommend to your honorable body the adoption of a Joint resolution declaring that a state of war exists between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain, and I urge 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 all Its rights and the maintenance of all Its duties In the conduct of a public war may be astured. “(Signed) WILLIAM M’KINLEY. "Executive Mansion, Washington, April 28, 1898.”