The Boys of '98 Part 4

_Second_: An a.s.sertion that the independence of the revolutionists should not be recognised until Cuba has achieved its own independence beyond the possibility of overthrow.

_Third_: An argument against the recognition of the Cuban republic.

_Fourth_: As to intervention in the interest of humanity, that is well enough, and also on account of the injury to commerce and peril to our citizens, and the generally uncomfortable conditions all around.

_Fifth_: Ill.u.s.trative of these uncomfortable conditions is the destruction of the _Maine_. It helps make the existing situation intolerable. But Spain proposes an arbitration, to which proposition the President has no reply.

_Sixth_: On the whole, as the war goes on and Spain cannot end it, mediation or intervention must take place. President Cleveland said "intervention would finally be necessary." The enforced pacification of Cuba must come. The war must stop. Therefore, the President should be authorised to terminate hostilities, secure peace, and establish a stable government, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States to accomplish these results, and food supplies should also be furnished by the United States.

_April 12._ Consul-General Lee was summoned before the Senate committee on foreign relations. It was announced that the Republican members of the ways and means committee had agreed upon a plan for raising revenue in case of need to carry on war with Spain. The plan was intended to raise more than $100,000,000 additional revenue annually, and was thus distributed:

An additional tax on beer of one dollar per barrel, estimated to yield $35,000,000; a bank stamp tax on the lines of the law of 1866, estimated to yield $30,000,000; a duty of three cents per pound on coffee, and ten cents per pound on tea on hand in the United States, estimated to yield $28,000,000; additional tax on tobacco, expected to yield $15,000,000.

The committee also agreed to authorise the issuing of $500,000,000 bonds.

These bonds to be offered for sale at all post-offices in the United States in amounts of fifty dollars each, making a great popular loan to be absorbed by the people.

To tide over emergencies, the Secretary of the Treasury to be authorised to issue treasury certificates.

These certificates or debentures to be used to pay running expenses when the revenues do not meet the expenditures.

These preparations were distinctly war measures, and would be put in operation only should war occur.

_April 13._ The House of Representatives pa.s.sed the following resolutions:

_Whereas_, the government of Spain for three years past has been waging war on the island of Cuba against a revolution by the inhabitants thereof, without making any substantial progress toward the suppression of said revolution, and has conducted the warfare in a manner contrary to the laws of nations by methods inhuman and uncivilised, causing the death by starvation of more than two hundred thousand innocent non-combatants, the victims being for the most part helpless women and children, inflicting intolerable injury to the commercial interests of the United States, involving the destruction of the lives and property of many of our citizens, entailing the expenditure of millions of money in patrolling our coasts and policing the high seas in order to maintain our neutrality; and,

_Whereas_, this long series of losses, injuries, and burdens for which Spain is responsible has culminated in the destruction of the United States battle-ship _Maine_ in the harbour of Havana, and the death of two hundred and sixty-six of our seamen,-

_Resolved_, That the President is hereby authorised and directed to intervene at once to stop the war in Cuba, to the end and with the purpose of securing permanent peace and order there, and establishing by the free action of the people there of a stable and independent government of their own in the island of Cuba; and the President is hereby authorised and empowered to use the land and naval forces of the United States to execute the purpose of this resolution.

In the Senate the majority resolution reported:

_Whereas_, the abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have been a disgrace to Christian civilisation, culminating as they have in the destruction of a United States battle-ship with two hundred and sixty-six of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbour of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by the President of the United States in his message to Congress on April 11, 1898, upon which the action of Congress was invited; therefore,

_Resolved_, First, that the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and independent.

_Second_, That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.

_Third_, 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 these resolutions into effect.

_April 14._ The Spanish minister at Washington sealed his archives and placed them in the charge of the French amba.s.sador, M. Cambon. The queen regent of Spain, at a Cabinet meeting, signed a call for the Cortes to meet on the twentieth of the month, and a decree opening a national subscription for increasing the navy and other war services.

_April 15._ The United States consulate at Malaga, Spain, was attacked by a mob, and the shield torn down and trampled upon.

_April 17._ The Spanish committee of inquiry into the destruction of the _Maine_ reported that the explosion could not have been caused by a torpedo or a mine of any kind, because no trace of anything was found to justify such a conclusion. It gave the testimony of two eye-witnesses to the catastrophe, who swore that there was absolutely no disturbance on the surface of the harbour around the _Maine_. The committee gave great stress to the fact that the explosion did no damage to the quays, and none to the vessels moored close to the _Maine_, whose officers and crews noticed nothing that could lead them to suppose that the disaster was caused otherwise than by an accident inside the American vessel.

_April 18._ Congress pa.s.sed the Senate resolution, as given above, with an additional clause as follows:

_Fourth_, That the United States hereby disclaim any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof; and a.s.serts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people.

CHAPTER III.

A DECLARATION OF WAR.

All that had been done by the governments of the United States and of Spain was indicative of war,-it was virtually a declaration that an appeal would be made to arms.

_April 20._ Preparations were making in each country for actual hostilities, and the American people were prepared to receive the statement made by a gentleman in close touch with high officials, when he wrote:

"The United States has thrown down the gage of battle and Spain has picked it up.

"The signing by the President of the joint resolutions instructing him to intervene in Cuba was no sooner communicated to the Spanish minister than he immediately asked the State Department to furnish him with his pa.s.sports.

"It was defiance, prompt and direct.

"It was the shortest and quickest manner for Spain to answer our ultimatum.

"Nominally Spain has three days in which to make her reply. Actually that reply has already been delivered.

[Ill.u.s.tration: U. S. S. COLUMBIA.]

"When a nation withdraws her minister from the territory of another it is an open announcement to the world that all friendly relations have terminated.

"Answers to ultimatums have before this been returned at the cannon's mouth. First the minister is withdrawn, then comes the firing. Spain is ready to speak through shotted guns.

"And the United States is ready to answer, gun for gun.

"The queen regent opened the Cortes in Madrid yesterday, saying, in her speech from the throne: 'I have summoned the Cortes to defend our rights, whatever sacrifice they may entail, trusting to the Spanish people to gather behind my son's throne. With our glorious army, navy, and nation united before foreign aggression, we trust in G.o.d that we shall overcome, without stain on our honour, the baseless and unjust attacks made on us.'

"Orders were sent last night to Captain Sampson at Key West to have all the vessels of his fleet under full steam, ready to move immediately upon orders."

The Spanish minister, accompanied by six members of his staff, departed from Washington during the evening, after having made a hurried call at the French emba.s.sy and the Austrian legation, where Spanish interests were left in charge, having announced that he would spend several days in Toronto, Canada.

_April 21._ The ultimatum of the United States was received at Madrid early in the morning, and the government immediately broke off diplomatic relations by sending the following communication to Minister Woodford, before he could present any note from Washington: