Ultimatum To Spain
Washington, April 19.- The Cuban resolution as agreed upo.i by congress were taken to the White House at 1:30 o'clock, with the signatures of Vice President Hobart and Speaker Reed attached. It was in charge of Representative Hager of Iowa, chairman oí the house committee on enrolled bilis, who was accompanied by Representative Overstreet of Indiana. The resolution was taken into Secretary Porter's office and thence to the president. The president did not sign the bill in the presenee of the bearers, as they hoped he would do. When informed that the house had adjourned until Wednesday at noon Mr. McKinley said that being the case, he would not have an opportunity to announce his action before that time. The committee was not with the president more than three minutes. Kesolutious as Adopted. The resolutions as finally adopted at 3 o'clock a. m., after a long struggle, recognize the people of Cuba as free and independent. They demand that Spain immediately withdraw her troops and navy from Cuba and Cuban waters, and direct the president to use the army and navy of the United States and the militia of the several states to carry the decree of congress into effect. The vote in the senatè was 42 to 35 and in the house 310 to 6- Boutelle, Brewer, Gardner, Johnson, Loud and McCall. Within ten days, if the president's plans are carried out, American merchantmen will sail into Cuban waters with food for the starving victims of Spanish barbarity. These messengers of pity will be conveyed with armored ships bristling with shotted guns. The offerings of American cTiarity will be distributed in peace or American cannon will batter down the blood-stained walls of Cabanas and the defiant battlements of Morro castle. Ultimatum to Spain. Spain will have a last chance to bow to the inevitable, 'to accept the decree of destiny with such grace as she can muster, but she is between Scylla and Charybdis, and there is no hope of escape. The president will send an ultimatum to Spain, giving her probably twenty-four of forty-eight hours to bow to fate. He will give her one more opportunity to escape war by ordering her land and naval forces from Cuba and leaving the people of that unhappy isle to rule themselves. Such is the programme of the president. But the few hours of grace granted the tottering government of Spain will not be wasted by the United States. Foreseeing the action of congress, President McKinley has already ordered vessels to New York to ship the provisions donated by the American people for the suffering reconcentrados. Spain Will Not Oive üp Cuba. While Spain is wrestling with her destiny armed legions in blue will be rushing to the gulf coast. The grim monster of war afloat along the Atlantic seaboard will be strxpped for action and gi%-en secret orders to move. There is no hope in Washington that Spain will surrender the pearl of the Antilles peacefully, for she has dispelled every shred of hope. She will not surrender the gem of her crown jewels without a show of battle that shall satisfy the sentiment known as Castilian honor. The Washington authorities are in the dark as to Spain's plan of action. She ma-y risk all in a naval battle off the coast of Porto Rico. She may scatter her warships. swoop down on American seaboard cities and seek vengeance in bombardment. Prepared for Posslbilities. She may hold her navy on the other side of the Atlantic to invite attack under conditions most favorable to herself. The American tacticians have considered all these possibilities and are prepared for them. The knell of Spanish dominion in America has sounded, and the end is foreordained. Spain may make a sham resistance and then appeal to the povvers to let her down easy and save the throne to the reigning dynasty; but no intervention by the powers wlll be accepted by the United States that does not provide for the independence of Cuba.
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Ann Arbor Argus
Old News