CHAPTER XIV

Revolution in Cuba and War with Spain

TH

HE most momentous and striking event of McKinley's first administration was the war of 1898, between the United States and Spain. This highly important conflict was due to a concurrence of circumstances, by which this country was irresistibly forced into drawing the sword in defence of its national honor and in retribution for the horrors of Spanish rule in Cuba, an island in the closest contiguity to our own territory, and whose long record of wrongs had for years appealed to the sympathy and aroused the indignation of the people of the United States. That the origin of this conflict may be the better understood, it becomes necessary to review in brief the relations between Spain and her island colony.

The history of Spain may best illustrate the decline of the Latin race, and the rise of the Anglo-Saxon. When America was discovered, that country was the leading maritime power of the world, but it was corrupt, rapacious, ferocious, and totally devoid of what is best expressed by the term “common sense." So lacking indeed was it in this prime requisite that it alienated, when it was just as easy to attract, the weaker nations and colonies which came under its influence and control. This was especially the case with Cuba, the only important colony which remained to Spain after her colonial territories on the American continent had been driven into revolt and won their independence.

The steadiness with which Cuba clung to the mother country won for her the title of the "Ever Faithful Isle." Had she received any consideration at all, she would still have held fast. She poured princely revenues into the lap of Spain, and when

other colonies revolted, she refused to be moved. It required long years of outrage, robbery and injustice to turn her affection into hate, but Spain persisted until the time came when human nature could stand no more.

The truth gradually worked its way into the Cuban mind that the only thing a Spaniard could be depended upon to do is to violate his most solemn promise. Secret societies began forming in the island, whose plottings and aims were to wrest their country from the cruel domination of Spain. We shall not dwell on the several unsuccessful attempts at revolt made by these organizations. during the first half of the nineteenth century.

The first important revolutionary movement took place in 1868, the Cuban patriots availing themselves of an uprising in Spain against the hated Queen Isabella. The war that followed lasted ten years, with varying fortunes, but all that Cuba won were promises of reform, definitely stated in the treaty of El Zanjon, February 10, 1878, but deliberately broken before many years had passed. The Cubans had again trusted to Spanish honor, and had again been deceived. They quietly prepared for another rising, and in February, 1895, the fires of revolt were again kindled.

We are not concerned with this war, our interest as Americans being solely in the way in which it was conducted and the consequences to which it led. The methods adopted by General Weyler made it a tale of horror. He spread ruin and desolation over the land, and, collecting the non-combatants into camps, under the guns of his troops, left them to slowly starve. More than a hundred thousand are said to have died from sheer starvation.

This inhumanity called forth the strongest sympathy in the United States for the sufferers, and aroused an indignation which threatened to carry the country into war. Congressmen visited the island, and their hearts wept at sight of the cruelties they beheld. So indignant was the protest of this country that Weyler was recalled and General Blanco took his place. But the change in captains-general caused little alleviation of the situation.

Matters were in this state of extreme tension when the blowing up of the Maine occurred. While riding quietly at anchor in the harbor of Havana, on the night of February 15, 1898, this American battleship was utterly destroyed by a terrific explosion, which killed 266 officers and men. The news thrilled the land with horror and rage, for it was taken at once for granted that the appalling crime had. been committed by Spaniards, and this feeling was deepened by the report of the investigating committee, to the effect that, beyond. question, the Maine was destroyed by an outside explosion, or submarine mine. It was everywhere felt that this could only have been purposely planted, by Spanish hands.

The war between the United States and Spain was, in brief, a war for humanity, for America could no longer close her ears to the wails of the starving people who lay perishing, as may be said, on her very doorsteps. It was not a war for conquest or gain, nor was it in revenge for the awful destruction of the Maine, though few nations would have restrained their wrath with such sublime patience as did our countrymen while the investigation was in progress. Yet it cannot be denied that this unparalleled outrage intensified the war fever in the United States, and thousands were eager for the opportunity to punish Spanish cruelty and treachery. Congress reflected this spirit when by a unanimous vote it appropriated $50,000,000 "for the national defense." The War and Navy Departments hummed with the activity of recruiting, the preparations of vessels and coast defenses, the purchase of war material and vessels at home, while agents were sent to Europe to procure all the war-ships in the market. Unlimited capital was at their command, and the question of price was never an obstacle. When hostilities impended the United States was unprepared for war, but by amazing activity, energy, and skill the preparations were pushed and completed with a rapidity that approached the marvelous.

War being inevitable, President McKinley sought to gain time for our consular representatives to leave Cuba, where the situation

daily and hourly grew more dangerous. On April 18th the two houses of Congress adopted the following

RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, The abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the island of Cuba, so near to our own borders, have shocked the moral sense of the people of the United States, have been a disgrace to Christian civilization, culminating as they have, in the destruction of a United States battle-ship with 266 of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by the President of the United States in his message to Congress of April 11, 1898, upon which the action of Congress was invited; therefore,

Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled

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 an extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect.

Fourth-That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is completed to leave the government and control of the island to its people.

This resolution was signed by the President April 20th, and a copy served on the Spanish minister, who demanded his passports, and immediately left Washington. The contents were telegraphed to United States Minister Woodford at Madrid, with instructions to officially communicate them to the Spanish government, giving it until the 23d to answer. The Spanish authorities, however, anticipated this action by sending the American minister his passports on the morning of the 21st. This act was of itself equivalent to a declaration of war.

The making of history now went forward with impressive swiftness.

WAR PREPARATIONS

On April 22d the United States fleet was ordered to blockade Havana. On the 24th Spain declared war, and the United States Congress followed with a similar declaration on the 25th. The call for 75,000 volunteer troops was increased to 125,000 and subsequently to 200,000. The massing of men and stores was rapidly begun throughout the country. Within a month expeditions were organized for various points of attack, war-vessels were bought, and ocean passenger steamers were converted into auxiliary cruisers and transports. By the first of July 40,000 soldiers had been sent to Cuba and the Philippine Islands. The rapidity with which preparations were made and the victories gained and the progress shown by the Americans at once astonished and challenged the admiration of foreign nations who had regarded America as a country unprepared for war by land or sea. On April 27th, following the declaration of war on the 25th, Admiral Sampson, having previously blockaded the harbor of Havana, was reconnoitering with three vessels in the vicinity of Matanzas, Cuba, when he discovered the Spanish forces building earthworks, and ventured so close in his efforts to investigate the same that a challenge shot was fired from the fortification, Rubal Cava. Admiral Sampson quickly formed the New York, Cincinnati and Puritan into a triangle and opened fire with their eightinch guns. The action was very spirited on both sides for the space of eighteen minutes, at the expiration of which time the Spanish batteries were silenced and the earthworks destroyed, without casualty on the American side, though two shells burst dangerously near the New York. The last shot fired by the Americans was from one of the Puritan's thirteen-inch guns, which landed with deadly accuracy in the very centre of Rubal Cava, and, exploding, completely destroyed the earthworks. This was the first action of the war, thoug it could hardly be dignified by the name of a battle,