mpracticable."
Then, recounting the efforts of the United States to effect a just
settlement by negotiation, he added: "The only hope of relief and repose
from a condition which can no longer be endured is the enforced
pacification of Cuba. In the name of humanity, in the name of
civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us
the right and duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop. In
view of these facts and these considerations I ask the Congress to
authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full
and final termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and
the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a
stable government capable of maintaining order and observing its
international obligations, insuring peace and tranquillity and the
security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and
naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these
purposes."

It is to be observed that the President spoke of the war "between the
government of Spain and the Cuban people"--the Cuban people, not the
Cuban government. There had as yet been no official recognition of the
Cuban government, either as independent or as belligerent, and the
President could therefore not properly refer to it. At the same time he
spoke of "the Cuban people" and not of merely a part of them,
recognizing by inference that fact that the Cuban people were
substantially a unit in revolting against Spain and in demanding
independence.

Spain made it dear that she bitterly resented what she regarded as the
unwarrantable meddling of the United States in Cuban affairs, and that
she would prefer war to yielding to that meddling. France and Austria,
at German suggestion, made one more effort at mediation by the great
powers, but abandoned it when Great Britain refused to have anything to
do with it and indicated clearly her sympathy with the United States.

Finally, on April 20 President McKinley signed the act of Congress which
was made in response to his message of April 11. That memorable act, the
Magna Charta of the Cuban Republic, declared that the people of Cuba
were and of right ought to be free and independent; that it was the duty
of the United States to demand, and it accordingly did demand, that
Spain should immediately relinquish her authority and government in Cuba
and withdraw her military and naval forces from that island and its