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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
In the meantime an increasing sentiment had been growing up in the United States in favor of conceding belligerent rights to the Cuban insurgents, or the recognition of their independence, which found expression in measures proposed in Congress-all offers of friendly intervention by the United States having been rejected by Spain with evidences of indignation. Compelled, at last, to recognize its inability to subdue the insurrection, the Spanish Government, in November, 1897, made a pretense of tendering autonomy to the Cuban people, with the privilege of amnesty to the insurgents on laying down their arms. The long duration of the war and the outrages perpetrated upon the helpless "reconcentrados," coupled with the increased confidence of the insurgents in the final triumph of their cause, rendered this movement-even if intended to be carried out to the letter-of no avail. -The proffer came too late, and was promptly rejected.
In this condition of affairs and with a view to greater security for American interests, the American battleship Maine was ordered to Havana, on Jan. 24, 1898. It arrived in Havana Harbor the following day, and was anchored at a point designated by the Spanish commander. On the night of February 15, following, it was blown up and destroyed by some force, as shown by after investigation, applied from without. Of a crew of 354 men belonging to the vessel at the time, 266 were either killed outright by the explosion, or died from their wounds. Not only the American people, but the entire civilized world, was shocked by the catastrophe. An act of horrible treachery had been perpetrated against an American vessel and its crew on a peaceful mission in the harbor of a professedly friendly nation.
The successive steps leading to actual hostilities were rapid and eventful. One of the earliest and most significant of these was the passage, by a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress, on March 9, of an appropriation placing $50,000,000 in the hands of the President as an emergency fund for purposes of national defense. This was followed, two days later, by an order for the mobilization of the army. The more important events following this step were: An order, under date of April 5, withdrawing American consuls from Spanish stations; the departure, on April 9, of Consul-General Fitzhugh Lee from Havana; April 19, the adoption by Congress of concurrent resolutions declaring Cuba independent and directing the President to use the land and naval forces of the United States to put an end to
Spanish authority in the island; April 20, the sending to the Spanish Government, by the President, of an ultimatum in accordance with this act; April 21, the delivery to Minister Woodford, at Madrid, of his passports without waiting for the prese
