Newspaper Page Text
The Abbeville
vol. ir.
J
President Issues
Proclamation.
)
To Serve Two Years and To Be
Apportioned Among the Sev
eral States As Far As
Practicable.
Tho president Saturday called upon
the people of the United States for the
first time in thirty years to manifest
their material strength, this time the
call being upon a united people to go
forward to battle with a foreign foe.
The secretary of war created a new
army corps.
The president’s proclamation calling
for 125,000 troops to serve two years
is as follows:
BY THE PRESIDENT OP THE UNITED STATES.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, By a joint resolution of
congress approved on the 20th day of
April, 1898, entitled, “Joint resolu
tion for the recognition of the inde
pendence of the people of Cuba, de
manding that the government of Spain
relinquish its authority and govern
ment in the island of Cuba, to with
draw its land and naval forces from
Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing
the president of the United States to
use the laud and naval forces of the
United States to carry these resolu
tions into effect, and,
Whereas, by an ect of congress enti
tled “An act for temporarily increas
ing the military establishment of the
United States in time of war and Kn
ottier purposes,” approved April 22,
1898, the president is authorized in
order to raise a volunteer army to is
sue his proclamation calling for vol
unteers to serve in the army of the
United States.
Now, therefore, I, William McKin
ley, president of the United States, by
virtue of the power invested in me by
the constitution and laws, and deeming
sufficient occasion to exist, have
thought fit to call for, and hereby do
call for, volunteers to the aggregate
number of 125,000 in order to carry
into effect the purpose of the said res
olution; they to he apportioned as far
as practicable among the several states
and territories and the District of Co
lumbia according to population, and to
serve for two years unless sooner dis
charged. The details of this object
will be immediately communicated to
the proper authorities throughout the
war department.
In witness thereof I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington
this 23d day of April, A. D., 1898,and
the independence of the United States
the one hundred and twenty-second.
(Signed) William McKinley.
By the President State.
John Sherman, Secretary of
While it is the purpose of the war
department to secure only National
Guardsmen as far as possible under
the first call for volunteers, yet in
states where there are no National
Guard, or where the number falls be
low the quota fixed in the call, the
states will he expected to supply the
volunteers regardless of their lock of
organization. In fact, this must be
done under the law.
On the basis of the call for 125,000
men the southern states will be called
upon 1 1 supply the following number
of volunteers:
Alabama.. ..2,500 Mississippi. . .2,257
Arkansas... .2,025 N. Carolina. ..2,584
Florida 750 S. Carolina... 747
Georgia 3,174 Tennessee.. .3,060
Kentucky.. .3,407 Texas.... .4,229
Louisiana.. .1,940 Virginia.....2,913
Maryland ...1,942 W. Virginia. .1,389
SPANIARDS OPEN FIRE.
Guns of Moro Castle Take a Shot at Our
Fleet.
Moro castle opened fire on the fight
ing squadron of the United States at
11 o’clock Saturday night. About ten
shots were sent in the direction of our
ships, hut not one of them took effect
and no shots were fired in return.
The Spaniards had apparently Been
the lights of the New York while the
latter was signaling to a ship of the
squadron. excitement hoard
There was no on
the flagship during Moro castle’s futile
attempt at gunnery. The discipline
w as really splendid.
ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY APRIL 28. 1898.
PRESIDENT M’KINLEY SO NOTIFIES
FOREIGN NATIONS.
ARTICLES OF CONTRABAND GIVEN.
All Ships Flying the Spanish Flag Will
Do Expected to Adhere
to the Itule.
There were two further important
steps in Washington Friday toward ac
tual hostilities, not to mention the
overt act involved in the seizure of the
vessel Buena Ventura off Key West.
The first was the issue by the presi
dent of his proclamation announcing
to the world a blockade of a number of
Cuban perts and the second was the
signing by him of tho bill providing for
the utilization of the volunteer forces
in war.
Following the up the formalities begin
ing with blockade proclamation
the state department Friday afternoon
addressed a note to all of the repre
sentatives of foreign nations accredit
ed to Washington notifying them of
the policy to be pursued by this gov
ernment in the matter of privateering
and neutrality. This was followed by
the sending of cable messages to all
American embassies and legations
abroad containing the same informa
tion for presentation to governments
to which they are accredited.
In brief, it declares that our gov
ernment will not resort to privateer
ing; that the enemy’s goods in neutral
bottoms, save contraband, are exempt
from seizure; that neutral goods not
contraband under the enemy’s flag are
safe from seizure and that blockades
to be binding must be effective. In
substance these are the principles laid
down in the agreement of Paris of
1856.
The officials are not disturbed at
the semi-official notice from Madrid
that Spain will refuse to be bound by
the same principles and forbid priva
teering, for they are satisfied that the
great commercial powers will not tol
erate the practice of privateering
under the Spanish flag.
Inasmuch as there exists a great
amount of misapprehension, not only
among foreign countries, but also
among American shippers as to the
character of merchandise that is con
traband and liable to seizure during
the progress of war, the following un
official but authentic statement lias
been obtained from a high official of
the government:
Contraband of War.
In determining, according to the law
of nations, whether merchandise is
contraband of war it is classified:
1. Absolute contraband.
2. Occasional or conditional contra
band.
3. Goods not contraband.
The first-class includes all goods of
a warlike character.
The second-class includes provis
ions, naval stores, coal, horses, certain
kinds of machinery, certain forms of
steel, iron, etc., which are subservient
to warlike use and which are destined
for the use of the enemy. They are
contraband or not according to occa
sions and conditions as to their char
acter, shipment and destined use.
Every such case depends on its own
facts.
The third class includes articles not
suited to warlike use—such as church
service and musical instruments,
household wares and goods, and other
such like articles.
AVAR DECLARED BY BLANCO.
Captain General of Cuba Proclaims Exist
ence of Hostilities.
A special from Havana says: Cap
tain General Blanco has published a
decree confirming his previous decrees
and declaring the island to be in a
state of war.
He also annuls his former similar
decrees granting pardon to insurgents
and places under martial law all those
who are guilty, of treason, espionage,
crimes against peace or against the in
dependence of the nation, seditious
revolts, attacks against the form of
government or against the authorities
and against those who disturb public
order, though only by means of print
ed matter.
OVATION TO BRYAN
At Convention of League of Bimetallic
Clnbs at Indianapolis.
An audience of between five and six
thousand people greeted AVilliam J.
Bryan at Tomlinson hall, indianapolis,
Thursday,when the second convention
of the League of Bimetallic Clubs of
the Ohio Valley ended.
Mr. Bryan was tendered an ovation.
He spoke for an hour and a half,
mainly on the currency question. He
touched casually on the Cuban ques
tion.
“While we are talking about freeing
Cuba,” said he, “let us not forget that
we have a work to do in freeing Amer
ica.”
J1
President Sends
in Message
Asks Congress to Pass a
Bill Declaring That
War Now Exists.
HOUSE ACTS PROMPTLY!
The following bill reported by the
foreign affairs committee in the lower
house of congress Monday, was passed
immediately and without division:
“A bill declaring that war exists be
tween the United States of America
and the Kingdom Spain.
“Be it enacted, etc.,
“First—That war be and the same
is hereby declared to exist and that
war has existed since the 21st day of
April A. D., 1898, including said day,
between the United States of America
and the kingdom of Spain.
“Second—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 ns may he necessary to carry
this act into effect.”
A Washington special says: The
president Monday sent congress the
following message recommending a
declaration of war against Spain:
The senate and house of represen
tatives of the United States of Amer
ica—I transmit to the congress for its
consideration and approval copies of
correspondence recently had with tlio
representatives of Spain in the United
States with the United States Minister
at Madrid and through the latter with
the government of Spain, showing the
action taken under joint resolution ap
proved April 20th, 1898, “for the rec
ognition of the independence of the
people of Cuba, demanding that tlio
government of Sjiain relinquish its au
thority and government in the island
df Cuba and to withdraw its land and
naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters and directing the president of
the United States to use the land and
naval forces of the United States to
carry these resolutions into effect.”
Upon communicating to the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand
which it became the duly of the exec
utive to address to the government of
Spain in obedience to said resolution,
the minister asked for his passports
and withdrew. The United States
minister at Madrid was in turn notified
by the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs that the withdrawal of the
Spanish representative from tho United
States had terminated diplomatic rela
tions between the two countries and
Hint all official communications between
their respective representatives ceased
therewith.
I recommend to your especial atten
tion the note addressed to the United
States minister at Madrid by the Span
ish minister for foreign nffairs on the
21st inst., whereby the foregoing no
tification was conveyed. It will he
perceived therefrom that the govern
ment of Spain, having recognizance of
tho joint resolution of the United
States congress, and in view of Hie
things which the president is thereby
required and authorized to do, re
sponds by treating the demands of
this government as measures of hos
tility, following at that instant imme
diate and complete severance of rela
tions by its nations, which, by the
usages of nations, accompanies an ex
istent state of war between sovereign
powers.
The position of Spain being thus
made known and the demands of the
United States being denied with a
complete rupture of intercourse by the
act of Spain, I am constrained in exer
cise of the power and authority con
ferred upon me by the joint resolution
aforesaid to proclaim under date of
April 22, 1898, a blockade of certain
ports of the north coast of Cuba lying
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda
and of the port of Oienfuegos on the
south coast of Cuba; and, further, in
exercise of my constitutional powers
and using’ the authority conferred
upon mo by the net of congress ap
proved April 22. 1898, to issue my
proclamation dated April 23, 18S18,
milling for volunteers in order to carry
into effect the said resolution of April
20, 1898.
Copies of these proclamations are
hereunto appended:
In view of the measures so taken
and and with view to the adoption of
such other measure as may he neces
snry to enable me to carry out the ex
pressed will of the congress of the
United States in the premises, I will
recommend to your honorable consid
eration tho adoption of a joint resolu
tion declaring that a state of war ex
ists between the United States of
America and the Kingdom of Spain,
a d I urge speedy action thereon to
tho end that tho definition of tho na
tional status of tho United States as a
belligerent power may he known, and
the assertion of all its fights and the
maintenance of all its duties in the
conduct of a jinblie war may he as
sured.
(Signed) William McKinley.
Executive Mansion, Washington, April
25, 1898.
POINTS OF RENDEZVOUS
Designated For Mustering Troops of Vol
unteer Army.
The rendezvous for the troops to be
mustered in the service of the volun
teer army in tho southern states ha*
been designated by Secretary Algor as
follows:
Alabama—Mobile.
Arkansas—Little Rock.
Florida—Tamps.
Georgia—Atlanta.
Kentucky—Louisville.
Louisiana—New Orleans.
Maryland—Baltimore.
Mississippi—Jackson.
North Carolina—Raleigh.
South Carolina—Charleston.
Tennessee—Nashville.
Texas—Houston.
Virginia—Richmond.
AVest Virginia—Martinshurg.
For the purpose of recruiting for tho
volunteer as well as for the regular
army the department will designate in
each state several cities where recruit
ing under the direction of army offi
cers will he carried on.
The Hull hill provides for the in
crease of the regular army on a war
footing to about 60,000 men. In ad
dition to those recruiting stations it is
expected the war department will des
ignate hoards of nrmy officers will go
from place to place in tho state en
gaged in recruiting duty.
TO RETURN TO CURA.
Virginian Will Accept Any Commission
President Tenderg Him.
A Richmond dispatch states that it
is understood that General Leo will
anquestionahly he made a major gen
eral in the United States volunteer
army and will lead a division or corps
in Cuba.
AV’heu asked if the Virginia troops
would be attached to his command, he
stated unhesitatingly they would he..
It has leaked out that lie.wired to
Secretary Alger Friday suggesting
that the troops destined for Cuba he
uniformed in the lightest possible
clothing.
SEAMEN REVOLTED.
Engineer# of Spanish Boats Disabled the
Machinery.
The British steamer Astouu arrived
at Galveston, Texas, Friday morning
from Las Palmas, Grand Canary, one
one of the Canary island group. The
commander of the vessel is Cuptaiu P.
H. Barnet.
The machinery of the several torpedo
boats and torpedo boat destroyers was
purposely disabled by the engineers of
the various craft.
Captain Barnet says he received this
information from an absolutely reliable
source. A plot was entered into by
the several engineers to do the work,
and successfully it was done.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
I# Signed By President McKinley Along
With tlio Army Bill.
A AVasliington special says: Tho
volunteer army hill was signed by tho
president Friday afternoon and a call
for 1 00,000 volunteers was signed at
the same time.
In many respects the call follows
the outlines of the first made by Pres
ident Lincoln on April 15, when he
asked for 75,000 men.
Necessarily there are a number of
changes because of the different pur
poses for which volunteers arc asked.
RAISING WAR FUNDS.
Chairman IMngley Introduce. Revenue
Measure In the House.
Chairman Dingley, of the ways and
means committee, Saturday afternoon
introduced in the house the war rev
enue measure which the tepuhlienn
members of the ways and means com
mittee have prepared. will
it isprobable that this program
meet with opposition from the demo
crats, who have not been consulted in
its preparation. already decided
Tho democrats have
to offer an income tax amendment.
Chairman Dingley estimates that the
measure as framed will raise between
890,000,000 and SI 00.000.000.
HANDS IN HIS RESIGNATION AT
A CAHINET MEETING.
DAY APPOINTED TO SOCCEED HIM.
Cuuse of the Resignation Attributed to
ltad Health and Advanced Age Of
tho Retiring: Secretary.
Another resignation from the cabi
net occurred at Washington Monday,
when the venerable secretary of state,
Mr. John Sherman, banded bis resig
nation to the president at a special
meeting called together at 10 a.m.
The resignation took effect at noon,
and with it Mr. Sherman retires from
public life after a service of over forty
years, embracing the bouse of repre
sentatives, the United States senate,
the secretaryship of the treasury and
the secretaryship of state. The reason
for the resignation is tho condition of
the secretary’s health, which is now
impaired as the result of years of de
votion to the public service and the
arduous labors of a lifetime, added to
age,the venerable secretary being now
within a few days of seventy-five years
of age.
The secretary’s resignation was ten
dered in a simple note tendering to the
president the portfolio entrusted to
him upon the inauguration of Presi
dent McKinley, and asking that it take
effect from the close of the day.
The session of the cabinet at which
Mr. Sliermnn’s resignation was ten
dered was called early Monday morn
ing for tho purpose of reviewing the
message the president transmitted to
congress.
After the resignation had been ac
cepted the president appointed Wil
liam It. Day, of Ohio, the assistant
secretary of state, to succeed Mr.
Sherman.
Judge Day’s place will be filled by
John I!. Moore, of New York, an ac
knowledged nutliority on international
law. The selection of Mr. Moore was
warmly welcomed by all of the state
department employes. He was ap
pointed from Delaware in the state
department by Mr. Bayard when the
latter was secretary, and served under
several administrations without regard
to political changes. Mr. Moore is an
authority on certain branches of inter
national law and his selection will do
much to strengthen the state depart
ment in the present emergency.
SPANIARDS PLEDGE SUPPORT.
All Faction# Swear to LoaylJy Uphold
the Kingdom.
Advices from Madrid state thatSenor
Castelar, the republican leader, ap
peared Monday in the chamber for tlio
first time since 1888 and took the oath
of the monarchist, kneeling with his
head on the gospel.
The other members of the mon
archists gave their pledges while stand
ing with the band pressed upon tho
heart. Senor Romero Robledo, leader
of the Weylerite faction, asked tho
government whether there was a cabi
net crisis, whether it was intended to
suspend constitutional rights in the
peninsula anil whether the government
would close the cortes after the budget
has been voted.
Henor Sagasta, the premier, answer
ing these questions in the negative in
a highly patriotic speech that, was
loudly applauded by all parties in the
chamber, declared that the govern
ment, responding to public patriotism,
upproved the conduct of the war, a
toute outrance as a reply to insults
and aggressions from America.
The carlists, republicans and other
factions pledged their support to the
government “in all measures lequired
to defend the honor and lights of
Spain.”
Several deputies protested in the
name of the ntfvy against the “yankee
who invented the calumnies respect
ing the explosion of tho Maine.”
The Official Gazette published the
instructions of the Spanish govern
ment respecting the right of search of
neutral vessels. In brief they set forth
that warships may detain merchant
men in any non-neutral waters for tho
purpose of verifying the authenticity
of tho flag and for examining the car
go, if the vessel is bound for a hostile
port.
BRITAIN IS NOTIFIED
Of Our Proclamation In Regard To Neutral
. VeHMeJ#.
The British foreign office at London
was officially notified Monday of the
proclamation of the president of tho
United States in regard to neutral ves
sels and neutral grounds and the
blockade of the island of Cuba by tho
United States fleet.
AVitli reference to Spain’s declara
tion on tho subject of privateering
issued from Madrid, the British for
eign officials point out that the reso
lotions announced by the United
States on the subject were taken with
out reference to a policy which Spain
might adopt.
NO. 15.
Our
Guard Cuba.
) )
Sampson’s Vessels are Lined Up
Off Shores of Cuba and Can
Be Plainly Seen From
the Island.
Tlio following proclamation an
nouncing a blockade of Cuban ports
was issued at Washington Friday:
BY THE I'RESTDENT OF THE UNITED
states:
A PBOCLAMATION.
AV’hereas, by a joint resolution pass
ed by tho congress and approved April
20, 1898, and communicated to the
government of Spain, it was demanded
that said government at once relin
quish its authority and government in
the island of Cuba, and withdraw its
land and naval forces from Cuban
waters; and the president of the
United States is directed and empow
ered to use the entire laud and naval
forces of the United States, and to call
into actual service of tho United States
the militia of the several states to such
extent as might he necessary to carry
said resolution into effect; and
AVhereas, in carrying into effect said
resolution, the president of the United
States deems it necessary to set on
foot and maintain a blockade of the
north coast of Cuba, including all
ports on said coast between Cardenas
and Bahia Honda, and the port of
Cienfugos on the south coast of Cuba.
.Now, therefore, I, William McKinley,
president of the United States, in order
to enforce the said resolution, do hereby
declare and proclaim that the United
States of America have instituted, and
will maintain a blockade of the north
coast of Cuba, including ports on said
coast between Cardenas and Baliia
Honda, and the port of Oienfuegos, on
the south coast of Cuba, aforesaid, in
pursuance of the laws of the United
States and tho law of nations applica
ble to such cases. An efficient force
will he posted so as to prevent the en
trance and exit of vessels from the
ports aforesaid. Aliy neutral vessels
approaching any of said ports, or at
tempting to -leave the same, without
notice or knowledge of the establish
ment of such blockade, will he duly
warned by tho commander of the
the blockading forces who will endorse
on her register the fact, and the date
of such warning, where such endorse
ment was made; and if the same vessel
shall again attempt to enter any block
aded port, she will he captured and
sent to the nearest convenient port for
such proceedings against her and her
cargo as prize, as muy he deemed ad
visable.
Neutral vessels lying in any of said
ports at Hie time of the establishment
of such blockade will he allowed thirty
days to issue therefrom.
in witness whereof, \ have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to ho affixed.
Done in the city of Washington this
22d day of April, A. D., 1898, and of
the independence of the United States,
the one hundred and twenty-second.
William McKinley.
By the President.
John Sherman, Secretary of State.
Acting under this proclamation the
entire fleet of the North Atlantic
squadron is lined up off the Cuban
coost and the blockade is on in earnest.
Tlio ships of the fleet can easily he
seen by people on the Cuban shore.
SPANISH SHIP CAPTURED.
Gunboat Nashville Fires First Shot and
Takes a Prize.
The first Hpunish prize to he captur
ed by one of our ships w as the steamer
Buena Ventura from Pascagoula,Miss.,
for Rotterdam, with lumber.
The Nashville fired a blank shot,
which the Spaniard ignored. This was
followed by a shot from a six pounder.
Buena A 7 ontnrn then surrendered
with her crew of twenty men.
The Nashville towed her prize into
the harbor at Key AVest and a prize
placed on hoard.
The news of the capture of the
set the people of Key AVest
frantic with enthusiasm.
The Bouna Ventura is a tramp
steamer bailing from Bilboa, Spain.
She belonged to the Snrrinaga line.
On March 29 she arrived at Pasca
Miss., from Havana, and was
on the way to Pensacola, Fla., to load
for Holland when captured.