conceives that he has a right to demand that a war, conducted
almost within sight of our shores and grievously affecting
American citizens and their interests throughout the length and
breadth of the land, shall at least be conducted according to the
military codes of civilization."

Negotiations between the United States and Spain have always been
peculiarly irritating, owing to temperamental differences between
the two peoples. McKinley, however, had in mind a program for
which there was some hope of success. He was willing to agree to
some form of words which would leave Spain in titular possession
of the island, thereby making a concession to Spanish pride, for
he knew that Spain was always more loath to surrender the form
than the substance. This hope of the President was strengthened,
towards the end of 1897, by a dramatic incident in the political
life of Spain. On the 8th of August, the Spanish Prime Minister,
the Conservative Antonio Canovas del Castillo, was assassinated,
and was succeeded on the 4th of October by the Liberal, Praxedes
Mateo Sagasta.

The new Spanish Government listened to American demands and made
large promises of amelioration of conditions in Cuba. General
Blanco was substituted for General Weyler, whose cruelty had made
him known in the American press as "the Butcher"; it was
announced that the reconcentrado camps would be broken up; and
the Queen Regent decreed the legislative autonomy of Cuba.
Arrangements had been made for the handling of minor disputes
directly with the Governor-General of Cuba through the American
Consul General at Havana, General Fitzhugh Lee. On December 6,
1897, McKinley, in his annual message to Congress, counseled