Congress rose to the occasion. The facts were at command of both
houses, their sympathies were enlisted at the side of their reason
and there was little time lost in acting. The House and the
Senate, after mutual concessions on minor details, passed as a law
of the land for the President's signature, an act directing him
and empowering him to require Spain to withdraw her troops and
relinquish all authority over the island of Cuba. The President
was authorized to employ the army and navy of the United States
for the purpose of carrying into effect this instruction and the
interference was directed to be made at once. Best of all, from
the point of view of the Cuban patriots, the act declared that the
people of Cuba are and ought to be free and independent. But a few
days more of diplomacy, and war was to begin.

SPAIN DEFIES AMERICA.

It was hardly to be expected that the Spanish government and the
Spanish people would yield to the demands of the United States
without a protest. So feeble is the hold of the present dynasty
upon the throne of Spain, that it was readily understood that any
concession upon the part of the Queen Regent would arouse Spanish
indignation beyond the limits of endurance. The Queen-mother had
to think of her baby son's crown. If she were to yield to the
superior power of the United States without a struggle, Spanish
revolutionists would overthrow the dynasty before he could come to
the throne. However well she might know that the logical outcome
of a war would be overwhelming defeat to Spanish arms, political
necessities compelled her to take the position dictated by Spanish
pride.