The Spanish Cortes met in special session at Madrid, and on the
20th of April the Queen Regent delivered her speech before that
legislative body and declared that her parliament was summoned in
the hour of peril to defend her country's rights and her child's
throne, whatever sacrifice might be entailed. It was on that same
day that President McKinley presented the ultimatum of the United
States to Spain, in language diplomatic in form, but carrying with
it a definite notice to yield Cuba's freedom and relinquish her
pretense of authority in that island without delay. A copy of the
ultimatum was forwarded to the Spanish ambassador at Washington,
Senor Polo y Bernabe, who responded by asking for his passports
and safe conduct out of the country.

Having reached the point where diplomacy no longer availed, the
Spanish government for the first time made an aggressive move
against the United States. Instead of waiting for the transmission
of the ultimatum by American Minister Stewart L. Woodford, the
ministry forestalled him and dismissed him from Madrid without
affording him an opportunity to present that important document.
It had been transmitted to Madrid by cable from the Spanish
Minister in Washington, and the government felt no need to wait
for formal messages from the enemy's representative in Spain.
Minister Woodford left Madrid without delay, and finally reached
the French frontier, after being subjected to many insults and
attacks upon his train during the journey from the Spanish
capital.

MARTIAL SPIRIT SPREADING.