Spain and Havana felt the touch of these ever spreading waves of public sentiment, and began to resent them.  At Havana public demonstrations were made against America.  The life of Consul General Lee was threatened.  The Spanish Minister at Washington, Senor de Lome, was exposed for having written to a friend a most insulting letter, describing President McKinley as a low politician and a weakling.  For this he was recalled by Spain at the request of the American government.

Protection to American citizens and property in Havana became necessary, and accordingly the battle ship Maine was sent there for this purpose, the United States government disclaiming any other motives save those of protection to Americans and their interests.  The Maine was, to all outward appearances, friendly received by the Spaniards at Havana by the usual salutes and courtesies of the navy, and was anchored at a point in the bay near a certain buoy designated by the Spanish Commander.  This was on January 25, 1898, and on February 15th this noble vessel was blown to pieces, and 266 of its crew perished—­two colored men being in the number.  This event added fuel to the already burning fire of American feeling against Spain.  Public sentiment urged an immediate declaration of war.  President McKinley counseled moderation.  Captain Siggsbee, who survived the wreck of the Maine, published an open address in which he advised that adverse criticism be delayed until an official investigation could be made of the affair.

The official investigation was had by a Court of Inquiry, composed of Captain W.T.  Sampson of the Iowa, Captain F.C.  Chadwick of the New York, Lieutenant-Commander W.P.  Potter of the New York, and Lieutenant-Commander Adolph Marix of the Vermont, appointed by the President.  Divers were employed; many witnesses were examined, and the court, by a unanimous decision, rendered March 21, 1898, after a four weeks session, reported as follows:  “That the loss of the Maine was not in any respect due to the fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or members of her crew; that the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines; and that no evidence has been obtainable fixing the responsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons.”

Responsibility in this report is not fixed on any “person or persons.”  It reads something like the usual verdict of a coroner’s jury after investigating the death of some colored man who has been lynched,—­“he came to his death by the hands of parties unknown.”  This report on the Maine’s destruction, unlike the usual coroner’s jury verdict, however, in one respect, was not accepted by the people who claimed that Spain was responsible, either directly or indirectly, for the explosion, and the public still clamored for war to avenge the outrage.