The President and Congress undoubtedly acted on the lines of good policy in making a formal declaration of war.  As Mr. McKinley said in his message to Congress, the trend of events compelled him to take measures of a hostile kind.  A blockade had been established and Spanish vessels had been captured.  While every civilized power on earth immediately learned the facts, there still remained the necessity of going through the formal act of notifying them of this government’s intentions.  In this instance, as in others in the nation’s history, the actual hostilities were begun before it seemed necessary for the government to make a formal declaration.  According to the authorities on international law, “a declaration may be necessary, but is not essential.”  In this case, when it became so evident that a general conflict was imminent, the administration did fairly by the commercial nations of the world in formally stating its position, and giving them all warning as to the consequences which might follow in the case of vessels attempting to enter Cuban waters.

The resolutions were admirably brief and concise, merely declaring the existence of a state of war, and authorizing the President to do whatever he thought best with the army and the navy.

By this act, while the situation was in itself no way changed, the nation assumed a definite diplomatic status as a power at war, and was free to proceed to any such acts as came within the laws of civilized nations in time of war.

Effect of the declaration in Cuba.

When the news of the action of the administration reached the insurgents in Cuba it caused great rejoicing among them, for they felt that the hour of their deliverance was at last at hand.  In speaking of it, Dr. Capote, Vice-President of the Cuban Republic, said: 

I desire to thank the great American people and their government for the resolution they have made to free us from the tyrannical rule of Spain.  The people of Cuba believe in the good faith of the people of America.  They believe in their honesty of purpose to free Cuba and are confident of their ability to do so; but it must be borne in mind that the loadstar of the Cuban is not merely freedom from the dominion of Spain, but independence from outside control, however beneficent that control might be, and absolute non-interference by others in the management of our own affairs.  “Cuba free and independent” is the watchword of Cuban liberty.

The Cuban commanders await some decisive step on the part of your generals.  If you can open up and maintain communication with the Cuban armies, and give us a plentiful supply of arms and ammunition, we will free Cuba without the loss of an American soldier.  Our position on the field is precarious.  For lack of supplies, we cannot concentrate our troops.  Our camps shift from place to place, according to food conditions.  We are hampered and embarrassed for lack of ammunition.  We cannot arm the men we are able to put in the field.  Open up communication, give us arms and supplies, and we ask no more.