224 THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

end political reforms would be put into effect, and military operations would be conducted with humanity."

After a protest against the Spanish assertion that the insurrection was largely supported by expeditions from the United States(an assertion which it would,nevertheless,be very difficult to disprove), the President mentioned the proposal such action. And he reminded those who had so strongly advocated the recognition of Cuban belligerent rights, that its only practical effect would be to give Spanish cruisers the right to stop and search ships for contrabandof. the high seas. Then, returning to the new state of affairs in Cuba, the promised establishment of local government,the mitigation of the PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.

that his Government should end the civil warin Cuba by annexing the island,but mentioned it only toreject it as impossible in the face of the newpolicy- ofreform adopted bySpain. Forcible annexation, he held, was out of the question. "By our code of morality," he said, "it would be a criminal aggression." Then, turning to the suggestion that the United States should recognise the independence of the Cuban Republic, or accord belligerent rights to the insurgents, he declared that there was no good reason to warrant either proposal. The situation might so change that these steps would he advisable. At present he could jtfSflSSjSirid no horrors of war in the island, the pledges made by Sagasta's administration that everything would be done to give peace and freedom to Cuba, he argued that it was only fair togive the newSpanish Cabinet a chance of redeemingits promises.

Such were the essentialpassages of President McKinley's first message. It was the signal for a renewed agitation in the United States with a view to forcing him into a less friendly attitude towards Spain. Although the Weyler was closed, and it couldhardly be expectedthai Blanco could in a day repair its evils,the horrors of the Recoricentrado system were described in