LAD #22: McKinley's War Message

President McKinley, in his address to Congress in April 1898, asserted that war between Cuba and Spain should be ended as soon as possible--"in the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and duty to speak and to act." The constant insurrections between Spain and Cuba were detrimental to America's trade, as well as the mindsets of frantic citizens. McKinley urges Congress to end the war in any means, such as proposing a rational compromise by neutral intervention or by outright endorsement of one side, as long as forceful annexation is not done. Should the U.S. be forced to choose a side to support, it would be the one against insurrectionaries, as their destructive acts needed to be stopped. However, a neutral resolution would be much more justifiable, although it would be difficult. However the manner in which the goal of ending the war was to be attained was left ultimately up to Congress.