Summary
After the explosion of the USS Maine, the US public was whipped up into
an anti-Spanish hysteria. Despite Spain's desire to avoid war and President
William McKinley's distaste for war, the yellow press continued feeding
the public's appetite for anti-Spanish news. Hawks like then-Assistant Secretary
of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt loudly criticized the reluctant McKinley for
being weak and afraid.
Although he disagreed with the public's demands for war, McKinley finally
submitted to the various pressure exerted on him. The Maine had exploded
in Mid-February, and on April 11, 1898, McKinley finally sent a message to
Congress giving his support for a declaration of war on Spain. Congress,
which now had the President's word that he would not block a war with Spain as
Cleveland had threatened to do, was ecstatic. On April 24, 1898 Spain declared
war on the US. The next day, on April 25, the US declared war on Spain. The US
public was exuberant, and the people celebrated as the country cheerfully went
to war.
In order to prove the righteousness of the US cause, Congress decided to send a
message to the European powers, many of whom believed the American war against
Spain to be an imperialistic land-grab, an effort to assume control of Cuba from
Spain. Congress passed the Teller Amendment in May 1898, in which the US
promised not to annex Cuba, but to liberate it as an independent state. Thus,
the US claimed to be fighting the war not for selfish gain, but to liberate an
oppressed people and promote justice in the world.
Even directly before the war, some people on both sides were trying to avoid
conflict. Spain wanted to avoid war at all costs, and the Spanish diplomats to
Washington promised to end the concentration camps and make peace with the
insurrectos. The US would not have it, demanding only one thing: complete
Spanish withdrawal from Cuba and a recognition of Cuban independence. Spain
refused. American public opinion now rested decidedly against the Spanish, and
because of the way the yellow press had covered the explosion of the USS
Maine, most of the country distrusted everything the Spanish said.
Oddly enough, President McKinley also opposed the War. McKinley, who was
closely tied to Wall Street and business networks, knew that most businessmen
were against going to war. Mark Hanna, wealthy businessman and a leading
advisor of McKinley, told McKinley to try and avoid war. Businessmen did not
want a war with Spain because they feared that the destabilizing effects of a
war might hurt the US economy. So why didn't McKinley use his powers as
Commander-and-Chief to prevent the war from being carried out, as President
Cleveland had threatened to do a few years earlier? The question was one
McKinley wrestled with. A staunch believer in the democratic process, it was
McKinley's personal philosophy that the people should get what they wanted, even
if he knew that what they wanted would end up being bad for them.
McKinley had other concerns behind his decision to go to war. He was constantly
being criticized by Theodore Roosevelt and other warmongers for a "lack of
backbone". (Of course, in the hysterical frenzy of 1898, not supporting
war was actually a very brave stand.) McKinley also was afraid that not going to
war would give the Democrats and his arch-nemesis, William Jennings Bryan, a
campaign issue to use against the Republicans in 1900. McKinley knew that if he
refused to send in the troops after Congress declared war, the Democrats would
use this fact to destroy him in the 1900 election. Finally, a highly devout
Christian, McKinley claimed to have been commanded in a dream to send the
country to war. Conveniently, the religious experience coincided perfectly with
the various pressures forced on McKinley at the time. And even at the same time
as he committed the US to war because of a belief in democracy and a religious
experience, he still couldn't help but hope that, "perhaps it will pay."
