The senator's speech made a great impression, and there were others on the same subject and in a like strain, delivered by members of the commission sent to Cuba by the New York Journal.
Some days later—on the 28th—came the report of the Court of Inquiry into the Maine catastrophe, and put an end to the patience of Congress, which had long been ready to undertake the cause of the oppressed and suffering Cubans.
It was not until noon of the 11th of April that the President's message reached Congress. In that he turned over to it the whole policy of the government toward Spain. Congress did not make a formal declaration of war with Spain until the 25th of April, but actual hostilities began on the 19th. Indeed, four days before the declaration of war the United States navy began the blockade of Cuba, and captured a vessel on the high seas.
CHAPTER VII.
Max Raymond, buried in thought, was pacing the deck of the Olympia.
"Hello, Raymond, have you heard the news?" asked a fellow officer, hurrying toward him in evident excitement.
"No; what is it? News from home?" asked Max, pausing in his walk with a look of eager interest.
"Just that. The commodore has had a warning to leave Hong-Kong. War has been declared by our government, and Great Britain has issued a proclamation of neutrality. The official warning comes from the authorities here."