Summary: War and struggle erupted in the late 1890's when the Cuban rebels began their fight for independence from the mother country, Spain. The President, who had been neutral until 1898, sent a telegram demanding that Spain create an armistice. Spain accepted, but but the seemingly implacable McKinley still delivered a war address to congress, siding with the Cubans. Days later, congress resolved to go to war.
Generally speaking, McKinley sought to end all conflict between the U.S., the Spanish Colonies and Spain as quickly and painlessly as possible. "In the name of humanity", and more specifically American trade, McKinley found the Spanish and Cuban conflict to be disruptive to all walks of American life. McKinley follows this strong opening by attempting to coerce congress into taking measures to end the strife, whether it be by intervention, compromise or support for one side. McKinley justified intervention by the "irritation, annoyance and disturbance of our citizens" that the Cuban situation engendered. After pondering the issue and citing the loss of the Maine, the president finally requested that Congress secure a war between the U.S. and Spain. He briefly mentions towards the end that Spain had, in fact, accepted the U.S.'s earlier proposals, but this didn't lower the heat in that room.
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