President William McKinley gave this speech on April 23, 1898.
The President is authorized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the Army of the United States: Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and the laws, and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, volunteers to the aggregate number of 125,000 in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said resolution, the same. to be apportioned, as far as practicable, among the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia according to population and to serve for two years unless sooner discharged. The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the proper authorities through the War Department.
–Proclamation calling for military volunteers,
William McKinley
What was President McKinley’s primary purpose in giving this speech?
to explain funding for the military
to excite the troops currently serving
to convince Congress to end the war
to persuade young men to join the army