Final answer:
The Spanish minister accused McKinley of being weak in a letter to the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish minister accused McKinley of being weak in a letter to the United States. In the letter, McKinley was labeled as "a bidder for the admiration of the crowd" and "a would-be politician". This accusation caused outrage in the American public, leading to increased tensions between the United States and Spain.