Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-05
THE GREAT STRAIN
THAT WAS ON SECRETARY BLAINE AND
PRESIDENT HARRISON
During the Tension Of the Relations Between This
Country and Iialy-Luckily, However, the
Dove Of Peace Has Plumed It's Wings
and Everything is Lovely.
,eeial Tslloram 10 he sunday Register.

Special telegram 10 he Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-lt has been an
exciting week in Washington. The row
with Italy has stirred the town up as noun
ing else has in years II IS the hrst genuine
war scare we have had since Grants ad-
ministration. when then the Nlrglnlus al
fair for time threatened 10 emoroll US
with Spain. While the general ieellng was
that an actual fight with Italy seemed ao-
surd to talk about, the actions OF the Italian
government signifed in diplomacy were a
Iittle crave. While the sudden recall of
the Italian minister would have meant IN
Furope that the next move would be de-
claration of war, IL was felt that
nothing in the situation was IN the
attitude of this government, as far as
known, will Justify such a move against
us. still what was done stirred up so much
| feeling here and in Italy that it was felt a
blunder on either side might plunge US into
actual hostilities without either side actu-
ally meaning il. For instance, If during
/ Wednesday or Thursday, an outbreak had
occurred in some American city ana rev
Italians had been killed; or, on the other
hand, il Some hOt-headed Italians had at
tackled and killed American travellers In
/ italy. what would have been the result
No man can tell. II would not have had
| tendency to calm the excitement on either
side of the water nor make the task OF the
diplomatists any easier This was really
ali the danger Of the situation,
/ bus il was danger that hlled
those in authority with keen anxiety.
/ President Harrison is said by those who
met him during the excitement TO have
shown in an unmistakable manner that ne
was greatly worried. No one who saw
Mr.. Blaine during the same period could
! fail to note that he was under great
strain. He was unusually irritable and
abrupt in his manner, and gave one the
/ impression of man whose whole mind
was intensely concentrated on one
subject TO the exclusion, of all others.
While every one felt confident that on the
unlikely event of an actual war, we would
/ in the end be able TO crush the enemy,
whether Italy alone or Italy and her Ger
man allies, still no one could contemplate
the terrible possibilities Of a war with
complacency.
The talk Of the immense damage which
the great Italian iron-cladS, the Dulllo,
| the DandOlo, and the ReCmberto, could do
| TO our seaport cities did not at all alarm
our naval men. To man they expressed
entire confidence that men would be found
in our naval establishment who would
make any attempt on the part OF the great
Italian iron-clads TO approach our coast
! impracticable, If not impossible. The
chief reliance of these naval men was not
incur small new gun boats, such as the
Chicago and Boston, but in our torpedo
service. They were of the opinion that a
torpedo service could be organized in few
davs that would, under the efforts OF the
Italian vessels 10 approach our coasts Ut
terlv fertile. either by hiking or disabling
the vessels.