The evening world., 1892-01-19
FOR PEACE, OR war?
Events Driving Congress to .
Choice in the Chilian Affair.
Presidents Message Probably 10
Be Sent In To-Morrow.
Leading Minds in tho House Still
Hope to Avoid Armed Hostilities.
rsrycrAh To rHy yvrxrSo vonnp,

IffrchG TO THH HvESrNd WoRLD.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-On the document
which the Cabinet is understood to have for
its special subject Of consideration to-day,
and upon the mass or correspondence which
will accompany 1t when It is presented to
Congress, may depend the decision a. to
whether 1t is to be peace or war between the
United States and Chill.
The document is the Presidents special
message on the Chilian AFFAIR the correspon.
dence includes oil the diplomatic dispatches
which have passed between the two nations
concerned. Congress, 1t is expected, will re-
ceive all this matter tomorrow noon.
Leading minds In the House OF Representa-.
tives are still against war. 1t Is confidently
asserted, however, that the message and the
correspondence contain such matters as Will
turn the prevailing sentiment for peace into
at least majority for war.
The message OF the President will contain
a review Of the causes leading up to the exist.
ing complications.
1t will call the attention Of Congress TO the
conduct OF Chill and her policy OF delay. Her
action is characterized as unsatisfactory and
disrespectful. The duty Of the Government
Is pointed out to be q maintenance OF the
National honor, in which the QUESTION Of
commercial interests, or even OF the shedding
of blood. should not be permitted 70 ds1sr
necessary action.
The fact that Chill was Just emerging from
a revolution and that she is . smaller pewsr,
which has been urged as . reason why ne
United States should overlook the killing q
American sailors, is not regarded hy ne
President as . just excuse. Ths question
in W vad IA nm NJ oh n vvh n n41A ~
the nation does not ngure.
With regard to the report that IN ultima.
tum has been sent to Chill. Congress viii b
informed that none has yet been sent, bus it
will be asked to empower the President to
send such an ultimatum that tho rejection Of
1t or refusal to answer 1t. will be oonsAd.
cred declaration Of war on the part Of chllL
Thus the responsibility OF declaring war VIII
really be placed upon the South American
Republic.
II the worst should como tho United States
will, thanks to tho emergency preparations
which have been going on for weeks, be fairly
well prepared, and should the still-cheeished
hopes FOR peace be realized It will still be
comfortable thing to know that the country's
facilities for putting itself on war footing
are not matter OF doubt.
The greatest dif1iculty which h fureeeen
in the event Of hostilities with Chill ID tho
fact that all supplies will have to be sent BY
water nearly seven thousand miles The base
OF supplies in this country will De San Fran
cisco.
Never having anticipated naval conflict In
the waters OF the Pacific this Government b
inadequately prepared TO conduct war opera
tions from the Western coast This den-
cheney the Navy Department Is endeavofing
to supply.
Within the past week the Nsvy Depart
ment made a qualified denial that coal was 70
be shipped from the United states TO south
Pacinc ports but 1t is learned to-day that
extensive contracts have been made for the
transportation OF fuel.
Three vessels have been engaged, the Ag-
gregate capacity OF which win DO IL, 900 tons
OF steamer coal. This will be shipped nom
San Francisco to points not now known, but
conveniently accessible for any leet that it
may be necessary to send into Chilian waterA
These IL, 900 tons will be en- route before the
end OF the week.
Negotiations are now in progress with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company for the ship
ping OF 5000 tons more. With 10000 tons
of coal on hand 1t will be possible to keep up
an adequate supply, no matter how much
may be needed hereafter.
There is one officer who is said to be ex.
tremely anxious to fire the first shell into
Valparaiso. This of1cer is Commander Evans
OF the Yorktown. II will be recalled that
his gig was recently stoned by Gillian mob.
He is also the oricer whose merry cablegram
was given out yesterday. relating 10