The news & observer., 1897-05-29
MORGAN WANTS WAR
,@ a lll y 3
The QUICKEST TO FREE CpsA.
The Senator Says riostiities With
Spain Will Begin as Soon as the
House Passes His Resolution!
Especial to the Chicago Record)


Especial to the Chicago Record)
| Washington, D. c., May Ex-senator
! Morgan looks forward to q declaration OF
! war from Spain against the United
States. | asked him today how long sucn
| a war would last.
Perhaps twenty-five days" he replied.
What would it COST"
About $5O,OO0,000."
The Senator estimates the expense
| much below the figures which were men
toned at a recent gathering of the cabl-
net. There the opinion was expressed that
the preparation alone of this country fof
hostilities with Spain would mean an eX-
penditure of $500, 100000. 1t is significant
that the expectation of decisive action by
the administration has grown so strong
as to prompt discussion III Official circles
of the probable cost of declaration OF
war from Spain. Senator Morgan does not
hesitate to declare tnat 1t would be the
quickest and best way of settling the Gu
ban question. He has little doubt that
events are leading to such situation. lie
believes the belligerency resolution within
short time will pass the House of Rep
resentatives, and then a declaration of
war will come from Spain. He says he in
troduced the, resolution with that eX-
pectation. because it seemed to offer the
best way to the only proper settlement.
Il had no idea of antagonizing the
President" said he. Il wanted to show
him that the Democrats were with HIM
in more vigorous poncy. | thought L
knew where the feeling Of the country
was on the subject. The action of the
Senate and the manner in which public
sentiment is sustaining our action shows
/ was not wrong"
What will follow, Senator, If your
resolution goes into forcef'
"A declaration of war with Spain,
probably. That would be the best thing
that could happen. 1t would give Spain
the opportunity to get rid of Cuba with
out sacrifice of her honor, according to
the Spanish way of looking at it. We
would blockade Havana the first move.
There might be sham battle or two.
but in a very short tine Spain would take
advantage of the situation to surrender
Cuba to the United States on the best
terms she could make. Spain realizes that
her hold on the island is broken. She can
not help seeing what is plain to the rest
Oh the world. She is not willing to ac-
knowledge the independence of the revo-
lutionists. That would be disgraceful
from her point of view. Sne can surrender
the island to our superior force, perhaps,
on the payment of something by us. We
can take the island, extend over it our
good government, fortify the port of Ha-
yana. and control the Gulf of Mexico, as
we ought to do. The Cuban people will
enjoy the blessings of the liberty and Sc
curity that are ours. A hundred thousand
young Americans will go at once from
this country to settle there. No other spot
on earth offers such inducements. | would
feel like going myself if | were younger"
The Senators who voted against the
Cuban resolution are receiving unpleas-
ant messages from their constituents and
a few letters and kilograms of eommenda-
ton. There seems to be an intense feeling
on the subject Mr.. Hanna is a target of
many COMMUNICATIONS, not only from his
own State, but from other parts of the
country. He has received gratifying mes
sages from New York, Chicago, st. Louis
and other places, as we'll as from Cleve-
land, Cincinnati and the smaller towns of
Ohio. Senator Fairbanks of Indiana is al
so earnestly commended in many letters
and kilograms for the substitute he offered
for the Morgan resolution and for the
speech he made in favor of conservative
policy. There were several Senators who
did not want to vote for the resolution,
and did not decide to do so until the very
lest mnment, but they were afraid of pub
lie opinion.