The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
PREPARATIONS GOING ON,
THE ADMINIsTRArIoy GErr1ya
READY ron dNF EMERa ENCY.

the Country 4, , s,,,. o., v,. 49,.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Presidont McE,piov
realizes that the United States are nearer ,vn,
than they have beon at any time since tho c,os.
Of the rebellion, and he Is using every means "A
his 10 place the country in condition
for meeting whatever may come. Not once
since the terrible disaster at Havana has bo NJ,
tempted to deceive those near to him or bimseIf
as to the consequences that may dopepd on
the report Of the Naval Board of In
quiry. He is In thorough accord with tho
preparations for hostilities which are being
made by the War and Navy Departments. many
of which are in limo with the Presidents own
suggestions. Through oil this tryinp neriod he
has preserved n calm and determined attitude.
and has not been swerved from his expressed
opinion that war will be Inevitable II the BOARD of
Inquiry ascertains that the Maine was DESTROYED
through foul means, which the Spanish nm.
%thorities, while not directly responsible. might
have taken measures to prevent. His purposo
to see Justice done, no matter what the result
has secured the admiration not only of political
supporters, but of strong opponents in Coppres.
and elsewhere.
Unfortunately for the patriotic foresivht 10
Mr.. Mckinley, opposition To his nurnoaeo ho,
developed in a quarter where tbcre sbor,a h.
the greatest approval of all the Administration
wants TO do. The chairman nf tho t,yo Nou.t
Committees, Senator Hale and Renreson,at;u.
Boutelle, both from the State IN whose horo,
the lost battleship was named. have sbovn
themselves to-day to be against ,nv nren.r..
ton whatever for an emerpcncr ava
are using all the influence which their
prominent places give them in belittling the
efforts of the Navy Department In getting
everything in readiness for facing a resort to
arms. This detection in the Republican ranks,
when many Democrats are ready to support the
President to the end, is causing amazement and
some display OF feeling among tho leaders Of
the majority In both houses. Senator Hale's
frequently expressed opposition to any efforts
In the Senate in behalf of the struggling patriots
OF cuba has not lessened the surprise OF his COL
leagues over the position he has assumed.
other senators who have not boon friendly to
inc lhsurgent cause do not let their opposition
extend to the steps now being taken for yindi-
eating national honor. but Mr.. Hale has shown
a disposition to stick by Spain. and not by his
country. In the present alarming situation.
over Mr.. Boutelle's attitude there Is felt an
intermixture OF annoyance and amusement
annoyance, because his position as head of
the Committee on Naval Affairs gives him
a distinct advantage in opposing the plans
or tho Government, and amusement be-
cause he has the unhappy faculty of get
ting on tho wrong side Of vital political
questions. 1t will be recalled that Mr.. Boutelle
was the only man in the House who was not in
accord with President Cleveland's Venezuelan
boundary policy. Fortunately. however. in that
case he was not SO situated as to be able to pre-
vent anything tnat Mr. Cleveland wanted from
oeihe carried out
The opposition Of Senator Hale and Mr.. Bou.
tclle was aroused by tho letter addressed to
them by the Navy Department, mention of
which was made in THE Sun this morning, urg-
Ing the necessity Of granting authority for the
immediate enlistment of 1900 additional sail
ors to man ships which cannot be placed in
commission owing to lack OF crews. Both
showed considerable feeling when questioned
on the subject of the letter to-day, and Mr..
Boutelle. who was particularly vehement, took
pains to declare to all inquiries, In an unusually
loud voice. that there was no danger Of war
and there was no necessity for taking the pre-
cautions which the Navy Department had REQ
commended. To newspaper men Mr.. Boutelle
expressed the hope that IL war did come they
would be the first to feel its effects. They wero
trying to cause war, he said. and ought to
bear their full share of the suffering it
brings. Mr.. Boutelle is not n man TO keep
his views to himself, and In the present in
stance this quality has had excellent results.
Leaders of his party who had heard of what he
said took him in hand and used all their per-
suasion to induce him to sec how serious Is the
situation which confronts the Administration.
Speaker Reed had something TO say to his col
league, and 1t is reported tonight that his eff
forts and those Of other forcible men have been
effective in quieting him.
The situation is to-day the same as it was
yesterday. There has been nothing to change
tho attitude of the Administration. In a word
the President and his executive officers are wait
ing. They know nothing more about the cause
of the Maine disaster than tho country knows.
Every scrap OF official information bearing ON
the catastrophe has been given to the press, and
there is no intention to keep anything back. This
statement is made on authority that is above
tho suspicion of doubt as to its truthfulness.
Sensational newspapers are constantly repeat-
ing the suppressed despatch story. which SEQ.
rotary Long has several times branded as false.
There have been no suppressed dispatches. All
of Capt. Sigsbee's kilograms have been given to