The Portland daily press., 1898-04-06
FEELING IN WASHINGTON.
Maine People Have No Idea OF Its
Intensity.
MOST CONSERVATIVE BELIEVE
WAR INEVITABLE.

Interview With Hon. Charles f. Libby
Who Has Just Returned From the
Capital-Naval Officers Desire to Avenge
the Maine Disaster.
Hon. Charles E. Libby returned from
Washington yesterday and was seen by a
representative of the PRESS. He said
that he LETT the national capital on Sun
day and at that time it was the universal
opinion of the most conservative men in
the country that war with Spain is inevi-
table. During his stay in Washington
Mr. Libby had an opportunity of talking
the situation over with the leaders of
both the House and the Senate and with
others who are very near to the President
and in position to know just what has
been done and what may be
expected. He said: "Maine peo-
ple have no idea of the sup
pressed excitement under which Washing
ton is laboring at present. There is but
one TOPIC of conversation and men will
not talk of anything else. Everyone be-
lieves that there is no posi- BILE solution OF
the problem unless Spain makes conces-
sions which it is not believed she will
make. Intense activity, of which the
newspapers give us no idea, prevails in all
departments. Congress is holding stop
watch over the President and threatens to
sweep aside all barriers and take matters
into it's own hands at any moment.
c. ahIn tn hatT the
House of Representatives in check up to
this time only by his wonderful personal
influence. Said one of the most hot
headed men in Congress to me On Sun
day: mo other man in the United States
would have been able to hold the House
in check on Wednesday last as Reed did.
Never in oil my life have I seen such
remarkable illustration of his wonderful
strength as 1 saw on Wednesday. Today
he towers head and shoulders above all
the leaders in Washington. Alone he
faced the House which was on the point
of explosion and Gained the storm which
it did not seem possible any man could
prevent from breaking out. No House OF
Representatives this country has ever seen
has ever had such Speaker. Even that
element which is antagonistic to him and
his policy admires him and but for him
the House would long ago have plunged
the country into war
"But war;" said Mr.. Libby sis, in the
opinion of everyone, inevitable. The
Presidents attempts at a peaceful solu-
ton of the question have been in vain.
Tempered by Speaker Reeds wonderful
influence the House has until now waited
patiently for action on the part of the
chief executive but even Reed cannot
hold them in check much longer. When
it comes it will be suddenly, like the ex-
plosion of the mine which destroyed the
Maine. To me the atmosphere of sup
pressed excitement in Washington was
surprising. Men with whom l talked"
and Mr.. Libby mentioned by name some
of those congressman whose eloquence and
influence has been thrown all along with
the peace loving party chad but one
thing to say Before I left Washington I
visited some of these men and asked them
if they could not give me some hopeful
one when left him on Sunday, War
may come before you reach your home
but if it is STAYED off until you reach
Portland do not think the danger is past.
L can see no possible solution of the mat
ter by pursuing peaceful course
"Among naval officers there is but one
desire and that is to avenge the Maine
disaster After 1900 years of progress,
after years of endeavor on the part of the
civilized nations to have all questions of
this character settled by arbitration, the
United States finds itself placed in posi-
ton from which she cannot escape with
national honor without an appeal to arms.
There can, in my opinion, be but one
result of p war with Spain. Our flag will
in the end wave in victory on sea and
land but as 1 heard Senator Hoar remark
while / was in Washington, "A naval war
will bring with it many horrors and sur
prises. Machines are to do the fighting
for us now in large degree. What the
result will be largely depends upon the
mchines and how they will act when the
test comes