The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-04
HARD AT WORK
PRESIDENT is TRYING TO COM
PLETE HIS MESSAGE BY TUESDAY,
And with that End an view He Has
Called Attorney General Griggs
to His Assistance
WILL MAKE A STRONG CASE
AND PAVE THE WAY FOR ANY AC-
TION CONGRESS MAY TAKE.
Maine Incident May Not Be ignored,
and May Possibly BE One of the
Features of the Message.
HE STILL HOPES FOR PEACE
But is REPORTED no BE YIELDING
TO PREVAILING SENTIMENT.
-H
Possibility that the Message May BE
Delayed Beyond TO-MOrrow-
Action of Committees.
Maine Incident May Not BE ignored,
and May Possibly BE One of the
Features of the Message.
HE STILL HOPES FOR PEACE
But IS REPORTED TO BE YIELDING
TO PREVAILING SENTIMENT.
Possibility that the Message May Be
Delayed Beyond TO-Morrow-
Action of Committees.
YESTERDAYS DEVELOPMENTS.

YESTERDAYS DEVELOPMENTS.
President Mckinley hopes to
have his message ON the Cuban
question ready for Congress by
Tuesday, but it may be delayed
till later i'm the week. He has
called Attorney General Griggs to
his assistance, and n strong legal
presentation of the case is prom
Used. The President, it is reported,
has recOnsidered his determina-
tiOn to ignore the Maine incident,
and that phase of the question
may be made a feature of the mes
sage. 1t is not known definitely
what recommendations, if any, the
President will make, but some of
his intimate friends say he is
yielding to the sentiment of the
country, and will urge vigorous
action. He has not, however, Civ
en- UP hope that hostiIities may be
averted.
The war sentiment I'm Congress
is still strong, and several mem
hers say it is doubtful if aggres-
sive action can be postponed be-
yOnd Wednesday. The general
opinion in Washington among Leg
islatOrs and dipIo mats is that the
crisis Will reach it's climax this
week. A little further delay would
be acceptable to the Navy and
War Departments, which are anx-
ious to land all munitions pur-
chased abroad at New York before
hOstiIitics begin.
No actual move for mediation
has been made by amy European
power, but the question is being
discussed by the representatives
of foreign governments stationed
in Washington. 1t was stated in n
Madrid dispatch that the Pope had
been selected as mediator by both
Spain and tho United States, but
the statement was denied by As
sistant Secretary Day and at the
White House.
1t is probable that the Cuban
recognition resolutions of the
Senate foreign relations commit
tee Will be reported ON Wednes-
day, but they are not likely to be
passed without debate, unless they
should be in accord with the Pres
ident's recommendations. The res
OlutiOns provide for armed inter-
ventiOn, If necessary, to secure
independence for Cuba. The House
committee on foreign affairs has
practically agreed TO resolutions
similar i'm tenor to those OF the
Senate.
The feeling at Madrid now is that
war is imminent, and the belief fs
prevalent that President Mckinley
will send an uItimatum to the Sa-
gastR Cabinet early this week. A
letter from the bishop of the dio-
cese, ordering prayers for the sue
cess of the Spanish arms, was read
in all the churches of Madrid Sum
day. The press also regards war
as inevitable. An "armada' is be-
ing organized, which will rendez-
vOus at the Cape De Verde islands.
The torpedo fiOtiIla will not sail
for Cuban waters until a powerful
fleet of cruisers is ready tC convoy
it across the Atlantic. Instructions
have been sent to Porto Rico for
the return of the cruisers Vizcaya
and Almirante OquendO to Havana
as soon as possible. There were no
bull fights Sunday, and the Span
fsh capital was comparatively
quiet. Several rumOrs, however.
caused ~ little excitement.
Minister WOOdfOrd, in an inter-
view at Madrid, is reported as say
ing that he is laboring to secure
an honorable peace in Cuba, and
that his faith is still strong that
war between the United States
and Spain can be averted. If Spain
acts justly. towards Cuba, he con-
cIudes, '.peace is certain Pre-
mier Sagasta also talked freely to
a correspondent ON the situation.
saying the independence of Cuba
has not been brOached in the ne
gOtiRtiOns with the United States.
The autODOmist cabinet of Cuba
has appealed TO the insurgents to
arrange an armistice with "a
view of bringing the war to "a
close.
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