The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-29
WARCL0UDS HOVER
Despite tho Peaceful Attitude
. of the Administration.
Il ,EHr=d
ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON.
Spain Willing That We Should Feed
: ~. Her Cuban Subjects. ...-.4...

81. her Cuban Subjects. ..-4uo
,4k' a*'
TALK OF YoPEA1 MEDIATION
An Interview between the French
Ambassador and Assistant Secretary
Day Gives Color to the Reports-The
Navy Department Makes Plans For
a "Mosquito Fleet" Formed From
the Auxiliary Navy-Ordnanoe De-
partment Awards Contracts For Dis
appearing Gun CarrIages-A warlike
Havana Newspaper-Spain's yigor-
ous Reply to Minister Woodford's
Note Concerning Cuba.
Washington, March 29.-Yesterday
was one of action in every branch of
official life; action in the White House,
where the president and his cabinet
Advisers assembled In special cabinet
session at 1890 o'clock, action in both
VI VI COHkICSSb Whctt lhC Illto-
sage of the president on the Maine dis
!aster and report and testimony Of the
court Of Inquiry were received, action
In the secret conferences Of state Of
fcials and diplomats concerning the
latest phases of Spanish American ne
gotiation, and action in the war and
havy departments, with the Spanish
situation as the common purpose Of all
the varying aspects of official action.
Seldom has day been replete with
30 many diverse and important phases
of a single subject. And yet through
put this activity the prevailing tone
as received from administration sources
has been more assuring, more in the
line of peace, than it has been for some
days This was the impression con-
yeyed by cabinet officers after the spe-
,cial cabinet session. The same senti-
ment characterized the diplomatic con-
terences at the state department But
in congress, which afforded the great
est field for anti-Spanish and warlike
expressions, a strain of discomfort and
uneasiness prevailed after the presi-
dents message and the Maine report
was submitted, especially on the house
side.
The presidents message submitting
the Maine report and accompanying
evidence was the main event of the day.
Those who had anticipated that the
message would contribute to the ag-
gressve spirit were disappointed. 1t
contained no surprises. In the house
of representatives the message and re-
port was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs, and Spanish debate
was for the time being diverted.
! In the senate there was similar
reference to the committee on foreign
relations, and Mr.. Money, of Missis-
sippi delivered brief and energetic
speech picturing the woes of Cuba.
With the report was submitted the
Soluminous evidence taken at Havana
and Key West before the court of in
qury. Examined in detail this evil
Ience proved to be much more inter-
Ss.ins in recital than the cold and dis
passionate review submitted by the
court.
After the adjournment of the house
there was considerable discussion over
p proposed consolidation Of the forces
In the house who favor some form of
Immediate action on the Cuban is
sue. There was strong feeling shown
over the avoidance in the message of
any outline Of a definite administration
policy and decided disposition ap-
parent not to await any further delay
nor resort to temporizing measures
The project to furnish ad llbitum re-
lief supplies to the Cuban non-com-
batants Is meeting with opposition, to
which members on both sides of the
house have given voice in private dis
cussion on the ground, first, that Spain
alone is responsible for the conditions
on the island and, second, the ex-
tending of such large and probably
continued aid abroad is unjust to the
people OF this country.
The special cabinet session was held
to go over the presidents message and
particularly to consider the latest
developments in the negotiations now
proceeding with Spain. These had as
Bumed wide field, embracing not only
the Maine question: but the entire
Cuban problem. The answer Of Spain
was in hand to the firm note sent
through Minister Woodford last week
stating that the condition of Cuban
affairs had become so intolerable that
the United States could not much
longer remain inactive toward it. The
general tone of the Spanish answer i'm
Ipressed the president and cabinet Of
'ficers most favorably, so much so that
after the meeting it was stated by
members that the outlook was far more
assuring, and that Spain had shown
such q concilitory tone that it was
believed she would make concessions
sufficient to permit an amicabe ad-
t1ustment of the present strained re-
lations.
This was supplemented, however, by
the statement that the danger point
had not yet passed, and that war, while
no longer a probability, was yet
possibility. The president had dis
tinCtly disclosed to his cabinet asso-
ciates his purpose to avert war If 1t
was possible with just solution of
the Cuban problem, and he had felt
from the disposition manifested by
Spain that this just solution could be
reached. This. however, is without
considering congress, which may, now
that the subject is formally before it,
take some radical action.
Meantime, at the state department,
cablegranls were being received from
Minister Woodford, and the Spanish
minister, Senor Polo de Bernabe, was
In lengthy conference with Judge
Day as to the prospective adjustment.
The meeting between the Spanish min
lister and Judge Day came after the
cabinet conference, so that such repre-
sentation as Spain submitted through
him did not get before the cabinet. At