Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-11
or'rom our Special Correspondents

'From our Special Core pcndcnt.D
Washington, d. c., April 10Th
Pr sident's message will go to Con-
gress tomorrow. 1t Will not be chang
ed in any way except by the addition
Of a paragraph announcing the purpose
If Spain to proclaim a cessation of hos
tiities in Cuba and commencing all 20
was the Presidents intention, late this
afternoon, and it is not believed that
there will he any material alteration
in the programme. 1t mus t MT be sup
posed though that this determination
has been reached without grave c5nsd-
Grafton and without a careful canvass
of ether possible solutions, There Were
two cabinet meetings, yesterday, and
the President was in consultation dur
ing the day with many senators who
had various views 10 present.
Among those who called at the White
House We're Senators Lodge, Aldrich,
Elkins, Hanna and Spooner. Senator
Lodge who has frequently been called
in by the President for advice, was
with him for long time, discussing
plars for bringing the Executive and
Congress together in unity Of action.
The President has been overwhelmed
with conflicting councils and recon-
mendations. Saturday night, when the
announcement of tie Spanish procia
Nation was first received. he was in
clined to regard it as of great import
anct and he was confirmed in this view
by Senator iIlkins, who was with him
until midnight. and who Went directly
from the White House to the Spanish
legation.
The cabinet meeting. this morning.
helped to fix this impression III his
mind. With hardly an exception the
members Of the cabinet We're Of the
opinion that it was the duty Of the adj
ministratinn to delay action until it
could be ascertaincd what effect the
proposed cessation of hostilities would
have They did not advise him to
postpone the message, but they did
urge him to append paragraph ear
nestly recommending Congress to de-
ter action until the Spanish govern
ment should have been able to attempt
new negotiations looking to the pacih-
cation of Cuba. The meeting lasted for
a long time and at the close the Pres
ident was inclined to accept the views
of his official advisers. Some of those
who called upon him in the afternoon,
strenuously opposed such a course.
AT least one senator who has been an
earnest advocate of peace and who is
Il leader of the conservative element,
told him that it would never do to at
tempt to recommend a compliance with
the Spanish suggestion; and that if
anything of the sort We're attempted
there was grave danger that Congress
would take the matter into its own
hands ana act at once without regard
to the Presidents wishes. Out of the
conflict of varying opinions, was at last
brought the conclusion that there
should be no recommendation Of com
pliance with the Spanish request and
that no suggestion should be made that
Congress regard it save in the event
that it proved effective for the purpose
which the United States government
have in view. 1t is probable that thu |
message. tomorrow. will contain an in
timation of this kind
No suggestion has come from Spain
that The proposed cessation of HOSTILE |
ties will lead to anything more tangi- /
Bile than an advanced autonomy. In |
deed. Minister Polo called at the state
this afternoon. and pre-
scented a formal document which stated |
in so many words that autonomy was
what his government had in view. 1t
appears that the SagaSta ministry has |
Continued on page 30