Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-05
MISUNDERSTANDING 5, 1898.
TIE SITI ATION.

While IT cannot be said that as whole
the situation developing out Of our com
plications with Spain is more pacific,
there are phases of it that are cncnu-
raging to those VINO s,ill trust that the
crisis may be overpassed and the cause
we have espoused be indicated without
war. Certainly the tension is, for the
time being. less strained than it has been
for several days-that is TO say IT is in
less danger of swapping suddenly-and
the longer this condition obtains the
greater the prospect Of its relaxing per
manontly. That it is less strained is
proved by the fact that Congress has
given the President more time in which
10 prepare his messagc-has given him
until wednesday or Thursday, perhaps.
This concession, we would fain believe,
means that Congress is thinking. With
thought there rarely fails TO come a
deepening sense of responsibility that
leads 10 conservatism's asserting itself.
There are conflicting advices as TO
what will be the tone Of and the recon-
mendations contained in the message.
ment viii be an earnest plea for peace
and in another that it will be distinctly
aggressive This friend and cOnhdaht of
the President is quoted as saying that he
Will push the Maine disaster TO the
front. and that one is given as authority
that he will continue TO treat the whole
subject of the explosion as a matter en-
tirely ASSOCIATED from other issues.
Here we are informed that he will make
no recommendations at all, but simply
review all the facts in the case; there it
is affirmed that he will not only make
various recommendations, but back his
recommendations by communicating i'm
portant information bearing upon certain
features of the situation that he has
confided to but few members of either
house OF Congress, and Of the full slgnf-
canoe of which even some of his Cabinet
members are not informed. And so it
goes. The truth is. however that we
shall probably know little or nothing
very definite about the scope and charac-
ter Of the message until it shall have
been made public in its entirety.
But, be its scope, its character, and its
recommendations what they may, the
longer the time before its presentation
for conservative influences to assert their
sway, the more reason to hope that it
will be considered calmly, dispassionate-
-, and with a due regard for the con-
sequences that may be involved in what
ever action upon 1t may be taken. II is
the duty Of Congress to the country TO
so consider it, whether II shall call for
antagonism or endorsement.
Another encouraging view Of the situa-
ton is that delay here also gives Spain
time TO think calmly, and what with the
pressure that it is said Is being brought
10 bear upon her by the foreign Powers
this increases the chances Of her rea-
LIKING what war would mean TO her, and
OF her making such overtures as may
open the way for honorable peace for
both parties.
We are not sanguine. Far from it. We |
fully appreciate upon what a slender
realize the many contingencies and |
agencies that may operate TO break that |
thread. But we know that in such a
breathing spell as is now promised us,
nations that have been nearer to blows
than are the United states and Spain
have. by listening to the demands of rea-
son and taking counsel of conservatism
and justice. found way Of peace that
had along it no thorns OF dishonor.