The San Francisco call., 1898-04-12


 may be enacted as result of his mes age. no matter how serious the conse- quences may be. Now Congress has the responsibility upon it. It is the Presi- dents sincere hope that 1t will weigh every phase of the question as carefully as he has done and that when 1t does act, 1t will declare for forcible interven- ton, and not in the form of direct de claration of war.
 HRather that the Administration should be an ignominious failure than that it should be responsible fo1 an unholy war" is a favorite expres- sion of the President.
 Should he be clothed with authority to use the military and naval forces to intervene solely for the purpose of es- tablishing peace and order in Cuba. the President proposes to exercise 1t first by transmitting to Spain copy of the resolution, with a statement that his obligations require him to carry out the will of Congress. and notification that he will do so at once. unles5 Spain with draws from the island.
 In other words, the President will deliver an ultimatum to Spain before making a naval demonstration, in the hope that Spain may at the last moment consent to the concession of the independence of the people of that island upon an indemnity, or upon some other basis which may be satisfactory to all parties involved If war should then come, whether "holy" or '.unholy," he will feel that the responsibility is on Spain.
 One significant sign of peace is that diplomatic relations between the United States and Spain have not been severed as a result of the message sent to Con gress to-day. It is true that all oul Consuls have been called out of Cuba and that would indicate preliminary sign Of war, but our Minister IS still al Madrid and Spain's representative i: still here. It was supposed that wher the Presidents message went to Con gresS Spain would at once take um- brage and recall Minister Polo de Der nabe. She has not done so, nor has tho President recalled Minister Woodford The two Ministers are thus at their post, of duty and in position to resume nego tiations for a definite settlement of the Cuban question pending the difference, between the two countries involving tht Maine disaster in the event that Spair should succeed in getting the Cubans tC consent to the armistice which tht Queen has proclaimed.
 The whole matter is left in the hand of Congress, so far as the President i concerned, but if anytlano should conn of the negotiations which are known tt be secretly under way to secure the in dependence of Cuba on an indemnit, basis, there is no doubt that the Presi dent would quickly open negotiation with Spain while Conoress is deliber ating over the form of action 1t vii take.
 This is the only ray of hope shin ing forth from the war-clouds whicl are still lowering over us, and whil too much importance should not b attached to it, it should not be los sight of as one of the remote possi bilities.
 The text of the armistice which is no, in the possession of the President. wa told tonight, was rather disappointin to the authorities here. and if the flu terms had been known this morning, tn addition to the Presidents message int mating desire for delay might not hay been inserted.
 As to the Congressional situation. a indications tonight point to some day delay. Both houses are in an ugl frame of mind The Presidents mes sage, while satisfactory to the conserve tive classes, is disappointing to the ma jority. One of the chief points of di: satisfaction Is the omission of any re erence to the question of the indeDenC ence in the demands which the messae shows the President has made upo Spain His reference to stable forl of government means, in the opinion ( most or tllOSS WlO ldNc o1>oeptioii to LII message. that the President still favor an autonomist form of government fc Cuba, and his line of argument again recognition of independence at this tin is interpreted to mean that he nevt contemplated anything further i'll his d mands upon the Madrid authorities.
 It is this question of recognitio of independence that is the mai bone of contention in Congress an one which will provoke the della which Spain is praying for.
 The Foreign Affairs committees al divided on the question in their effor to formulate resolution for final adol ton. Strong efforts have been made ,