Arizona republican., 1898-02-26
NO WAR LAST NIGHT.
When the Declaration Is Made The
 Republican Will Give Due Notice

The town of Phoenix has been al most as explosive as chunk of gun cotton whenever the subject of war with Spain has been mentioned within the last ten days. The Republican has sought to allay the popular feeling and prevent a declaration of hostili- ties until the right time comes. As a republican journal and firm believer in the wisdom of President Mckinley and the advisers with whom he has sur rounded himself, this paper has felt ! that it would be safe to trust them in this affair. It has sought to restrain the Gazettes White Squadron and Prescott's Flying Cavalry until it's arms are sore, so that if this thing is kept up much longer it will let them rush off to the war, bathe it's arms with arnica and wash it's hands of the blood that must ensue.
 The Republican believed that it had convinced the reading public that war was not imminent: that is, that some notice, at least twenty-four hours, would be given so that folks would have time to change their clothes; but last night the furnishing of arms was resumed again. There was great excitement on the street and on the telephone. Folks wanted confirma tion of rumor said to be based on a special telegram to the Gazette that war was imminent, by no means con- tingent, but absolutely certain.
 | There was nobody in this office who knew anything about it. A messep- | ger was sent out after the war editor and the naval editor who had long ! since gone to bed. They came rubbing their eyes and using such language as had never disturbed this sanctum since the flood of more than a year ago. Both said they were disposed to de- clare war against Spain, but prefer i ably against the messenger boy, who was the most directly responsible for the disturbance of their rest.
 i Then the war editor got down to business and eSnressed his views, which were wholly corroborated by the holding naval editor. Said he: War is a serious thing. In this age it does not occur on slight mis- understanding, and battles are not the results of inference. Several things, none of which have transpired yet, are necessary to precipitate a war with Spain. If there should be a war it would of course result from the wrecking of the Maine. It has only been determined by newspaper cor respondents of the Gazette, the New York World and Jour- nal that Spain was in any way implicated in that disaster. They say that divers told them that the ex- p1osion was caused by an outside force, as an examination of the hull showed. I see by our Associated Press dispatches tonight that nobody has seen the hull. It is sunk deeply in the mud and can only be reached after the deck has been removed believe personally that the vessel was
 blown up Intentionally, but I do not
 know it. I'm guessing as everybody
 else. It will be days before il
 can be determined: perhaps never
 But if it should be determined that the
 vessel was destroyed by treachery
 there will be some investigation re
 garding responsibility. That will take
 time. There will be diplomatic com.
 munication between Madrid ant
 Washington and in the meantime botf
 nations will be making, as I believe
 they are now. preparations for war But hardly think they will say so tt
 the Gazette, nor will they send out : ; public warning to keep the Whit. Squadron and the Prescott Flyin.
 Cavalry saddled.
 There won't be any trou
 ble tonight" said the war ed itor as he arose and went out. fol,owe
 by the naval editor, who kicked a : the sleeping messenger boy who awok ], them.