The age-herald., 1898-04-08
SCENES INCIDENT
 TO WAR EXCITEMENT
By JAY DURHAM.

l was upon the verge of war. On lthe 18th day of April, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired on. The sound of that shot was heard l quickly around the world. It Is doubtful, however, if that incident caused more ex- ctement at the capital of the nation than have the various recent movements from day to day created. True. the Fort Sum- ter event broke upon the country with great suddenness, though 1t was not wholly unexpected. President McKinley's policy has been so vacillating that one could not forecast today the possible conditions Of tomorrow. The white house has presented for the past fifteen days scenes of almost unequalled activity. The prominent thor oughfares have been thronged with people, all talking war. The telegraph and news paper offices have been scenes of intense excitement. In the minds of the majority of the people there fingered grave doubts as to what would be the outcome. While many hoped for war, doubt if many or them seriously thought war would follow. It has been those who have been the ad- vocates of 'peace-at-any-price" who seem- ed to be most afraid that war was fnevita- ble.
 There have been more financiers in Wash ington during the past fortnight than have been seen here for many years. Wall street seems to have empted its active business contingent about the capitol and at the white house. The peace element have left nothing undone to produce in the mind Of the president, as well as in the minds of congressman, the necessity of back-oown' Congressmen have been literally lombard ed from every section of the country, less perhaps from the south than elsewhere. In some cases they yielded. Others took ex- ception to the dictatorial dispatches from the bankers and members of boards Of trade, and replied by saying that they would not object to supporting the presi- dents policy if the people who sent the telegrams would indicate what the presi- dents policy was or would be.
 The white house yard has been literally filled and the tall grass trampled down by long haired men and short haired women representing various peace societies. II they were successful in getting an audience with the president, and many or them were, some spoke while others wept. The most eloquent of the delegation was se- lected to do the talking. He usually talk ed in the style best known to the clergy not an attractive style, not style that was calculated to change the minds of men or win the hearts of women. In some in- stances suggestions were made, when Tn the presence of the president that perhaps the efficacy of prayer would not be amiss. One clergyman, hailing from Massachu- setts whose cloth was somber and face pallid. solicited the president to join with him in prayer At times 1t appeared as though they might convert the white house into A. prayer meeting Of course no one obiects to prayer, nor the results 1t may nrnduce but it seemed ridiculous, even to the president that in so trying time It would not be becoming statesman to en- gage in prayer when meeting great crisis. This was a time for firmness of character and stability of purpose.
 The president of the United States has never for a moment believed other than that Providence is on the side of the United states He believes God is on the side or humanity. The United States has threat ened to unlose her war dogs in the name of humanity. therefore war with Spain will be war in Gods name as well as in the name of American honor. This is the view the president took of the proposed prayer meeting luet LII tAC PSchNS PNNF'>'
 
 That the nresident was more or less in- luenced there is no doubt, though he yield cd most to the peace makers who came from the financial centers of the world, and not from the provincial districts inhab- ited by those people who see but one side of A question at time. The scenes about the capitol building have been almost inde- 1ba SapaStaS reply had been received at the white house infor- nation came over the wires, supposed to have originated at Madrid, that Spain had made it's declaration of war. This news struck the capitol like bolt of lightning. There was a. hurrying to and fro from all sections of the building. Even the staid and dignifed senators left their places in the chamber and went into the corridors to learn, if possible, the confirmation Of the rumor The house was almost emptied. Clerks, messengers and in fact all the vis- itors and everybody else packed into the corridors, and galleries were in high state of excitement. That there was truth in the report was believed for more than an hour. At the expiration of this time it was de- nied, and this quickly circulated among the people and everybody breathed easier. If it had been true that Spain had declared war the members of congress felt that snap judgment had been taken. Spanish trick had been played in advance of the United States being in actual readiness.
 
 Spain has apparently left nothing undone to keep that nation well informed of every thing that Is taking place at this capitol Not satisfied with the official information that is communicated to that government through its minister, it has emissaries in every department of the government here In other words, Spain's spies They are everywhere. They are in the departments, apparently for the purpose of ascertaining what private remarks a cabinet minister may make upon the Spanish question. They go in the newspaper offices on the pretense of looking at the files of the papers, but for the real purpose of gaining any infor- nation of what the correspondents may he sending to their papers. They visit the