The Indianapolis journal., 1898-02-25
WAR MAY POSSIBLY RESULT
But III WILL NOT BE PRECIPITATED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
Evidence Accommodating that Prepara-
tions for Contingencies Are Being
Made, Despite Numerous DenfaIs.
,necIaI - tbe Indiananolis .TournaI.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24s-Conviction that
the best interests of his country would be
served by pacific treatment of the Cuban
problem has influenced the President to pur-
sue that course from the day of his inaug-
uration down to date. 1t was plain to him
that anything which was likely to disturb
commercial serenity would tend to retard
and obstruct the re-esrablishment of conf
dence, without which permanent prosperity
could not be hoped for. The same reasons
and influences are now operating for a COM
plete reversal of this policy. The events of
the past three weeks show thGt Cuba is
the only cloud remaining in cur skies, the
only serious menace to affright capital and
postpone Industrial development and COM
mercial enterprise.
Now comes a demand for the removal of
the cause of irritation, and, I'm obedience
to that demand, it can be assumed with en-
tire safety that within a reasonable period
of time the Washington government will
move for a restoration of peace in the ISL
and of Cuba. The President will not be
stampeded into hasty action, however. Ev-
cry move will be carefully and deliberately
weighed, and when the record is made up
and the conclusion of the affair becomes
history. it will be seen that this Nation has
acted with dignity and impartial Justice to
itself and its neighbors. Such is the firm
determination of the President, and the
leaders of both branches of Congress are in
entire accord with him in that view. To
the end that there may be reasonably and
safely prompt action for the restoration of
peace in Cuba, the whole influence of the
patriotic elements in and out of Congress
will, in the immediate future, be bent to
subduing the feverish excitement waich has
swept over the country recently ana which
still possesses it.
The panic in the security market to-day
marked the elimination of the hysterical
crusade of yellow journal exaggeration
of war talk ami called sharp attention to
the necessity o.: neutralizing the effects of
such wholesale publication. Word has
passed along tile line to put on the brakes,
reverse the engines and give ourselves
chance to cool on pending the investigation
into the facts with regard to the Maine
explosion and executive and congressional
action on the fin ings and collateral issues.
When reason snail have taken the place
Of emotional frenzy the President can then
act, and pending such performance it is
the hope of public men in Washington on
whose shoulders the responsibility will fall
that the people maintain proper restraint
on their feelings and contain their souls in
patriotic patience.
POLICY OF DEMOCRATS.
The question of politics has already en-
tered more or less into the discussion of
the Cuban crisis among congressman. 1t is
observable tha- the Democrats who have
all along been clamorously desirous of
American interference in Cuban affairs
even to the extent of war with Spain, have
quieted down wonderfully. They are now
actually afraid that there may be war and
are confessedly desirious that hostilities
may be averted. They do not conceal their
anxiety on that point. and freely admit that
they believe If war should be declared they
(the Democrats) would suffer overwhelm-
ing defeat at the polls next fall. They be-
lieve that the country would rally to the
support of the party which was carrying
on the war, and as that party would be
the Republican they are naturally prefer
ring peace. This conversion from the cham
pionship OF Cuban independence at any
price TO the attitude of being a peace party
is a sudden and startling change of front
Referring to the rumors of treachery in
connection with the Maine disaster Mr.
Boutelle, chairman of the House commit
tee on naval affairs, said to-day: II feel
that any man who by spoken or written
utterance adds a spark to infiame public
sentiment at this iuncture is as guilty as
the man who touches a match to the powder
magazine of a vessel. This is a time for
the calmest judgment instead of unguarded
talk, wholly without basis of established
Gaya
of hundreds and thousands of our people"
The Navy Department to-day gave out
the figures showing the strength of the ma
val militia up TO date. This shows a total
force of 4.f45 officers and enlisted men,
which Is a gratifying increase from the 3.7Os
shown by the last report The number of
officers and men by States is as follows:
California. 3S6: Connecticut, 165; Florida
1S6; Georgia. 225; Illinois. 523: Louisiana. 262;
Maryland. 2i0; Massachusetts,. 44l: Michi-
gun. l93; New Jersey. 3s4: New York. 472:
North Carolina 23n: Ohio, ZIG: Pennsylva-
MIA, 2is; Rhode Island, 1885, South Carolina.
l52; Virginia, II, total Of Ais
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt says. in
this connection, that Illinois leads the list.
with forty-three commissioned officers and
42S petty officers ard enlisted men. The ad-
Jntant general Of that State recently made
request that the United States steamer
Michigan be assigned for the use of the
Illinois brigade for one month during the
coming summer. During Mr. Roosevelt's
tour of the lakes last summer he was much
pleased with the showing made by the IlI-
nois and other rava' brigades on the lakes,
and he has recommended to Secretary Long
that the request for tho Michigan be
granted.
FOR MANNING SMALL CRUISERS.
Aside from the forces shown in The above
list. new brigadea are in process OF forma-