The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-04-08
THE MESSAGE
May Not Be Sent to Congress Before Nom
day in Order to Allow Americans to Get
Out of Havana.

Out of Havana.
WASHINGTON, April 7.-Swift as a
cannons flash changed the Cuban stu
alton Wednesday. The galleries OF
congress were crowded, senators and
representatives were anxious and agi-
tated, even the diplomatic corps was
in a ferment awaiting a message from
the president of the United States to
the congress of the American people
that might mean war. when with
excitement at the highest, like an cleo
trio flash the word passed that there
would be no message Wednesday. Its
suddenness stunned the public which
heard the news in distorted forms
and amazed veteran members of
congress. Ultimately, it became
known that not only would there be
no message Wednesday, but no mes
sage this week, and that it was at least
a posi- Utility the message written and
approved might never go to congress
at all. The first reason for the delay
was that the administration received
advices from Gen. Lee at Havana in
dicating that all Americans could not
be gotten off the island Wednesday,
and would be in grave peril if the mes
sage preceded their departure. The
second reason, and perhaps the
equally potent with the other.
slowly drifted into public com
prehension late in the day, chiefly
through the medium of published dis
patches from Madrid, for extreme ret
icence was maintained on the subject
by the few in Washington who knew
the facts, and even cabinet officers
were unadvised on the subject This
important news was that the Spanish
government, after what plainly had
been most exciting time in inner Span
ish circles at Madrid, had decided to
reopen the case closed, so far as this
government was concerned, by the re-
fusal of Spain to make satisfactory re-
Spouse to the representations made by
the United States last week, and, in
order to avert impending war, had de-
cided to make concessions heretofore
refused. What will be the final out
come it is too early to say, but the as
pect of affairs certainly is considerably
more pacific and sufficient to renew
the hope of the president in a solution
of the Cuban question satisfactory
to the American people and achieved
without bloodshed. The details
remain to be worked out but it is
expected that between now and
Monday a clearer light will be thrown
on the future by action at Madrid, of
which one important feature at least
is the declaration of an Armistice by
the queen regent of Spain. This arm
i5tice, it is expected. will lead to ulti-
mate independence of Cuba from Span
ish rule, but by what intermediate
steps perhaps even the governing
powers do not at this time know.
Much, it is supposed, will depend upon
the Cuban insurgents and the people
of the two countries, the United States
and Spain.
The powers of Europe, material and
moral, it is known, brought to bear all
their influence on the government of
Spain and still are actively at work
seeking by the wisest and most polite
course necessary in view of the circum-
stances and sentiments of the two
great nations involved to bring
peace out of the gathering war
clouds. All the capitals of Europe
have been in communication to
this end, a fact evidenced by the
assemblage at the British embassy
in this city Tuesday of the representa-
tive of the six great powers of Europe
who then and there were made mutual
ly acquainted with what had been
done abroad and with the desire of
those who accredited them to Wash
ington that they should work in ac-
cord here, this concert however. in the
United States not to 60 to beyond
mild tender of good offices
to secure peace and delay
a definite declaration of war if HOSTILE
ties finally became inevitable Some
of the represen tatives assembled at
Sir Julian PauncefOte's may have wish
ed to offer mediation, but if so, were
warned against it by others in the con-
ference, who understood more clearly
that such procedure would be re sent
ed and work to hostile, and not to
peaceful ends.
The improved condition of affairs
was reflected throughout all public
quarters late in the day. 1t was mani
! tested at the white house among cabi-
net officers and at the embassies and
legations. including the Spanish lega-
ton. At the latter establish
ment Senior Polo said that while
he could not disclose any of the
information reaching him in an
official character, yet he felt
that the strain of few hours ago was
materially relieved, and that the pros
| poets for peace looked much brighter.
He in no way confirmed, nor would he
| even discuss. views entertained in
! other high official quarters that Spain
was slowly but surely yielding, and
| confined his utterances to the general
statement that conditions. were i'm
! proving.
A generally quieter feeling was evil
dent at the war and navy departments
where in contrast to the feverish ex-
| element of the past week the tone was
almost a pathetic. While there was
the usual amount of routine attendant
upon the recent work of preparation,
things Wednesday settled down almost