Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-04
TO COUNTERPART WAR SPIRIT
Effort. of tas s Sgsa and His Assistants in
That Direction.
Adni.istration and the Accident
Theory. oR1fhs M.ine Disaster
Foreca.ti.s Probable Course.


are doing What, they can to counterfeit the
war spirit IN The House. During the past
week Mr. Reed has been talking a great
deal with members of the House, and some
| Of the republican members are authority
for the statement that he is making a per-
ocnal canvass for recruits to support him
| in resisting the anti-Spanish sentiment,
which Is very strong It is said that he Is
making individual appeals to republicans
not to permit themselves to be carried
away by sentiment and emotion, but to
stand up consistently to the policy which
has thus far BEEN followed Of holding the
Cuban agitation in check. The grumblings
that have recently been heard on the re-
publican side Of the House cause the lead
ers some uneasiness and It Is felt that 1t
will prove the most severe strain discipline
has had to hold the minority party in
strict line with the Speaker. It is believed
by some thatgeveptually the managers will
be compelled to yield to popular sentiment.
It is not thought that the House can be
held back when the report Of the Maine
board OF inquiry has been laid before them.
The Administration's Attitude.
The statement may be reiterated with
confidence and posftiveress that the adj
ministration has abandoned the theory. that
the Maine was blown up by accident. It
Ia asserted that the board could now, IL
no more testimony were taken, show clear
ly that the destructive agency was explod-
ed from the outside. Further investigation
Is necessary, not to make this fact moro
clear, but show aconclusively. IL possible,
what the external agency was, in what
manner and by whom exploded.
II the evidence Of external explosion IS
- manifest, upon inspection, rs It IS be-
aeved to have been found. by the American
aaVafs. the hope - entertained that the
Spanish divers will report this fact and
2r,o NJ ok tSOo n v.yfn vI,.1.~
the external explosion and the Spanish
government Mt once offer full reparation.
Unless Spain. actuated by false and dis
honorable pride, actually desires war. or
prefers war to the humiliation Of confess
ing responsibility for the disaster, this
course win be followed by her II the Span
sh divers make the discoveries which 1t Is
anticipated thsy will. If Spain is not de-
sirous OF avoiding war then it is likely
that her divers and her board of inquiry
Will be ahiicted with official blindness,
which win prevent their seeing what was
made apparent by the American investiga-
ton. 49,
spain's Probable Course.
The question seems to resolve itself to
this: II Spain does not want war she will
follow an honorable course which will be
satisfactory to this country; II she does
want war the situation Is such as to rem
Ger 1t impossible for this government to
avoid 1t. The difficulty of the case from
the Spanish sides1 If the Sagasta govern
lnent desires Ito make suitable amends,
may be increased by the nature Of the re-
pert made by the American board. As
to that the officials at Washington know no
more than do the public. Knowing that
the explosion was not an accident on board
the Maine, there is broad latitude for the
report as to tks actual cause Of the ex-
ternal explosion, If the testimony taken
by the American board shows an official
Spanish plot, PREPARATION by the Spanish
government will be difficult. If the Ques-
ton of how the explosion occurred, except
that 1t did mot occur on board the Maine,
indication OF criminal participation by any
Spanish official. Spain will make repara
ton unlessishe wants war.
Complications Of the situation.
The difhspities Of the cuban question,
aside from the Maine disaster may, in the
opinion of some, familiar with the condi-
tons under which autonomy was tried,
dispose the Spanish government to assume
a defiant attitude with respect to any
charge OF responsibility for the Maine dis
aster. The feeling is so general that if
the Maine disaster had not occurred there
would still have 'besn a grave situation as
between this government and Spain on ac-
count OF the failure of autonomy and the
necessity for some steps to be taken by
this government. that Spain may feel that
nothing would be gained by humfIiating
her dignity @ in settlement of the Maine
matter, II she would still be confronted
with the threat Of Intervention to put an
end to the Cuban war. It is conceived that
Spain, being SO beset, may decide to dare
the worst, denying responsibility and re-
fusing reparation. What she will do is
merely a matter Of speculation based on a
general knowledge of the situation and the
embarrassments of the Sagasta govern
ment, but upon her action seems to depend
the question OF whether we are to have
hostilities. ~ fs> -
Two Facts Settled.
Two things accepted as true, as a basis
OF action. by this government, are that, in
the case of Cuba, autonomy has failed
and that. in the case Of the Maine disas-
ter. the explosion was from the outside
Both questions affect our relations with
Spain, each separately from tho other
The facts as, to the explosion reported by
the board OF inquiry n ay or may not ag-
gTavate the case against Spain; that is yet
to be discovered. With the question nut in
its least serious: FORM it is recognized here
that the general Cuban question will stiN
+ main to be. dealt with. If the report of
the Maine board should -implicate Spanish
officials directly, the general Cuban cues
ton would be. absorbed In the more direct
question of settlement for the crime of
Havana harbor,
The Complications are such in any event
that 1t is felt by the administration and
by most men in Congress to be of the
utmost Importance that preparations for
the most extreme emergency should be
made as rapidly as possible, and that It
would be almost criminal not to make such
pI eparations