The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-03

| fully reflected in diplomatic circles,
which have experienced almost as
much difficulty as outsiders in extract
ing facts from the mass of eontradic-
tory statements regarding the Hispano-
American crisis today. Beyond opining
generally that matters were nearing a
crisis. there was not a man in London
of real weight who was willing TO risk
an opinion as TO whether the outcome
would be peace or war. Even now
there is a difference of opinion; but
the distinctly warlike tone of the great
mass of evidence. and the marked di-
vergence Of the United States demands
and SPANS proposals, have led the ma
jority TO conclude that the parting of
the ways has been reached, unless
within a few hours Senior Sagasta is
able TO give assurances that the delay
he asks for will ensure the complete
freedom of Cuba.
WAR MAY SPREAD.
1t is not too much to say that all
Europe regrets IL. though for different
reasons: some because genuinely
friendly nations are involved, and 9TH
ers because they dream that the war
bacillus will spread and aggravate the
feyerish spirit of unrest already in evil
dence in the old world. To the last,
therefore. it is hoped that a solution
will be found. even when Spain is APP
parently intractable. The best informed
persons believe Spain is only temper
izing, as it is recognized there is diff
Guilty in the Spanish government ac-
cepting without demur the demands of
the United States. in view of the dan
ger of a revolution and the overthrow
of the monarchy. So, though realizing
the imminence of hostilities. the appar-
ent hopelessnesS of averting war has
come as a shock.
1t was generally believed that the
enormous majority obtained by Senior
SagaSta in the new corteS would make
him master of Spain and permit him TO
yield to the inevitable, but it seems
that the IS per cent of the voters who
did not participate in the elections, in
Guiding the army and the Barcelona
and other merchants who are vitality
interested in Cuba, do not propose TO
allow him free hand. They have
been among the most fervent in the
patriotic demonstrations of the past
few days,
INTENSE INTEREST.
General interest in the situation is
intense. All the news bulletins are
eagerly scanned, and in the Hobbies OF
the house of commons yesterday even
ing there was animated discussions of
by the statement of a prominent ship
owning member of the house of COM
mons that the United States during the
day had been Offering very large sums
for 19-knot steamers. Although the
concensuS of opinion is that there is
no escape from hostilities unless the
unforeseen, as SO frequently happens
in politics, changes the course of
events, there are few hopeful people
left.
Mr.. James Brice. NJ. P, the former
president of the board of trade, and
author of The American Common
wealth, is quoted as saying: Some
how | fancy that as near as the two
powers may have drifted toward war,
we are not going TO witness so fright
full a calamity. know President Me-
Kinley and all his administration, and
| know they do not wish for war. In
fact, none of the really clear-headed
men in the United States want war.
They can see too far ahead"
THE COUNTER PROPOSALS.
Opinion in London has been little in
fiuenced by the character of Senior Sa-
gasta's counter proposals. AS an Off
cial of the foreign Office remarked: |
The Americans will naturally decline |
to accept such proposals as a sufficient
guarantee that a power which has so !
long patiently failed to discharge its |
duties in humane administration can
not be trusted to give effect to it's tar (
dy conversion
The foreign official added: THE re- |
sponsibility resting upon each party is |
terrible. Happily, nothing will tend so |
to quicken the feeling of re- !
sponsibility among Spanish statesmen !
as the prospect of having to face i'm
mediately the grim consequences of |
in an uncompromising
force.
Reading between the lines of Senior
5agaSta'S proposals, / have reason to
think he does not mean to drive mat
ers to extremes and that he will learn
rom the construction put upon them
hat his condition will not relieve the
United States of the duty of interven-
ion. compelled, as the Americans are.
~ a sense of moral obligation, to take
action in the matter. So, if Senior Sa-
sasta is as strong as he is unquestion-
IDLY well meaning, he will persuade his
TO accept, unreservedly,
he American condition
ABSURD DECLARATIONS.
The positive semi-official declaration
elegraphed last night to the Associat-
d Press from Madrid, in which it was
that no proposition con-
4
dependence of Cuba, either with or
Without indemnity. has been made TO
he Spanish government. that the gov
rnment would straightway reject any
UGH propositions, and that there is no
arty or statesman in Spain disposed
0 listen to such a solution of the cri- I
is, has created a mild CONSERVATION
ere. as il has been assumed that the I
of Cuba was the crux Of {
he difficulty. 1t has even been sug- {
ested in pro-Spanish circles that the :
far party in the United States launch I
d this device in order to upset diplo- I
latic negotiations at Madrid {
Spanish circles here have been great
? excited by the publication of an in {
erview with the Spanish consul gen. {
raj here, Senior Jurado, who conveyed /
ne impression that if the settlement of
ne difficulty was left to the Spaniards
London. Spain would fight; but 9TH ,
r people here point out that the Span
lrds do not realize the volcano which .
beneath them. They suspect the
nited States of 'bluffiing," and be-
eve she is afraid to come to close
uarters, In addition, the Spaniards
? of their fleet. c
SPANISH PATRIOTISM.
Senior Jurado tersely expressed the 5
'eling of his compatriots. saying: IF 7
" country wants me, my money,
othes. everything. it shall have all.
zen TO my last shirt button"
From the extraordinary activity of
lie Spanish legation here, II is evident v
lat Spain is seeking the friendly Of 4
,es of tho foreign office. Indeed, il is
morally thought that the frequent Wis
5 of the French, Austrian, Russian
I'd Spanish ambassadors TO the Brit Il
h foreign office is connected with the
lban situation.