The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-21
DONS WARNED.



translation into cipher and retranslation, he
became convinced that it would be practi-
cally impossible, owing to the difference in
time between Washington and Madrid, to
receive any response to-day Therefore,
the following statement was posted at the
department: 1.-THE text Of the ultimatum to
Spain will be given out by Mr.. Porter, Sec
retary to the President at the White
House, some time tomorrow, probably"
The next move must now be made by
Spain, according to the department officials
II the Spanish government takes view, as
might possibly be concluded from the action
OF its minister here to-day, that in language
and terms the congressional resolution is in
sulting, it may promptly hand Mr.. Wood
lord his passports on receipt Of this COM
munication and thus bring the negotiations
10 a crisis and cause breach of diplomatic
relations within the next twenty-four
hours. If, on the other hand it should neg
lect 10 return a satisfactory answer before
quite as effective as q positive act, mas
much as 1T would amount to refusal of the
demands of the United States. In such
case, the President would proceed imme-
dlately to use the naval and military forces
OF the United States to execute the will Of
Congress. How this will be done, what
steps shall first be taken, whether Havana
shall be blockaded or whether an attempt
shall be made to make a speedy campaign
yana under cover of a bombardment by a
fleet, are all matters of mere speculation.
their plans with the greatest detail for the
future, but they don't hesitate to say that
any attempt to make them public. in adj
vince, to the manifest advantage of Spain,
would be actual treason.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Even persons most familiar with the rou-
tine of the White House would not have
suspected this morning that anything OF an
unusual character was on the taps. The
clerks went about their usual duties with
out any show of excitement and everything
about the mansion bore it's accustomed
look Of quiet and order The President
breakfasted at the usual hour and at 10
O'Clock came into his office, where he was
Joined by Secretary Bliss. The President
looked very well indeed, and, as he walked
up and down the Cabinet rooms for a. little
exercise, smoking his cigar, and with a
bright red carnation in his button-hole, he
seemed in vigorous health and in the full
enjoyment of life. His CHEEKY greeting to
Secretary Bliss as he entered the room con-
f1rned the impression that the strain of the
last few months had not made many obSerV-
able inroads upon his health or spirits.
The events of the day at the White House
We're interesting. AT the Cabinet meeting
yesterday afternoon the general features
and form of the ultimatum to- be sent to
Spain were agreed on and there remained
fair copy for the Presidents signature. The
original draft was made by Assistant Sec
rotary Day and the revised copy, which
was made this morning under his direction,
was laid before the President at 10 10
o'clock; BY that hour several members of
the Cabinet had been called as well as a
number of prominent Senators and members
of the House. Among the number were
Secretary Wilson, Encouragement Griggs,
Senators Platt of Connecticut, Gear of
Iowa, Frye of Maine Lodge of Massachu-
setts, and El1ins of West. Virginia, and
Grosvenor of Ohio All were in the Cabinet
room nearly at the same time.
BY IL o'clock things were lively about the
upper rooms and offices, and there were fire.
quent calls for the secretaries TO attend the
President in the Cabinet room. 1t was
known that the question of giving to the
press a copy of the ultimatum as soon as it
was signed was under discussion, but no
one could state whether this would be done
or not 1t was also stated by some Of the
callers on leaving the President that he
would very soon send to the House of Rep
resentatVes notice of his having approved
the Cuban resolutions and at the same time
would lay before both bodies copies of the
Spanish ultimatum.
AT 11:M a. speculation was brought to
an end by the announcement that the Pres
ident had at that moment signed the resolu-
lions of Congress, that the ultimatum had
been signed some time before. and that the
latter would not be made public until some
time Tomorrow There were present in the
Cabinet room with the President when he
signed the resolutions Secretary Alger, At
ator Elkins and Mr.. Charles Emory Smith
THE ULTIMATUM.
The President, in his ultimatum to the
Spanish government, transmits copy of the
resolutions passed by Congress- which reso-
lutions, he states, he has signed. He de-
mands that Spain withdraw her army and
navy forces from Cuban waters as required
by the terms of the act of Congress (no
date for the withdrawal being mentioned)
and then states that if a satisfactory an
swer is not received here before Saturday
next, he will proceed at once to carry the
resolutions of Congress into effect.
The signing of the resolutions by the
President was an exceedingly interesting
event, although without special incident
General Alger had brought over from the
War Department pen which he requested
the President to use in appending his sigma
ture to the document. The pen had an or
binary gutta percha holder and as it was
handed to the President by his secretary,
Mr.. Porter, those present gathered around
the table to witness the act. There was
considerable feeling manifested by the small
party, but there was no demonstration or
congratulations. The small crowd very soon
dispersed and within ten minutes the nor
NAL condition of things at the White House
had been resumed. Secretary Alger re-
manned with the President, and as soon as
the rush was over the two took q walk in
the White House grounds, returning in less
the ultimatum was not made public it is
known that with it is transmitted to the
Spanish government, through Minister
Woodford, q copy of the Joint resolutions of
Congress, together with the statement that
they have received executive approval In
compliance with their terms the President
makes a demand on Spain to withdraw her
land and naval forces from the island and
it's waters, and in the event that q salts
factory response to this demand is not re-
ceived by the President by Saturday next
the United States will carry these resolu-
tons into effect. The President does not
name any hour of the day of Saturday prior
of which Spain must make answer If at all
to our demand, but a reasonable assumption
is that any time up to midnight Saturday
terms of the ultimatum. One of the mem
bers of the Cabinet, in speaking of this fea-
ture, said the government would not hold a
stop watch on Spain in this emergency and
could we'll afford on our own account to
give her three days to decide a question
which may involve the destiny of the ma
ton.
From this time forward war preparations
will go forward with renewed activity and
both the army and the navy will be put
seems to be little doubt that the first move
! will be a blockade of one or more of the
Cuban ports and as soon as an army OF
occupation can be transported to them a
demand will be made for an unconditional
surrender, and in the event of refusal
will begin Immediately. IT is not thought
the assembling of the naval force will be
delayed even for day and 1t Is not un-
likely that important movements of both
arms OF the service will be ordered within
the next few hours
There was a look OF relief on the face OF
| Secretary Day when he finally announced
On his return to the State Department from