The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-04-07
WAR IS CERTAIN.
Such Is the Consensus oil
Washington Opinion.
President Continues to Think Differ
ently-He Believes In Intervention,
but Not In Independence Yet.

Out MOI III
Washington, April 6.-There are very
few men in Washington who look for a
peaceful outcome. With the excited
conditions in Cuba, they can see the
possibility of many developments which
will bring on war before congress even
has a chance to declare for Intervention
President Mckinley still hopes for
peace, as he has all along, by conces-
sions from Spain, and is still working to
make those concessions. involving the
withdrawal of Spanish forces and Span
ish authority from Cuba, available for
a peaceful settlement, and to that end
seeks to control congressional action so
as to defer, and, If possible, avert, actual
hostilities, with reasonable faith that he
will succeed. He has been forced by the
threats of a majority of congress, act
ing under what they believe to be the
demand of the majority of the people. to
take the matter out of his hands and
declare war, or the equivalent of it, to
adopt the only plan that he could see
open to him to carry out his purpose in
the circumstances.
Finding that he could not turn the
congressional movement altogether. and
that kilograms and letters from those
who sought to help him as rule only
angered the senators and representa-
tives to whom they were directed, and
who did not regard them as representing
the opinion of the mass of their con-
stituents, the president has taken the
difficult and dangerous alternative of
trying to guide the movement by lead
ing it, SO as to stop it short of extreme
action and immediate war.
Naturally, the men who have been
managing this movement among the
Republicans of both houses have been
encouraged by the gradual yielding of
the president to try and drive him far
Their than he intended to go, and they
have used the power of their followers to
force him to make concessions that he
did not wish to make, but, on the other
hand, the president has undoubtedly
secured the support of the large major
ity of his own party. and of some. at
least, OF the Democrats for more mod
crate policy than the extremists wanted.
His appeal for party harmony and for
cooperation between the executive and
congress, so that the government might
put a united front to Spain and the rest
of the world, emphasized by the great
concessions he has made, has met with a
gratifying response.
In the effort to secure harmonious
action for the sake of the Republican
party, and for the sake of the impress
sion on Spain, the managers find that,
beside some of their own men, they have
difficulty in dealing with a good many
Democrats, and it is manifest that there
will be some discussion, If not delibera
ton, In both houses before the reso-
luton passes, and that it may be de-
layed. The conservative Republicans
hope that this will be the case. because
every days delay helps the administers
ton in its desire to avert war and give
Spain an opportunity to act. After the
resolution has been adopted. if Spain
does not stop, the president might have
to yield on the recognition of Cuban in
dependence, although they admitted
that If he did he would not necessarily
have to perform the executive act of rec
ognition Immediately after action by
congress- However the pres ident may
satisfy this demand by assurances that
recognition of independence will follow
Intervention at the proper time
Many believe that recognition or in
dependence should be the first step and
that intervention should follow as a nee
essary corollary; and these are keenly
disappointed that the method of pro-
cedure which they favor does not meet
the presidents views but a majority of
the foreign relations committee of the
senate and the foreign affairs committee
of the house are believed to be willing la
accept a proposition which involves In
PREVENTION with independence in view
so long as the recognition of the right
of Independence is written in the reso-
| luton. In any event, however marked
may be the differences now. ii is believed
that when the test comes there will be
no breaking away on the part of those
who favor what seems to them to be the
more logical and consistent policy.
SPANISH MINISTER,