The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-19

whole country they feel safe in saying that
he will be governed by the dictates of rea-
son rather than the fears of politicians ter
| rifed at the prospects Of the loss of few
votes This discussion over the probable
action of the President on the report Of the
a theme of absorbing interest in Washing
ton, for the reason that the result will soon
be known. 1t is as good as known now that
the verdict will be that the explosion was
caused by outside agencies The degree of
Spanish responsibility is the unknown and
speculative quantity. On the official find
ings establishing that point hinge conse-
quences of gravest import, possibly war.
The country suddenly finds itself face to
face with crisis, with the exact nature of
which it is, for the moment unacquainted,
and has no means of Immediately ascertain
| ing. There are in the situation elements of
grave mystery sufficient to justify anxiety
on the part of public men and to set them
talking with more than customary freedom
out in confirmation of the theory that the
testimony before the inquiry court at Ha-
vana establishes the fact that the explosion
. of the Maine was from the outside may be
mentioned the following: When Colonel
Parker, of Washington, was at Havana re-
Gently, in company with Senator Proctor,
ha hoH nh, -
of the Inflated battle ship. The colonel
avoided speaking of the inquiry, not caring
to appear to be trying to draw the captain
out, but the conversation turned on the Off
GERS plans for the future.
'"Then you do not anticipate, or fear un-
pleasant consequences of a personal sort,
growing out OF the Investigations" casually
remarked the colonel after while.
mo, indeed" responded the captain;
there is nothing In the situation to cause
me the slightest personal uneasiness."
Now. inasmuch verdict of internal
explosion would be inevitably followed by
a rigid inquiry by the Navy Department
into the causes of the explosion, and in all
probability by a court-martial and mas
much, further, as the captain was fully
advised of all that had been developed at
the sessions Of the court of inquiry, it did
not severely tax the colonel's brain to
deduce from the officers statement the
conclusion that the findings of the court
of inquiry would be external. Upon no
other hypothesis could Captain Slgsbees
complacence be explained. 1t is due to the
colonel to say that the story of his inter
view with Captain Sigsbee was not
leaked" by him into the newspapers. 1t
got out through roundabout, trustworthy
channel.
No little excitement is observable to-day
on account of the naval order transferring
the battle ships Massachusetts and Texas
from Key West to Hampton Roads, and
sending the Montgomery from Havana to
Key West. The move gave excuse for an
outcry against the administration for
weakening" and to the extreme 'jingoes'
it looked like the confirmation of sus-
picion that the President was backing
down or modifying the firmness of his
attitude. This is an entirely mistaken con-
withdrawal of the Massachusetts and
Texas does not impair the strength of the
Key West squadron, and leaves it amply
strong to take care of the Spanish fleet
protection, however. to the North Atlantic
coast, which would be left in dangerously
exposed condition by the concentrating of
the greater part of the American navy at
and about Key West. The location of
strong naval force at Hampton Roads will
give to the northern cities on the sea coast
the protection which they have been
urgently demanding of the secretary of the
navy. The assignment of vessels is the di-
rect result of suggestions made by the
naval board Of which Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt is chairman. There has been no
change whatever in the Presidents atti-
ture and no yielding by him in the slight
est degree. The shifting of our war ships
which has been ordered and such other
changes as may occur in the immediate
future are for the better protection of our
seacoast and not in pursuance to any
agreements or arrangement between this
country and Spain looking to cessation
of activity for defense.
An Ohio congressman who is very close
to the President said to the Journal corre-
spondent this evening that he was assured
that the report of the naval court will be
submitted to Congress very soon after it is
considered at the White House. This same
authority says that probably copies will be
| made and the report be a subject of Cabi-
net discussion and possibly the President
will enter on a diplomatic correspondence
with Spain as to its findings before the
report is submitted to Congress, but it is
| said there will be no unnecessary delay
in trans shifting this important document
| to the Senate and House. The President
has been advised by his friends to take this
| action, and it is said he will send it to the
legislative branches promptly with state
ment of the presentation he has made to
the Spanish government. The President has
been advised that to do otherwise would