Evening star., 1898-03-26
Unequivocal Announcement Made to-
Spain.
COURSE DICTATED By HUMANITY
The President Preparing Message
to Congress.
RELIEF OF THE DISTRESSED

This government has decided to insist that
the war il Cuba must stop.
President Mckinley is at work On mes
sage which will be sent to Congress next
week and will recommend an appropriation
to relieve the stricken Cubans.
Spain has been notified of the findings of
the Maine court of inquiry, but no demand
has been made and it is said none will be
made on that subject
A peace delegation appeared at the White
House and thu President assured his Wis
itors that peace would be preserved If it
was consistent with honor.
The Navy Department issued an order
waving requirements as to height In the
case of landsmen and mess attendants.
The Navy Department has reconsidered
the determination to paint the warships
black. The color will be left to the
squadron commanders.
Senator Platt of CcnI ecticut declared his
belief that the report on the Maine dis
aster would go to the foreign relations
committee.
Four new batteries have been added to
the garrison at the Washington barracks.
Orders were issued today placing officers
in command of the single turreted monitors.
The signal office has been allotted S94,50O
to install electrical system of sea-coast
artillery fire and an electrical system of
communication between coast defenses.
large contract for disappearing gun car
riages was awarded to the Walker COM
pany of Cleveland. Ohio. today. with order
to rush their construction as fast as possi-
bic.
Machinists in the navy yard gunshops
will work twelve hours a day hereafter
1t can be stated on positive information
that this govern will, if. indeed, it
has not already done So. inform Spain that
tie conditions now existing in Cuba have
become intolerable to the people of this
country. and that hostilities on the island
must cease. This policy is in direct line
with The views of the President as express
ed in his last message to Congress, on
December 6. In that message he said:
The instructions given to our new min
lister TO Spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upon that
government the sincere wish of the United
States to lend its aid toward the ending
Of the war in Cuba by reaching a peaceful
and lasting result, just and honorable alike
to Spain and the Cuban people. These in
structlOns recited the char acter and dura-
tion of the contest, the widespread losses
1t entails, the burdens and restraints 1t
imposes upon US, with constant disturbance
of national interests. and the injury re-
suting from an indefinite continuance of
this state of things. No solution
was proposed to which the slightest idea
Rf humiliation to Spain could attach and
Zndeed. precise proposals were withheld to
avoid embarrassment to that government -
After recitng the substance of Spain s
reply. received on October % last, the
President says:
THE immediate ameioration of existing
conditions under the new administration of
Cuban affairs is predicted. and Herewith all
the disturbance AID all occasion for any
change of attitude on the part of the
United States"
Since the delivery of this message evil
dence has accumulated showing beyond
question that the promises made in behalf
of the new administration. to relieve the
ccEditions in Cuba, have not been fulfilled
o. accomplished. On the contrary the evil
deEce which has reached the President
shows conclusively that the situation is
daily becoming more serious ',
In view of these facts this government
Las decided to take. If 1t has not already
taken. definite action by informing Spain
that. while disavowing any interest Other
than that dictated by a sense of honor and
justice to stricken and starving people
II must insist that hostilities be brought to
a speedy termination. So far as known nc
specific date has been fixed within which
the war must be terminated, but 1t Is be-
leyed that it is the purpose of the admin
istration not TO permit OF any unnecessary
or extended delay.
II is known in high official circles that
many of the people highest in authority
in Spain, including members of the minis
try. are extremely weary of the conflict
in Cuba and would willingly accede to any
reasonable terms for settlement of the
whole question by granting to Cuba heI
independence on an indemnity base. The
opposition TO this plan comes from the
factions opposed to the present admins
tration. who demand extreme measures fl
necessary to retain control Of the island
IN view Of these conditions what will b<
the answer to our demand cannot be fore
told.
TORPEDO BOATS TO cO1aE>oN.
Spain Not Disposed to Recall the
R10tflla.
Tho government of Spain. II can na ststet