Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-22
TUESDAY....... MARCH 90, 1898.
crEssEs ABOUT THE REPORT.

The secrets Of the Maine Board OF In
quiry-if it has any-secm to have been
well kept. Endless artiice and ingenuity
have been employed TO unearth them
but with little success.
The public is absolutely at sea as TO
what will be the findings Of the board
and it is given out that the President
and his Cabinet are no better informed;
but that we may well doubt. "Oficially'
they may know nothing, but personally
they have doubtless received hints at
least as to the purport Of the testimony
taken. We cannot believe they have
been kept entirely in the dark through
all these weary weeks.
The consensus Of newspaper opinion is
that the report will declare that
the explosion was external; but
that no connection of the Spanish Gov
eminent Herewith has been established.
But as the hour nears when the conclu-
sions of the board will become common
property, we observe that the Habana
correspondents of American papers are
not quite so cocksure as they formerly
were that the report will be decisive upon
those points.
No matter what may be the result Of
the investigation as TO the explosion OF
the Maine, all signs point to immediate
and important action on the part of our
government towards Cuba. The warlike
preparations cannot be looked upon as
merely "buff" Some serious step must
be in contemplation, and it would seem
that the United States either means to
call Spain TO account for the loss of the
Maine, or will recognize the Cuban
republic as a belligerent Power, or, go
yet further, and recognize her indepen-
dend& Or the government may take upon
itselff the duty of relieving the famine
and starvation in Cuba, no matter what
Spain may have to say upon that subject!
The fact is that the two houses Of Con-
gress are very eager to show their SYM
patty with the Cubans, and it has been
only because of their desire not to inter
fere with the President and the court of
inquiry, that their hands have been stay
ed SO far. But when the Maine report
and other papers asked for by them are
in their possession, it is not TO be eX-
pected that Congress will exercise much
further self-restraint. Heaven only
knows how many speeches are already
prepared for delivery so soon as Con-
gress feels at liberty to discuss the Gu
ban question i'm all it's varigated phases.
In every part of the country the speech
of Mr.. Proctor has been, looked upon as
''signiicant." We dare say it would not
have been made without the assent Of
the President. While we do not hold the
president responsible for any of the
utterances of Mr. Proctor we feel sure
Mr.. Proctor was satisfied that the pre-
sentation Of the facts Of which ne was
in possession would be in line with the
Presidents policy. and would prepare the
public mind for such action as the adj
ministration means to take.
The effect Of Mr.. Proctor's expose of
Cuban affairs has been 20 arouse the
American people to a sense. of the enor-
NOUS suffering in Cuba and the utter
futllity of hoping that the Spanish power
Is sufficient to suppress the instruction
so-called. It also drives public opinion tc
tho conclusion that unless the United
States iatervenes in some form or other.
This suffering Will not only continue, but
increase.
Another significant fact is, that Mr..
Reed was at the White House yesterday
and It is presumable he would not have
gone theI1 except upon urgent business,
as he is not on very good terms with the
President.
The businessmen Of our country, having
felt the effects of four or five weeks
acute excitement on account OF the loss
Of the Maine. are now more nearly ready
than ever before to look with favor upon
any advanced action that our government
may take,
T1ey do not want war. yet they are
getting tired Of suspense And there is a
F., Widespread and deep-seated impression
that when the United States shows IFS
hand It win bring Spain 70 its senses
and compel it TO make terms with the
Cubans. Let us hope and pray that this
expectation may be realized.
The only advice we care TO give the neo.
pie al this time is 10 keep cool ana avoid
reading the sensational newspapers
caimncss is not only most becoming 10
us as nation. but II is most impressive
upon Spain. The fussy. boastful bellige.
rentfs never so much 10 he feared 80 one