The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-02
Sentiment Seems to Favor War
With Spain,
DANISH ISLAND REJECTED.
Decision Reached Not to Buy a
COaIing Station.

Washington, April 1.-Senator Morgan of
Alabama was reading the riot act to his
Democratic associates in executive session
to-day when the news of Spains unsatis-
factory reply reached the Senate.
Early in the day, at the instance of Sem
ator Lodge, the galleries were cleared and
the doors were closed to enable the Senate
to consider the bill providing for the pur-
chase of the Danish Islands in the West
Indies. Senator Morgan is one of the few
Democrats who favor the purchase. His
party associates as a rule are opposed to
any acquisition of territory, either in the
Atlantic or the Pacific oceans. There were
a number of fierce speeches against the
proposition on the Democratic side, and
naturally the Cuban question permeated
the entire Senate.
Senator Morgan arraigned his Democrat
ic colleagues for their lack of patriotism
in opposing the proposition. which. he said
had the sanction of the present admins
tration and was intended to play a con-
spicuous part in the impending war with
Spain.
other Democratic senator's Indignantly re-
! sented the charges of disloyalty to the ma
tional government made against them by
the Alabama senator.
The opponents of the bin argued that st.
Thomas might be a valuable piece of prop
erty for the United States to own, and if
it was to figure in the impending war with
-.
been acquired some time ago and properly
fortified. With war upon us 1t was argued
that there is no time left in which to
strengthen the ancient and dilapidated lit
tie fortress which guards the entrance to
the harbor of st. Thomas. Ut is too late to
convert it into naval coaling station, as
it would be impossible to deliver an ade-
quate supply of coal there before hostili-
ties with Spain commence
1t was in the midst of this exceedingly
exciting and acrimonious debate that the
news that Spain had officially rejected our
proposition became known in the Senate
chamber A copy of the statement given
out at the White House at the conclusion
of the regular cabinet meeting was passed
around the Senate, and it aroused the
greatest indignation and the remainder of
the session was devoted to a thrilling dis
cussion of the approaching war with Spain.
The destruction Of the Maine was the
keynote of every speech and senators who
have heretofore stood with the peace-at-
any-price forces jumped the administra-
tion fence and Joined the war party. Span
inch diplomacy Spanish treachery, Span
ish cruelty, and almost everything pertain
ing to Spain was severely denounced on
both sides of the chamber. So thoroughly
incensed was the Senate against the Span
ish government that a declaration of war
would probably have been ratified with
but few, If any dissenting votes.
The venerable Senator Morrill, of Ver-
mont. the father of the Senate, donned his
war paint and denounced the reply which
Spain sent to the President with all the
fire and zeal of a young belligerent.
Senator Gray of Delaware, who has Here
tofore stood with the peace party and op-
posed every suggestion of interference in
Cuban affairs, denounced the belatd at
tempt of the Spanish government to pro-
vide ways and means for the subsistence
Of the wretched and starving reconcentra-
dos. He declared that the proposition of
the Spanish government TO appropriate
money for the relief or the recOncentradOs
comes too late to have any affect upon the
humanitarian motives which inspired in
tervention on the part of The United States.
Even Senator Hale who is often desig.
mated as "the senator from Spain" be-
cause of his cinsistent and persistent op-
position to any interference on the part
Of this government, admitted that war IL
inevitable, and that Spain now realizes
that she must eventually give up the Isl
and of Cuba.
Senator Pritchard, who has also been
averse to war with Spain, but an advo
cate of peaceful Intervention, said thar
the reply of Spain TO our friendly over
lures is sufficient to Justify the indigna-
ton which every patriotic American might
feel He says it is evident from the tone
of the Spanish note that she is disposed
TO juggle with the straightforward promo
sitions made to her, and she should re-
ceive prompt and effective chastisement
He is opposed to any further negotiations
with the Spanish government unless they
are conducted by force.
Senator Teller was equally outspoken IN
his denunciation Of Spanish trickery ana
is prepared TO resort to force without
further delay to establish the indepen-
dence Of Cuba.
Senator Fairbanks was one OF the few