The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-25
WAR CRISIS NEARING
Continued from First Page.

advice. Among these who called on
him last Monday was Speaker Reed, who
remained with him half an hour or more.
On his broad general treatment of this
Cuban problem in its various phases, the
Speaker is in substantial accord with
the Executive and will give him cordial
endorsement so far as his influence with
the House extends. On some of the
minor points in connection with war
preparations he has differed with the
President. but when it comes to uphold
ing or defending the national honor, he
agrees with Mr.. Mckinley that the rep
resentatives of the people must be unit.
The great mass of Congressman are in
the dark as to the Presidents policy, but
the leaders keep in close touch with the
Executive and understand in a general
way what is going on in his mind. They
have observed that his policy has been
assuming move definite shape within
the last few hours and they believe that
by the time the Maine reports arrives
he will have it ready for formulation.
NIX
March 23.-The official report of the
Naval Court of Inquiry as to the loss of
the Maine has reached. the National
Capital. Absolutely nothing is known
of its findings by any one not connected
with the court, with the possible excep-
ton of the President. If the findings may
show that the explosion was due
/. To an internal accident.
2. To cause unknown and undiscov-
cradle.
8. To the direct act of the Spanish
Government.
4. To the unauthorized act of Spanish
official, military or civil.
5. To the act of Spanish private
citizen.
8. To the act of a Cuban.
z. To an external explosion. but
whether by accident or design, unknown
and undiscoverable.
*.*
If the findings are that the disaster
was due to the first cause indicated there
would be no controversy with Spain.
The loss of the Maine would be eliml-
mated as matter of international CON
tention. The same result would follow
if the findings point to the second cause
indicated.
If the findings show the third cause in
Dictated, it would constitute casus belli
and open hostilities would follow.
If the findings show either of the other
causes indicated the Government CT
Spain will be responsible, but the degree
Of responsibility would vary according as
the findings point to one or the other of
the last four causes indicated.
-
Senator Proctor's speech, calm and
impassioned in manner, combining itself
to plain statements of fact devoid of rhe-
toric, simple even crude in style, awkard
in delivery, yet with the impress of truth
IN every word and sentence, was the
stimulus that stirred the solid, conserva-
tive, intelligent masses of the American
people to speech and action. Prior to
this speech the President believed his
course was endorsed and approved by the
people. Since then he knows it. They
were never Indifferent, but they hoped
the Cuban question might be settled
peacefully, without the shedding of
blood that war entails. They continue
to hope even against hope that that may
yet be the result. Senator Proctors cold
judicial recital of the atrocities practiced
in Cuba aroused them as they have not
been aroused since the close of the war
between the states. 1t was to them Of
fetal confirmation of the horrors of the
Spanish policy of determination. They
had been waiting for an official state
ment of this kind before making up their
minds finally. Their minds are now
made up.
Ever since Senator Proctor's speech
went out to the country the President
has been overwhelmed with proof that
the good people of the United States, the
intelligence land worth of the nation,
were awake to the fact that the time for
action as to Cuba has come; that civiliza-
ton and humanity demand a cessation of
Cuban horrors. There can be no mis-
taking the earnestness of this demand.
There can be no misinterpreting its
force and significance. 1t has armed the
President with the support of the great
element of the people from which he had
not been able up to the time Proctor
made his speech to obtain a satisfactory
expression. He now knows that the
sentiment of the real American people is
with him, and while he would have
acted without that knowledge the possess
sion of it gives him the highest gratlhca-
ton.
The Maine tragedy may be the instru-
ment for the settlement of the broader
issues of humanity and independence in
yolyed in the Cuban question. Events
are taking such shape as to lead to the
belief that this is likely to be the case.
II the findings of the Naval Court of In
quiry show that the nationalIhonor is any
way or degree involved in that tragedy
any demand or request from Spain that
the matter be referred to the arbitration
of a third party will be promptly denied.
The opposition to the arbitration of
third party will be promptly be denied.
The opposition to arbitration under such
circumstances is practically unanimous
in Congress, and this opposition will not
yield either to threats or Establishments.
The feeling is that if Spain has any facts
to offer or defense to make, she must sub
nit them to an American tribunal
court owing allegiance to the flag of the