The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-30

sit VI eAoody nso eu't'' ~
squadron will be the crack armcred
cruiser Brooklyn. the bss,leshipa Mas
sacbuses:s aud Texas aud the cruisers
Columbia aud Minneapolis. Other
ships which are, COW OF hereafter. At
Hampton R oads. will not be Of the ay-
iug squadron, but will belong to the
North Atlantic station uuder Captain
Sampson. The flying squsdron is TO
be sm.ll compact ases Of the best
ships 10 she navy. for quick service as
any poiot along the Atlsntic.
Why Prepare for War If MoKin-
ley is to Arrange Breakdown (?
Washington, March 26 President
Mckinley talked freely With his Con
gressional visitors to day, both in re.
gard to his plans for his future and
his appreciation Of the situation with
reference to Cuba. His programme
as thus outlined is as follows: To
send the report Of the Maine Court
of Inquiry to Congress on Monday
without recommendations, and with
no explanation on his part further
than 10 cay that he has acquainted
Spain With the finding of the Court !;
10 follow this Tuesday or Wednesday
with a message dealing with the con.
dition of the non-combatants in Cuba,
and asking for an appropriation OF
$500 900 for their immediate relief
to present anew this condition to
Spain. asking that country to make
provision for the care of her own
helpless people, and to come to some
terms with the Cubans which will be
satisfactory to them and put an end
to the war.
PEACE My BE PRESERVED.
This failing, to forcibly intervene
on humanitarian grounds The Pres
ident indicated to his callers in abid-
ing faith that peace still may be pre-
served, and determination on his
part to accomplish that end. if it may
be done with honor to our own coun
try aud without disregard for the de-
mands of humanity He frankly and
repeatedly averred to-day his desire
to prevent conflict, while at the same
time indicating q firm purpose TO Sc
cure relief for the starving reconcen-
trados
Iadeed, the latter purpose appear
ed to be the topic uppermost in the
Presidents mind. He dwelt upon
the fact that the recognition Of the
belligerent rights or independence
would not be of any material service
to these unfortunates He admitted
that such action might be of assist-
ance to the men at arms, the insur
gent army. but they, he said, have
shown a capacity to take care of
themselves, and do not stand in
pressing need of our kind Offices.
The President believes Spain will
interpose no obstacles to our sending
succor to her INDECENT people, and he
will ask Congress to act promptly
that the aid to be given may not ar
rive too late to relieve the present
pressing necessities. This done, the
President is hopeful that Congress
viii remain quiet while the executive
branch of the Government continues
it's efforts to securs 9 peaceful set
Element of the difficulty He thinks
it not too late to do this. and he
made the assertion to day that Spain
was willing to meet the United States
half way in adjusting the en.angle-
ment without going to blows. He
referred only casually TO the sailing
of the; Spanish topedo feet, leaving
the impression on his visitors that be
considered that so far in this matter
Spain is acting within the bounds of
her own rights, and that no just com
plant can yet be made by this coun-
try in regard to this course.
AUTONOMY A FAILURE.
He did not enter into details re-
garding the proposition he may make,
or may have made, to Spain. for nn-
doubtely some are low pending, but
he left the impression that he would
be satisfied with no settlement that
would not give the Cubans very
liberal form of government. He
admitted frankly that autonomy
had proven failure, and expressed
the opinion thas it would be as diff
cult to satisfy the Americans with
any settlement that might be made
as it would be to satisfy the Cubans
themselves he reasserted the pos
sibilty of securing an agreement on
she part of Spain to allow Cuba to
conduct her own affairs with absolute
freedom. except that the Island
ebor,11 ha yoo0;rad m Y,ov tha m oofhor