The Press., 1898-04-07
Washington Letter.
Washington, April 4, 1898.

Washington, April (, 1895
 The president now recognizes the inevi- table, that war with Spain is probably only a question of days. He went as far as his own views or the overwhelming continent of the country would permit whom he gave Spain an opportunity to es- cape war by recognizing the independence of Cuba. This opportunity the govern ment of Spain chose to decline. The di- plomatic correspondence with Spain. about to be laid before congress, reflects credit upon the president as an offlcial.a a man, and as patriot, and shows that he has not at any time deviated from the policy adopted in the beginning and outlined in his annual message to congress last De- cember er-intervention, If Spain did not bring about peace in Cuba.
 Although there are still few persons In Washington who are advocating a con- tinuance of diplomatic efforts to avoid war, and more outside who are trying to influence senators and representatives by wire to do nothing, there isn't the shadow of doubt that congress, the sentiment of which is practically unanimous, will this week, almost certainly within the next three days, take action that will make war certain. The administration Is nr- ranging everything with that expectation, in order to be able to start the fighting with vlgor. Everything around the government departments is already on a war footing; no Information as to the movements of troops or the contemplated movement of shlps Is now given out, and beginning with yesterday no outsiders are allowed to visit the Washington navy ..N AAa.s have beenplaced under emergency orders.
 Congress Is thoroughly in the fighting humor, and, In addition to adopting the legislation that will make war unavoid- able, 1t will this week pass the Legislation that will furnish the government with the money that will be needed to carry on the war. The probabilities are that the money will be raised by special taxes in- stead of by an Issue of bonds. Th-re Is a very decided prejudice against an issue of bonds. If 1t can be avoided.
 The Spaniards do not live up to the maxim that He we'll stuck to can often glibly enough In their report declaring the Maine to have been blown up from the lnslde, but they SO far neglected 10 stick to the lie that they have actually been trying to make 1t appear that the Maine was blown up by Cubans, thus adl mItting the falsity of their own official re- port. The Spanish minister made public the anidavit of a New York inventor of explosives, in which he says he was call ed on by a number of members of the Cuban Junta who were greatly interested In the powerful explosives he had invent oA and .anAsa varaA xrTiNhn.af xytn In SO many words to leave the impression that the Cuban Junta had the Maine blown up. The official reference to the Maine in Spain's long communication to this government was unsatisfactory. not to say positively insulting. The prpsi- dent In his message to congress last week said that he trusted to Spain's honor and sense of justice-undiseov qualities- for c proper response to the report of the Maine court of inquiry. He trusted in vain. Spain referred to the loss of the Maine as an "occurrence," and suggested that 1t could be submitted to arbitration, and expressed neither regret nor special interest in the matter, thereby displaying A lack of wisdom and adding to the anti Spanish feeling in congress, and the Idea that the treacherous blowing up of the Maine furnished a sufficient cause for war.
 The action of the house In increasing the number of torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers provided for In the regu. lar appropriation bill from six of each to twelve of each ls generally commended although no om$ has any Idea that they can be built In timeto take any part ln the war with Spahn. IL is simply that the existing situation hm@f convinced nearly everybody of the necessity of our being against . possible foreign opemy.
 Representative LorImer, of Illinois voiced tho sentiment of many men in congress and of thousands outside of congress whom he said Spanish rule in Cuba hal boon . menace to our commerce anC peace ever sInce the foundation Of thil Rovernment. and the time has now com' to drivethe Spanish flag and every vestig' of Spanish power from our shores"
 The bill intended to encourage veteran soldiers to volunteer with the war witl Spain, by providing that enlIstnepti il either army or navy will not stop pehsionl now being drawn by those who enlist, va amended before. being favorably reporte, to the house 60 as to provide that all ex oonfederates who shall hereafter serv' ninety days In either the army or navy Q the U. S. shall be entitled to all the bena nto of the pension act of June %. 1890. l after said ssrvsce they are shown to b' unable to perform manual labor and t' be dep@ndent thereon for support.
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