The record-union., 1898-04-09
QUIET DAY
AT NATIONAL
CAPITAL.
Not a Ripple Appeared
on the Surface
To Show That the United States
is on the Brink Of War.
Yet the Resolve of Administration
is Stated as Firmer Than Ever
That Unless Spain Yields to Americas
Demands, the United States by Force
Of Arms Will Move on to
haTana.


day passed in Washington with not a il,-
pie on the surface, either at the White
House or at the Capitol, to show that
the United States is on the brink of
war Both houses of Congress had ad-
journed until Monday, and 1T the Ex-
ecutive Mansion there was no rush of
eager and excited public men, but
a Sunday quiet atmosphere. Only at
the War and Navy Departments We're
there signs Of an impending conflict in
the rush of immediate orders to a host
of naval officers to report 1T once for
duty on vessels to which they We're as
signed, and in conferences among bu-
reau chiefs on details of war prepara-
tiCns.
And yet the resolve was firmer than
ever that unless Spain yielded to
Americas Cuban demands the United
States. by force of arms, would move
on to Havana. 1t was the very recog-
milton of the fxity of this purpose that
caused the day to be in marked con-
trast TO the excitement of all it's pre-
decessors OF late.
DISCUSSING THE COURSE TO EE
PURSUED.
There was still some discussion of
Cuban affairs, but it only served to en-
phasize the fact that one forward step
of immense Importance had been taken,
for the discussion was of an advanced
stage. and concerned not intervention
and freedom of Cuban from Spanish
dominion, but the obligations and du-
ties that might be imposed upon The
United States after we had expelled
Spain from the island.
This discussion revolved around two
propositions, namely, Intervention with
out recognition of national indepen-
dence of the Cuban insurgents, and in
tervention with concurrent recognition
of independence of the present insur-
gent Government of Cuba. Some pub
lie men hovered between these two
propositions, and favored the compro-
mise There was no definite lead by
which it could be stated with anything
like authoritativeness which course
would be adopted, but the unsettled
state of public opinion on the matter
indicated that events of the next few
days. the strength of the arguments d
the forthcoming Presidential message
or a distinct utterance from our Con
sui General of Cuba might be strong
enough to incline the balance to either
course.
MESSAGE WILL GO TO CONGRESS
MONDAY.
The Cabinet held it's usual Friday
session, but its meeting brought nc
change in the Spanish situation. In
deed, it was chiefly significant in es-
tablishing that no change had occurred
that none was expected, and that the
programme of action on the part of tbs
United States Government was already
made up. The Presidents message re-
mains unaltered Indeed this being
the last Cabinet day before the mes
sage Will go to Congress, alterations
are unlikely between now and Monday
barring altogether unexpected develop
ments from Madrid.
After the meeting Cabinet officers
stated that the message woul1 be sent
to Congress on Monday, no change II
that respect having been considered
and all cause for delay having been re-
moved
DIPLOMATIC TALK ENDED.
The calmness of the Cabinet meeting
which was one of the most uneventfu
held in recent days, was another evi-
dence of the feeling entertained by the
Administration that the case is madI
up and nothing now remains TO bf
done but to present the subject to Con
gress and await the final outcome
there. The feeling that an end nae
come to diplomatic talk, and that ac'
ton alone remained, was shared in al
quarters, including the foreign embas'
sizes and legations. where the Embas'
sadors and Ministers expressed the
feeling that all had been done in Wash
ington that could or would be done II
the cause of peace.
What is going on at Madrid give:
slight hopes of such concessions there
as will alter the present situation
There are no negotiations in the sense
OF exchanges or pending propositions