The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-07

Washington, April 6.-Swift as a can
nop,s fash was the change in the Cuban
situation today. The galleries of Con-
eress were crowded, Senators and Repre-
eentatives were anxious and agitated,
even the diplomatic corps was in fer
ment, awaiting a message from the Presl-
dent of the United States to the Congress
of the American people that might mean
war, when with excitement at the very
highest, the word quickly passed that
there would be no message today Its
suddenness stunned the public, which
heard the news in distorted forms, and
amazed veteran members OF Congress.
Ultimately it became known that not
only would there be no message To-Day,
but no message this week, and that 1t
was at least possibility the message
written and approved might never go TO
Congress at all. The first reason for tho
delay was that the administration re-
ceived advices from General Lee at
Havana indicating that all Americans
could not be gotten off the island TO-DAY,
and would be in grave peril 1t the mes
sage preceded their departure.
The second reason and perhaps equally
potent with the other, slowly drifted into
public comprehension late in tho day
chiefly through the medium OF published
Associated Press dispatches from Madrid,
for extreme reticence was maintained on
the subject by the few in Washington
who knew the facts and even Cabinet
officers were unadvised on the subject.
p,his important news was that
the Spanish government, after
what plainly had been tHae most
exciting times in inner Spanish
circles mt Madrid, had decided
TO reopen the case closed, SO fsr
as this government was con-
cerned. by the refusal OF Spain
10 make satisfactory response TO
the representations made ny tne
TTmife6 States last week and lm
order to avert impending war.
hnd decided to make cOnces-
sious heretofore refused. What
Will be the final outcome, nj is
too early to say, but the aspect
of affairs certainly is consider
ably more pa acific and sufficient
to renew the hope of tlie Presa-
dent i'm a solution of the Cuban
question satisfactory to the
American people and achieved
without blOOdShed.
The details remain to be worked out,
but it is said that between now and Mon
day clearer light will be thrown on the
future by the action at Madrid, of which
one feature at Least is tho declaration OF
an armistice by the Queen Regent OF
Spain, This armistlce by the Quen he
gent, it is expected will lead to ultimate
independence of Cuba from Spanish RUE,
but by what intermediate steps perhaps
even tho governing powers do not at tols
time know Much, it is supposed, VIII
depend upon the Cuban Insurgents ano
the peoples OF the two countries OF the
| United States and Spain.
The powers of Europe, material and
moral. it is known brought to bear all
their influence on the government OF
Spain and still are actively at work seek
ing by the wisest and most politic course
necessary in view of the circumstances
and sentiments of the two great nations
involved to bring peace out OF the gather
ing war clouds. All the capitals OF Europe
have been in communication to this. end,
a fact evidenced by tine assemblage at the
British Embassy in this city Of the
representatives of the six great powers OF
Europe. who then and there were made
mutually acquainted with what had been
done abroad, and with the desires OF
those who accredited them to Washington
that they should work in accordance here,
this concert however. in the United
States, not to go beyond mild tender OF
good offices to secure peace and delay q
definite declaration of war if hostilitics
finally became inevitable. Some of the
representatives assembled at Sir Julian