Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03
THE PRESENT SITUATION
1t Has Not Materially Changed Since the
Disaster to the Maine.
Peace Desired, Yet War Preparations
Going On-Accident Theory Pruc-
tically Abandoned.

Men who are not carried away by their
emotions or influenced by any material in
terests that might be affected by the huc-
tuations of the market find nothing in the
situation with relation to the Maine disas-
ter to excite the war spirit one day and to
restore the calm of peace the next day.
The war days and the peace days are light
ed by exactly the same known facts. Ac-
cording to the best Of authority there is as
yet no official information showing con-
clusively that the destruction of the Maine
was the result of foul play, nor has there
been received line or a word of informa-
ton to modify the serious aspect of the
situation
or II on another day there is a sudden
calm, neither condition of mind Is reflect
ed from any additional 1rforma lion the ad-
ministration has the subject. 1t either
sustaining one impression for u long time
without change, is the resul; of the al
ternate influence of til, ''bulls" and the
bears of public sen:iincn, o.. of current
rumor. What little development: of fact
there has been to throw iigh- on the sub
ject has BEEN steadily along the same line
1t is true now rs it was at the beginning
that the admins tration does not want war
Ii is also true that preparations for war
are being made. 1t is believed to be true
that the administration has today no better
peace
than IL possessed weei, ago.
The question depends upon two unknown
thngs-,lrst. upon the report of the board
OF inquiry; second, upon the course of
Spain after that report has been received.
The opinion of Mr.. Long or of Mr.. Hanna
on the one side. or of some prominent
jingo on the other. while il may influence
public sentiment for the day, has no effect
upon the real situation.
A Serious Situation Presented.
AS the case was stated very clearly to-
day, very serious situation was presented
when the Maine was destroyed in Havana
harbor. At the time of the explosion the
assumption of an accident was stronger
than it has been at any time since. Elimi-
mating all the sensa tional stories that have
been circulated, and considering only Off
cial reports and evidences which are uni
versal!y accepted, the indications are
strong that the explosion was not from
internal source. There is the best author
ity for the statement that no official re-
ports nor unofficial information have beer
received by the departments to strengthen
the theory OF accident
The progress of minor developments to
discredit the accident theory has been con-
s:stent and steady, though no conclusive
evidence has been presented, except, per-
hsps, to the board of inquiry. There has
been no evidence of any sort at any time
sir ce the disaster TO strengthen the accl-
dent theory, and that theory has grad
ually weakened until the statement is
warranted that it has been practically
abandt ned. If &he board has taken evi-
dence indicative Of accidental eNplo-
SION, that is as much a secret of the board
as is the nature of other testimony that
has been taken. There has been little de-
veloped in the past few days to render the
situation more serious: nothing to render
1t less so.
The AdministratfOn's Attitude.
The efforts made by the administration
to counteract the influence of Secretary
as indicating that the administration does
not deem it safe or wise to commit the ad-
minstration so fa- in the effort to calm
public sentiment.
AS anxious as is the President to guard
against popular excitement, 1t Is fully
understood that the situation does not war
rant such an expression of confidence as
would entirely dispel the public apprehen-
sion. The situation Is declared to be graver,
rather than otherwise, yet not such as to
render hostilities inevitable or to destroy
the hope of a satisfactory settlement Of the
whole question. The administration will in
duige this hope until 1t Is no longer tepable.
The belief is generally entertained that the
destruction of the Maine will be determined
by the board to have been by an explosion
from the outside. What will be the result
of such report must be determined by the
nature of the evidence cited in support of
the report and the action of spain when the
report is presented. The situation appears
to be neither more peaceful nor mere
threatening than 1t has been since the belief
has gained ground that the explosion could
not have been an accident.