The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1898-04-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent.

W aShlnStOn, ~. ", MaTcn -o.-
The first and longest period of wait
ing is at an end. The report of the
naval court of inquiry on the Maine
explosion is now in the hands of the
President, and was today carefully
gone over and discussed at an ex.
tended meeting Of the cabinet. Spain
has been officially notified of the
purport of the report. That ended
the first stage of the case, and We
have now entered upon the second
stage, which is likely to be much
shorter. The report, together with
a copy Of the communication sent to
Spain by the President, will be sent
to congress next week, and then
what!
1t is impossible at this time to say
What programme will be followed in
congress, because circumstances are
likely to bring about changes at any
stage of the proceedings. But it is
certain that an understanding has
been arrived at between the Presi-
dent and the congressional leaders of
all parties, who have conferred with
him in the last three days, and be-
lievcd that in accordance with that
understanding the report and ac-
companying message will be referred
to committees as soon as received IN
the house and senate, and that those
committees will take whatever action
that President Mckinley may desire:
and what he will desire will depend
largely upon the answer received
from Spain. If it is war this country
is fully prepared to push the fighting,
rot only on the water, but in Cuba.
Arrangements are all perfected by
which we can lend So,ooo soldiers in
Cuba inside of ten days without en-
listing a man-militia regiments ag-
greyating that number, which are
ready for service at days notice,
would simply be mustered into the
United States service.
The wax spirit is growing in con-
,;reSs instead of lcssening. Some of
;hc most conservative men in both
senate and house have become con
vincel since Senator Proctor told
what he saw in Cuba that war was
inevitable. and have concluded that
,he best thing to do is to hurry it up
in order that it can be quickly fought
out: they believe there would be
less damage done to the material in
terests Of the country by short and
victorious war than by 4 continual
ton for an indefinite period of the
present conditions. Senator Proc
tors story of Cuba has been corrob-
GRATED and added to by the speeches
made this week by Senators Gallinger
and Thmston, who wcrein Cuba at the
same time he was. And the two last
were much more beiligerent in tone
than was Mr.. Proctor, but all three
agree that the right thing to do, and
fitc~arly thing that will bring a last.
INC psacc acco1-the ~ 1exast+aattcctt'> as+atct >ISianl
and allow the starving thousands Of
non combatants to again earn a llv-
ing for themselves, is TO force the
Spanish out. Senator Gallingcr says
he would 90 further and annex Cuba,
ii he could have his way: while Sen
ator Proctor thinks 1T would be best
70 merely allow Cuba to be indie
pendent.
Senator Bacon made a speech in
favor OF a resolution introduced by
him, declaring 1t to be the pollcy OF
this country to maintain peace as
long as consistent with honor, Dnt 1t
fell Hat: 1t was not IN tune with eH-
IstlnS circumstances, nor with exist