The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-01
FOR PEACE OR WAR
Spain's Reply to Our Govern.
meDt's Demand Arrives.
WILL SOON BE MADE PUBLIC.
Congress Will Wait Until Monday
For Decisive Action. .....o
PRESIDENT ANTICIPATES WAR.

PRESIDENT ANTlUlPAIES WAX.
He So Informed Committee of Re-
publican Congressman Who Called
Upon Him, But Declared: 1T Pray
God That We May Be Able to Keep
Peace''-An Exciting Debate In the
House in Which Grosyenor Defends
the Presidents Policy-A Call on the
Naval Militia OF Maritime States.
Washington. April 1.-Yesterday was
= day Of anxious waiting for Spain's
reply to the demands of the United
States contemplating the termination
of the war in Cuba and the independ-
ence of the island. On that reply, 1t
was universally believed, the issue be-
tween peace or war would be decided,
unless some new and unexpected con-
alterations arose to postpone the issue
further. But delay would meet the op-
position of congress. The gravity Of
the situation was felt in all official
quarters. 1t was not day Of rapid
development as when war preparations
were following In rapid succession, but
the tension was even greater from the
uncertainty that prevailed and tho
feeling that Spain would not concede
the complete independence of Cuba.
The White House continued to be
thronged with congressional leaders,
anxious to learn from the president
what his course was to be. The gen.
eral view conveyed by these leaders,
after they had been with the president
was that he expected to have definite
replies from Spain In time to present
the entire subject to congress by next
Monday.
The state department was the center
of interest throughout the day. as 1t
was there that Minser Woodfords dis
patch announcing Spain's attitude was
to be received. The officials shared in
the general anxiety, but throughout
the business hours of the day no word
WAS received from the United States
minister. Towards midnight. however,
a message was received at the White
House. admittedly from Minister
,Woodford.
1t does not accept our propositions
WILL Do III ctDliSu w
dny.
President Mckinley had TO wait until
tho cipher was translated by Chief Clerk
Michael, of the State Department, who
had como to the Whito House for the pur.
pose. 50 that he did not have Minister
Woodford's account of the results OF his
days negotiations in Madrid until nearly
midnight.
{ Tbero Is no doubt that the refusal Of
EDnin tn i'm mod ia nj " Inln n tho 1nr1NrlE
DE the Ad. .ninistraton makes the situation
more critical, because ofthe effect that refu-
snl will have OH Congress, but tho President
hns till Monday at least, and unless Spain
absolutely refuses TO yield substantially
what we demand, the President will not
despair of success in his negotiations.
, He did not expect that Spain would
yield at the very first and expected to see
her give in gradually. He will not give
mp unless he has to, the hore of peacea-
bic adjustment. But Congress may not
be willing 10 wait any longer than Mon
. day, and the President may not be ablo
bp complete his task by Monday.
Yet, members of tho Cabinet who have
bsen feeling tho pulse of Congress o.day,
report that it's beating more moderately,
and that they believe by Monday Congress
will be cool enough to wait long enough
to let the President complete his ncgo,ia.
tiOns. If they then seem hopeful.
The Navy is ready for war, and appre.
hon sive of delay. The menace of the ap-
preaching Spanish torpedo fotila grows
by day and by night. The torpedo boats
ran the blockade at Key West only yester-
dRy. Naval officers remember with chasrin
how the swift Vamoose ran the blockade
nt Charleston during the evolutions off
Shat port.
A torpedo boat is small target, and
battleship a big one In a night attack
the advantages are threefold on the side
Of the small craft II is u sea hornet which
stings and dies. But what an exc hange-
battleship for torpedo boat!
With good fortune and fair seas, the
Spanish fotillu should reach Porto Rico
by next Monday. Its mission was urgent
and its best speed, not its poorest, is OK.
pected. Once in Havana harbor, its for
Didable efficiency will have been doubled.
Naval officers shake their heads and re-
mark that the chances of war in naval
ernflct arc too dubious to run such risks.
A night attack on the fleet eff Key West
Is by no means May day proposition,
and it is the whispered belief that If Spain
ean get in but ten days more she will
ytrike without warning-tven sooner if
opportunity presents.
The Spanish squadron now forming at
Csdiz is one Of the most formidable YET
Buggested.
No Dirr II Foreign Mediation.
The attitude Of European powers
continue TO be seriously discussed in
official quarters, as it was felt that an
Offer of European mediation was al
most certain to follow war crisis.
No distinct offer has been submitted
up to the present moment. In this con-
nection the cable reports from Berlin
that Germany WAS menacng Spain on
and old claim. and was about to make
a naval demonstration in Cuba, at
tracted much attention. The German
ambassador, DR.. Won Hollenben, said
that he had received no Information as
to this reported move, nor was he ac-
quainted with the Cannamba case re-
ferred to in the dispatch. The Spanish
minister is also unaCquainted with the
Cannamba case, and does not credit
the report that Germany has taken
steps of a decisive character.
The Spanish ambassador at Berlin Is
Ahe father-in-law of the Spanish min
astsr here, and that latter would be
quite likely to know if Germany had
made a move involving the dispatch
Of warship to Cuba for punitive pur-
poses. 1t was the general feeling that
II Germany had taken any such action |
II would have most decided influence
Npon the Spanish American situation
and one seriously preiudicial to Spain.
For this reason 1t was the opinion of |
diplomats that Germany would not |
phoose such juncture as the present |
In order to make emergency demands in |
= claim against Spain.
Said prominent diplomat today: |
S6pain saan,s tn lao undar thA i,nnrss-