Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-20

New York, March 19.-"While the
Maine disaster is inseparately linked
with the general Cuban question" saws
the Washington correspondent of tho
Herald, Il was assured by member
of the cabinet that the President
would deal with the former DIPLOMAT
cally before making representations
to Spain concerning the independence
of Cuba. The blowing up Of the Maine
is to be used as an additional and
final argument as to why a speedy
end should be brought to the war in
Cuba.
President Mckinley is anticipating
decision which will show the main
cause of the disaster to have been duo
to an outside explosion, and that the
court will be unable to show what
person or persons committed the
crime. A cabinet member told me
that, while the President was prepar-
ing to make diplomatic representations
to Spain on an indemnity basis, he
was not unmindful of the possibilities
of finding by court which-would mako
war unavoidable, and that the extra
ai1Ild1y anu naval DIEDdIdS
lions were consequently begun.
"This official told me that only a
decision showing positively direct
connection of Spanish officials with the
Maine disaster would prevent the
President from carrying out his de-
termination to deal with the Maine
catastrophe in strictly
LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC WAY.
1t may be further stated that the Pres
ident hopes and expects that this mat
ter can be adjusted automatically
81 am informed that it is now the
purpose of the President to make Con-
gress jointly responsible for any ac-
ton in dealing with the general Gu
ban question which may result in war.
He further thinks that the blowing up
of the Maine makes it imperative upon
this country to do something at the
earliest date possible to end the war
in Cuba, but he is not convinced as to
the best means of doing, ,this witha.t
| bringing on war. 80 =
HE has said that he will not be re-
sponsible for an 'unholy war If the
United States is to be made responsible
for precipitating a war, he desires that
Congress shall share the responsible
ity with him.
Instead Of issuing a proclamation
recognizing the independence of Cuba,
as 1t has been frequently asserted he
would, President Mckinley is now of
the opinion that Congress should take
the initiative. 1t is for that reason
that the administration has changed
its programme in favor of an early ad-
journment. | am now assured that
the President wants Congress to stay
here until the Cuban question is in
a fair way to settlement. There is no
further doubt that the holding Of the
Spanish torpedo flotilla at the Canaries
and the withdrawal of the battleships
from the vicinity of Cuba was the
RESULT OF AN AGREEMENT
reached by the Washington and Mad
rid governments.
''The fact that Rear Admiral Sicard
has remaining with him at Key West
a formidable squadron is due to the
desire of the authorities to have a
strong fleet there when the report OF
the court of inquiry Is read and the
result Of the policy to be~inaugurated
by the President has made itself APP
parent.
ut has been determined by the OF
ficials to continue the sharp watch
which has been kept on the torpedo
boat fiotilla and should they attempt
to move to Porto RIGA to make a Wig
orous protest to Spain looking toward
orders for their immediate E1turn 70
the Canaries, and if Spain should re-
fuse to comply with these representa-
lions the plans prepared by the ON
Gals contemplates not only the TOT
nation of a flying squadron, put me
despatch of cruisers to intercept tno
torpedo f1otilla and destroy H.