Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-02

The government is rapidly
getting on a war footing. The
profuse liberality with which
dispatches and orders were made
public, eyen as late as the be-
ginning of this week has changed.
Now the utmost ;crecy is
preserved on. all reports, cab
legrams and orders which might
convey Information to the Spanish
government or its agents.
Two facts Of vital Importance
have come to the suface today.
Captain Crowninshieldis due in
Washington tomorrow.
The second fact of Importance
is the discovery of special Spanish
charts in the library Of congress
pointing to the location Of mines
in the harbor Of Havana, cne of
which was in clcsc proximity to
the buoy near which the Maine
was moored.
These charts put an effectua.l
quietus Oh Premier Sagasta's s
assertion that no submarine mine
was located the Maine.
These charts were prepared on
information Obtained during the
Weyler regime, and point strong
ly in the direction Of Weylerite
officers, as being concerned IN the
destruction of the American
battleship.
An opinion turks in Madrid that,
even should it be proved that the
Maine was b own up from the
cutside, the matter could be
compromised with the United
States by the payment of an
indemnity.
The suggestion CT compromise
points in the direction Of arbltra-
ton. By having an official report
from Spanish sources, proving
the non-existence of mine in the
vicinity Of the Maine, ground
would be laid for a case.
Once in the tolls an arbitration
court, with Spanish lawyers and
Spanish methods in defence, years
would roll by before u decision
could be reached, and the decision
might not in the end be favorable
to the United States.
But 10 such method will permit
Spain to escape punishment.
President Mckinley is morbidly
anxious to avoid war. It's terrible
possibilities haunt his slumbers.
He is worn and haggard.
Tremendous pressure is brought
to bear against him daily
by the powers OF Wall street, who
see their properties falllngin value
under the impetus of rumors of
war.
The president is conscious that
in attempting to stem the feeling
of resentment toward Spain which
is merely accentuated by the
destruction Of the Maine, he is
attempting to swim UP Niagara
Falls
The G overnmcnt has no corrup-
ton fund similar to that which
De LONE has go lavishiy used in
this country, but there at the
state department. $4,000 annually,
any part CT which can be used
for exactly such an investigation
as might lead to the discovery
and Identification OF the men who
destroyed the Maine.
There is strong belief that al
least a hundred people in Havena
know exactly how the deod was
done, and at least score l;no"
the actual criminals.
There is al intimation that
General Lee has requested that he
be permitted to expend q coz,
siderable sum of money i'll conduct
ing a secret investigation, bu
so far no authority has been givel
to him to aid in carrying out hl$
valuable suggestion.
1t can be stated on the most
positive authority that the
administration has reached Tie
conclusion that the destruction
of the battleship Maine was due
to all attack from the outside
for which the Spanish goyernmcn'
is responsible, either throusl
contributory negligence or as al
act of war.
In the first place the presiden'
is exceedingly solicitous about
The lives of the members of The
court of Inquiry and the United