Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-03

WASHINGTON, Feb. s6.-very little
additional light was shed yesterday
upon the situation in Havana harbor.
A strong feeling Of reserve continues
TO be manifested on every hand, pend
ing the investigation, but the convic-
ton is steadily growing that the
United States is confronting serious
crisis. There is no excitement, how
ever. Public men are waiting, expect
ing that inside Of another week the
facts will become known. Until they
can form an intelligent opinion Of the
cause of the disaster they have no pol.
Icy. Everybody understands that II
this calamity can he traced to Spanish
officials, directly or indirectly, there
Is liable to be trouble The admins.
tration knows what the sentiment Of
the American people is. II the war
fever is justified by the result Of the
inquiry those who have been clamor-
ing for war may have chance to
prove their patriotism. II, on the con-
trary, the facts should not justify war,
there will be no announcement Of q
war policy, whether that be unpopular
or not.
Those who have held to the accident
theory are rapidly abandoning their
belief. The situation is considered to
be gaining in gravity from the fact
that the cabinet meeting yesterday
was almost entirely given up to dis
cussion of the Maine disaster, and talk
of accident was less tenacious than
after the meeting of few days ago.
1t is generally believed that vigorous
programme is in course Of preparation.
It. is regarded as significant that very
little has been heard from Consul Gen
eral Lee within the past few days.
Then, too, no official information has
been transmitted to the senate. 1t
bears out the impression which many
entertain that the situation Is grave.
Yet, In its general aspect, 1t remains
unchanged. Everything is involved
in doubt and theories. All are resting
on their arms, as it were. II there Is
to be war, II will come soon enough.
There will be no evasion Of the issue.
In spite Of the stress that came from
unofficial sources in Havana as to sem
sational developments in connection
with the work Of the divers in the
Names hull, the administration re-
mains firm in its statement that there
is no credible evidence, one way or
the other. as to the cause of the disas.
ter, and holds to its purpose to await
the conclusion of the investigation
now making by the court Of inquiry.
This position was emphasized at yes.
terday's cabinet meeting. People who
looked for some startling announce.
ment were disappointed, as the mem.
bers, without reservation, frankly nd.
mitted that the subject Of the loss Of
the Maine had been discussed, but said
the government had received no infor-
nation from Havana since Thursday,
and had no intention Of changing its
policy until there was something Of
substance to warrant it.
STUDYING THE INDEMNITY QUESTION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-There Is rea-
son to believe that, to prepare for the
reception Of report from the court Of
inquiry that would show the disaster
to the Maine to be other than the re-
suit Of an accident, some of the
officials of the administration have
been looking up the subject Of in
IDENTITIES, so as to lay the foundation
of a case, in the event it should be
decided to resort to that method of
settlement There are a large number
of presidents which will aid the au.
thorities in shaping their action in
this direction when the facts are fully
established. While none of the cases
show the fearful loss of life sustained
by the Maine explosion, yet they in.
clude many instances in which the
United States had adopted energetic
measures to redress the killing Of
American citizens in foreign countries.
In a general way these methods of re-