The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27
AN OM|NOUS SILENCE
English Comment on Spain and
the United States.
Ell PALS is LOUD FOR WAR
The Situation Looked Upon as Grave
American Losses Caused by Anarchy
in Cuba-A Hot Campaign in
London-Scanted Delilahs.
Special London Cable Letter, Copyrighted
1898 by Associated Press.

patches purporting to report alarmIst
utterances Of President Mckinley. See
retary Long and other officials, are be-
ginning TO affect public opinion on this
side of the Atlantic and create the inn
preston that possibly there may be
truth in the reports which allege that
the loss of the Maine was not due to
an accident. as at first believed here.
War between the United States and
Spain is still regarded as improbable,
and the disposition in the city is 10 re-
gard the apprehension respecting Cuba
as altogether exaggerated.
The Statist points out that this is a
grave mistake. 'as, apart from the SEN
timent, the material losses inflicted upon
Americans by the anarchy in Cuba must
not be belittied." The Statist believes,
however, that President Mckinley Is
strong enough to resist the pressure,
and congratulates him upon the firm
and statesmanlike qualities which the
immediate responsibilities Of his posi-
tion have developed" and upon the hon
orable and noble principles which he
enunciated AT Philadelphia when he
quoted Washington. AT the same time
continues the Statist I'VE realize that
the president cannot afford to quarrel
with his supporters IL the latter press
war
The Saturday Review Ii of the opinion
that the affair is "gravely threatening"
and comments upon the silence of the
court of inquiry into the loss of the
Maine as being ''ominous. as In the
nervous anxiety of President Mckinley
and his ministers to avoid rupture
with Spain, they would obviously have
hastened to publish anything which
would help to stop the mouths of Sena-
tors Mason and Allen, who. with the as
sistance of certain newspapers. are Yell
ing for instant war In the best jingo
style.
Proceeding. the Saturday Review re.
marks: Secretary Sherman having
been silenced by the simple process of
not allowing him to know anything. the
executive has lately kept the secrets
admirably. but 1T is shrewdly suspected
| that the pacific position of President
Mckinley is largely owing to the re-
ports of his naval advisers to the effect
that America is not In condition to go
to war with Spain with any certainty
of any Immediate and Overwhelming
success. The Spanish fleet is not to be
despised. and South American repub-
lies have not displayed any love for
their Northern sister. But all this will
not prevent the jingoes forcing the
presidents hand II scrap of evidence
duplicating the Cuban authorities be-
comes public"
The Spectator is certain that the
United States government whether
moved by information from Europe, or
only desirous of peace. is anxious to
avoid war
Sun, apart from the loss of the
Maine, the Spectator thinks that the
narrowing consular reports from Cuba
may so fire the Americans that they
will insist upon their government end
Ing such miseries within American
waters. The Spectator then proceeds to
repeat the reported war preparations in
the United States and concludes: But
saAfng h4ss . R.r
are waiting for evidence and are not
inclined for war, unless the honor and
policy Of the country really require it,
Advices received here from Madrid
show that while the revolutionary or
gans. such as FL Pals, are shrieking
denunciations and threats. the respon-
sible newspapers have adopted a con-
eiliatory attitude. For instance. Ell
Liberal. in leading article. made a
sympathetic reference to Washing
tons birthday and expressed approval
of President NcKiniey's speech at Phil
adelpha. considering 1t TO be rebuff
for those seeking to embroiI the United
states and Spain," and expressing the
hope that the presidents action will
be In accord with his words
In conclusion FL Liberal says. Time
viii tell. but for the present we ought
to cry truce TO suspicious and ami
mosities in honor of the memory Of the
great man VINO. in addition to laying
the foundation for the liberty of his
people. contributed. as few others have
done. to the redeeming and dignifying
of human conscience.
The ministers declare that the pessi-
mistic views of the Spanish press are
"only the echo of the sensa tIonal state
menfs made by certain American news
papers"
I'll Pals repeating the charge that "the
real seat Of war Is not in Cuba but in
the United states. which by lies and
ehieanery are seeking to justify their
acts says: THE war in Cuba will
only end when we send an army against
the United States"
London Is in the throes of the hottest
campaign in its history. the contest for /
seats In the London county council COM
pietely throwing into the shade even the |
keenest fought general parliamentary /
elections. For three weeks past the fight I
has been raging alike in Belgravia and !
Whitechapel. Nightly there are scores |
Of meetings attended by cabinet minis
ters and front bencherss of both par
ties. Peers and peeresses. eommoners. /
clergy, publicans. officers. diplomats
judges. doctors and labor agitators are
all involved For the Is seats 10 be filled |
on March there are 24a candidates. IN /
Guiding few Independents. National |
issues have been included in the fight /
ii manner hitherto unknown in mu-
nlclpal politics. until il has become a I
sure battle between unionists and lib /
erals under the titles or ''modera-ss''
and progresstves.
Both sides have been attempting 10
draw an analogy between the epposi-
tTuu aims ara those OF Tammany hall. +
paIadlng Tammany as an awful example /
OF tina corruption which may be expected /
in London when the other fellow gets
into power. Barrels of money are heIag f
spent On both SIDES Gangs Of r5ughs +
have been hired to break up meetings t
and hundreds Of disraputables are being /
brought into London and elsewhere to +
impersonate voters who are now at sea +
or tneapaettated from voting in person t
James Bryce. member OF parliament I
for the south division of Aberdeen tib- /
eiat author of The American Common
wealth. etc. and the president Of the I
- 4 =. = !.