The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-20
THE SITUATION.

~ Ao~'s
Congress has decleed war and the
President will reluctantly carry out
the decree. Secret orders have oeen
sent the American feet at Hampton
Roads and Key West, and the mobll-
ization of the land forces has begun.
Every day train loads of blue coats
are coming into tie South, and it is
thought that the invasion of Cuba
will take place before the end OF the
week. President Mckinley is hesi-
tating about signing tho war resolu-
tions adopted by Congress against
his will, and is disposed to give SPAN
q fair chance to see that America is
in earnest in demanding the with
drawal of Spanish troops from Cuba.
Our Minister at Madrid has been no.
tilted of the text of the resolutions
and it is supposed that he will to-day
ask for his passports and come home.
The Spanish, Minister at Washington
has made all preparation to take his
departure and will do so as soon as
President Mckinley ahxes his auto
o,ror,b to tho Cnban resolutions.
The President will be authorized
fo can for 10000 volunteers, and he
Will do so Immediately after recelv-
ing reply to his ultimatum, and
when the order is given to invade
Cuba it is thought 200, 900 men will be
at the governments disposal. The lat
est from Washington is from Gen.
Corbin, Adjutant General OF the
Army. He is quoted as saying that
the South Carolina militia will be
employed in defending the State
when the emergency ARISES, and 1t is
not proposed to order the State MI
lltie % Cuba. If any members of the
militia volunteer, they will be prompt
" mustered into the regular service.
President Mckinley's ultimatum
will give Spain one day to evacuate
the Island and it means nothing
more nor less than saying to Spain
sscome off from your nghtful posses
sions or we'll shoot you of. The
Spanish Cortes assemblies in Madrid
to-day and the whole country is wait
ing for the Queen Regents speech
from the throne, or what we would
term the message to congress Spain
cannot with self-respect accede to the
demands of the United States; she is
bound to refuse, and the United
States has gone so far that in the
event of SPANS refusal America must
open fire. This, in our judgment, IS
the situation to-day, and before our
next issue hostilities will have opened.
How long it will last cannot be esti-
mated. Uncle Sam has great ad-
vantage by being within easy access
of coal for his warships and his sup
ply centres, while Spain has an ocean
between these two important ele-
,nents to carry on . war.
Those who think it will be Of short
duration are mistaken for Spain must
make a death struggle to prevent
the loss of this valuable possession,
or her internal troubles will break
loose and her dynasty will go to the
Carlist element or the government
changed from monarchy to Re-
public. In our opinion Alfonso will
abdicate the throne and turn the
government over to Republic rather
than allow Carlos to wear the crown.
We look for Spain's troops to even
tually be forced from Cuba and the
yellow flag of the Castillians replaced
with the stars and stripes and flying
from the ramparts of Moro Castle,
with an American provisional Gov
ernor in control until, in the iudg-
ment of the spectators ''pacifcation"
has been accomplished.