The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-09

Washington, April S.-Good Friday
passed in Washington with not a rip
pie on the surface. either at the White
House or the capitol, to show that the
United States is on the brink of war
Both houses of congress had adjourned
until Monday, and at the executive
mansion there was no rush of eager
and excited public men, but Sunday
quiet atmosphere. Only at the war and
navy departments were there signs of
an impending conflict in the rush of
immediate orders to a host of naval
officers to report at once for duty on
vessels To which they were assigned,
and in conference among bureau chiefs
on details of war preparations.
FIXED RESOLUTION.
AS yet the resolve was firmer than
ever that unless Spain yielded TO
American-Cuban demands, the United
States. by force of arms, would move
on Havana. 1t was the very recogni-
ton of the fiXity of this purpose that
caused the day to be in marked con-
trast to the excitement OF all its prede-
cessors of late. There was still some
discussion of Cuban affairs, but it only
served to emphasize the fact that one
forward step of immense Importance
had been taken. for the discussion was
of an advanced stage, and concerned
not intervention and freedom of Cuba
from SPANS dominion. but the obliSa-
lions and duties that might be imposed
upon the United States after we had
expelled Spain from the island.
TWO PROPOSITIONS.
This discussion .revolved around two
propositions. namely. intervention with
out recognition Of the Cuban insurgents
and intervention with concurrent rec
ognition of the independence OF the
present inSurgent government IN CUBA.
Some public men lowered between these
two propositions and favored the COM
promise. There was no definite lead by
= which it could be stated with anything
like authoritativeness which course
would be adopted. but the unsettled
state of public opinion on the matter
indicated that events of the next few
DAYS. the strength of the arguments of
the forthcoming presidential message
OF. a distinct utterance from our consul
general of Cuba, might be strong
enough to incline the balance to either
course.
PROGRAMME MADE UP.
The cabinet held its usual Friday ses-
sion. bat its meeting brought no change
in the Spanish situation. Indeed, it
was chiefly significant in establishing
that no change had occurred, that none
was expected. and that the programme
of action on the part of the United
States government was already made
IN The presidents message remains
lInaltered, indeed this being the last
cabinet day before the message VIII go
TO congress, alterations are unlikely be-
tween now and Monday, barring alto
sether unexpected developments from
Madrid. After the meeting cabinet
officers stated that the message would
be sent to congress on Monday, no
change in that respect having been con-
sidered and all causes for delay hav-
ing been removed.
The calmness of the cabinet meeting.
which was one Of the most uneventful
held in recent days. was another evil
dence of the feeling entertained by the
administration that the case IS made
I'D and that nothing now remains TO
b. done but to present the subject to
congress and await the final outcome
there.
END TO DIPLOMACY.
The feeling that an end has come to
diplomatic talk, and that action alone
remained was shared in all quarters,
including the foreign embassies and
legations. where the ambassadors and
ministers expressed the feeling that all
had been done in washington that
could or would be done in the cause of
gives slight hopes of such concessions
there as VIII alter the present situation.
There are no negotiations in the sense
of exchanges on pending propositions.
Both parties apparently have said
their last word concerning their re-
spective propositions. Certainly this is
tl-ue as 10 the United States, and there
were no evidences today that the
Spanish government would recede.
It is even doubtful whether con-
cession of an armistice by Spain would
be sufficient at this late moment 10
turn the situation into peaceful chan
nels.
PREPARING FOR EVENTS.
Preparations for all eventualities are
being hurried TO completion.
General Lee win leave Havana to-
morrow. probably oil the small naval
vessel Fern, now in Havana harbOr
although it was said at the state de-
partment that he might take one of the
Plant line steamers. At that time
also the other United States consuis
and most of the American citizens re-
siding in Cuba viii be out Of the is
land Official reports received here to-
day stated that large numbers OF
Americans were leaving on the several
steamers from Havana and other ports
Entire quiet had prevailed there up "a
this time.
4 The United States consul at Porto
Rico is also preparing to leave. No
instructions, it is stated definitely,
have been sent to Minister Woodford
concerning his withdrawal from Ma
drid. that being left TO his discretion.
The prospects of mis- withdrawal have
beer fully considered. however, and
there is reason to believe that in the
event of his retirement the British am
bassador at Madrid viii look after
American interests and afford pFotec-
ton to such Americans as remain in
Spain This, it is stated in authorita-
tive quarters, is part of treaty be-