The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Peace is in
the air. This is due partly, no doubt, to a
reaction from the excitement and clamor
that followed the prompt and splendid ac-
ton of Congress in voting fifty millions to
be used by the President at his own dis
erection in preparing for possible war, but it
is also largely due to the fact that the very
imminence of war has brought reflection to
the people. What would war cost? The an
swer, roughly estimated is five hundred
millions, perhaps billion in money, and
possibly hundred thousand lives. Not that
that number of men would fall in battle,
but disease ard death would claim many
that bullets would spare. 1t would be
frightful price to pay for the doubtful hon
or Of defeating decrepit Spain. But the ma
tional honor may demand that the people
of the United States make this awful sacri-
fice Spain, on her part, would also be called
on to make similar sacrifices of treasure
and life and in both countries it would be
the flower of their young manhood that
would suffer. Men who are not welded to
war for wars sake argue that it would be
better if the situation that would result to
Cuba as the outcome of war could be
brought about by peaceful methods with
out depressing the national dignity on
either side. This idea is stirring simultane-
ousiy in the minds of those in positions of
authority and influence, both in Europe and
America. Sc it has come about that in the
past few days both there and here strenu-
Gus efforts have been making to find So
luton Of the situation along the lines of
peaceful negotiation. If Spain could be
brought to admit what all the rest of the
world recognizes; that she cannot maintain
control of Cuba, re-establish peace, rebuild
it's broken industries and restore it's lost
prosperity, the rest would be easy. Spain's
creditors, the holders of her bonds, under
stand it, They are influential with the Span
ish government but they exercise little con-
troll over the Spanish people. These are in
flammabe and liable, when dissatisfied, to
rise against the existing government, not
to overthrow it, but to expel the reigning
dynasty. The alliance entered into by the
Weylerites and the Carlists is full of dam
ger to the Alfonso dynasty. The prime OBJ
ject Of the Sagasta government is to save
the Alfonso dynasty-with Cuba, ii it can,
without Cuba, if that be the only way. The
immediate problem before Sagasta and his
government is how to let Cuba go without
involving the peninsula in civil war. The
army in Spain, as in France, is just now
all powerful in domestic politics. If Sagasta
can bring the military leaders over to sup
port an honorable settlement of the Cuban
question, even though it mean the loss of
the island to Spain, the battle for peace
would be won To the accomplishment of
this admittedly difficult task some of the
most powerful Influences in Europe are now
bending all their energies. Those Influences
are. within certain limits. the strongest in
the old world in the shaping of national
policies.
AS to the President, while preparing for
war. he is hoping for peace, and to that end
he is directing his best energies. He does
not believe that the Americans are blood
thirsty people, He does believe that they
will be better satisfied with q. peaceful out
come of the Cuban question than with a
bloody one, provided always it can be ac-
complished by honorable means. He is not
for peace at any price; he is for an honor
able peace. Failing that, he is for war. He
is not for war for purposes of aggression or
conquest If war comes it will be because
the national honor and dignity leave no
other honorable course open. but he has not
the slightest trace of fear that the enlight-
ened Christian sentiment of the country will
not uphold him in any honorable measure
he may take to maintain peace and avoid
bloodshed, and this means free Cuoa with
out war.
"The general expectation of the members
OF the Cabinet" said one of them after the
meeting to-day. lis that some report will
be received during the present week from
the court of inquiry examining into the
cause of the Maine explosion. Yet" he
added. 1t would not be surprising to as IL