The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-20
Congress May Become Angered and
Pass Hot Declaration of War.
UNLESS SPAIN SHOULD YIELD ALL
War VIII Begin by the First of Next Week
as Certain as Day -Peace-at-Any- Price
Patriots Still Hope the Pow
ers Will Intervene. as-z=
Special to The Age-Herald.
BY JAY #. DURHAM.

w aSnlnSGOn, April IL. = Iuo
presidents vacillating policy is
again in the ascendancy. There
are already vigorous mutterings
of discomfort at his delay in sign
ing the resolutions passed by con-
greBs early this morning. He had
given out last Friday that he
would sign them as. soon as they
came to him. When the senate
spent four days debating the res
olutions, Mr. Mckinley said that
every hour that was lost was a
Spanish hour wasted. He was
then so anxious for quick action
that he became very much of an
insurgent in temperament. He
said this morning early that he
would attach his signature to the
resolutions as soon as they were
received at the white house.
When Mr. Dingley called on the president
the leader of the republicans in the house
was asked to go to the capitol and move for
an adjournment of the house until tomor-
row. This was done, whereupon the presi-
dent said he could not sign the resolutions
while congress was not in session. This
was not the case; but the plan was work.
ed for delay. When taking into considera-
tion the enthusiasm prevailing in the house,
irrespective of party, when the resolutions
ha nh inf
was that the president was equally patriot
ic and would make good his promise, and
sign the resolutions at once and proceed
Immediately to carry them into effect.
Too Much Conservatism
The truth of the matter is Mckinley is
mortally tinctured with too much "conser-
vatism," and his party friends know 1t.
Should he keep the resolutions longer than
tomorrow without signing them there may
be some hot resolutions introduced in con-
gress, making an independent and outright
declaration of war. This is very generally
talked of, and delay of longer than one
day more will incite congressional indigna-
tion. The passage of the resolution as
agreed upon was a disappointment to the
president. He wanted the house resolution
adopted, which amounted to nothing, SO far
as directing him to use the navy and army
to- enforce the will of congress. 1t simply
directed him to intervene, but only empow-
cred him to use the military forces. This
was the presidents plan to avoid war. The
resolutions now before him direct interven-
tion at once and likewise directs him to use
the army and navy to back up. the express
ed wish of congress-
This forces the president to act promptly
in both ways, and it says he shall inter-
vene at once. He may sign the resolu-
tions tomorrow and he may not The mo-
ment he attaches his signature they go in
to effect and as soon as affixed it is given
out that he will at once communicate with
Madrid. cabling the full text of the resolu-
tions with diplomatic note. If the presf-
dents reason for delay is a military one
no one will object; but if it is to give Spain
more time and another opportunity to omen
diplomatic negotiations pending the as
sembling of the cortes, which convenes to-
morrow, though will not be able to trans
act any business before Monday the peo-
pie will resent it.
BY the First of the Week
Unless Mckinley should procrastinate too
long or Spain should back down when the
text of the resolutions Is received at Mad
rid, war will, in all probabilities begin the
first of next week, as 1t Is not believed
more than two days will be given to Spain
In which to reply whether it will withdraw
from Cuba In peace or submit the matter to
arms There are strong probabilities that
Spain may yield all this government asks
for without there being many guns fired
The temper of the Spanish government
will best be set forth before any replv
comes from Madrid by the speech of the
queen regent, which will be read from the
throne tomorrow on the assembling of the
cortes in special session. The regular date
of the meeting being Monday next
May Patch Things Up
The peace-at-any-price patriots have not
abandoned hope that war will be averted
believing as they do that the powers, the
pope or the money element may be able to
patch things up. They know they have the
president with them In the peace plan and
that serves as stimulant in the further
ance of their plans and hopes. All hinges
now on the reply from Madrid. Congress
has set its seal Of approval upon proposed
and distinct war. The representatives of
the people can do no more. Sagasta and