The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
This Course Is Now Relieved to BE ON
the Programme Soon After Re-
port on Maine Disaster.
BRITAIN MAY BACK AMERICA
QUEEN VICTORIA SENDS FRIENDLY
WORD TO THE PRESIDENT.
English Papers Declare United States
Are Justified and that Spain
Must Set Cuba. Free.
peclal to The indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Now that the
President has sole personal control of a
fund Of $50,oOO 900 to put the country on
war footing, public men in Washington are
facing the future with greater confidence.
They are speculating tonight on the course
of the events with greater freedom than
heretofore, and are giving expression to
views which they have been careful here
tofore to hold in a state of repression. A
singular unanimity of opinion as to what
the President will do has suddenly devel-
oped. The vague talk about Intervention"
heard a few days ago has given place to
the confident prediction that the President
will interfere to bring the war in Cuba to an
end. Confirmation of this theory has been
given out this afternoon and evening by
calls on officials, and their views are made
public as "close friends of the President"
There is no longer any doubt as to the ad-
ministrations policy. The question which
the administration is asking itself, and
which is giving the President and his advis-.
ers greatest concern, is not what we will do,
but what Spain will do and how she will
respond to suggestions, overtures or de-
mands by the United States Everything
depends on that
II the board of inquiry into the Maine dis
aster should find that the explosion was
from external causes, and there is abund-
ant ground for the belief that it will make
that kind of report, this government will
make demand on Spain for a large cash
indemnity and such other reparation as
may be warranted. If Spain should refuse
to acknowledge responsibility in the matter
war might easily result. If Spain should
confess responsibility by offering to pay in
demnity, or asking that the matter be re-
ferred to competent tribunal for adjudi-
cation, there would be a distinct gain of
time, and with time for an ally, ANYTHING
may be accomplished The theory is that
with full knowledge, after the contro-
versy over the Maine is settled this govern
ment Is certain to intervene for a restora-
ton of peace in Cuba, Spain may conclude
not to wait, but invite a conflict over the
indemnity proposition by refusing fatty to
admit any responsibility or to enter into
negotiations looking to the payment of an
indemnity. This is thought to be the first
trick ahead, and there appears to be no way
of avoiding it. In fact there is no disposi
ton to avoid it, but, on the contrary, to put
the country in shape to meet any emer-
gency which may grow out of the incident.
as to the explosion will be known officially
within few days. Semi-officiaI informa
ton, apparently reliable, reached Washing
ton several days ago that proof had been
obtained to establish beyond a reasonable
doubt the fact that the disaster was not by
internal accident, and since then the report
has received confirmation from many
sources. 1t is evident that the President
has received an inkling of what the main
feature or the verdict will be, but it is not
so clear that he has been advised as to the
degree of responsibility attaching to Span
fsh authorities. 1t is understood, however
that he holds to the theory that the respon-
sibility has been laid at the doors of the
Havana authorities. This is rendered prac-
tically certain on account of the persistency
with which the Presidents advisers adhere
to the opinion that the Maine affair will not
be the cause of an open rupture between
the United States and Spain, unless Spain
takes an unjusti1able stand and puts her
self in a false position. Whether she will
do so or not is, of course, something beyond
the ken Of the administration. Only the
future can settle this uncertainty
Should the Maine affair be thrown on to
a tribunal for decision, it is more than like
ly that the administration will not await
the conclusion Of ttS hearings before put
ting into effect POLICY of Intervention. The
government may feel itself obliged to inter-
fere from purely sanitary reasons and the
protection of the population of the large
cities Of the country from a yellow fever
epidemic. 1t is the common belief, held in
medical and naval circles especially in
formed the subject, that Cuba will be
visited by the worst epidemic of yellow
known in the history of the island, and if
these fears should be verified, nothing can
prevent the introduction of the dread dis
ease in some Of the seaboard cities of the
United States and thence into the interior
In order to give adequate protection to our
own people, the President may be forced
to extend a helping hand to the plague
stricken Cubans, which can only be done
through the agency of active Intervention
as preliminary. This is one of the condi-
tions which has already entered the mind
of the chief executive, and which may yet
figure as q feature of paramount impor-
tance
Some curiosity is entertained as to how
many Americans there are in Havana, and
what might occur to them in the event of
war. The common notion is that there are
several hundred. recent canvass dis
closed the fact that there are not more
than twenty-five or thirty Americans in the
Cuban capital, and probably not a greater
number in the provinces who would be en-
dangered In all Havana there is probably
not an American woman or child. This
enumeration is only of native-born Ameri-
cans. There are 200 or 800 naturalzed Gu
ban-Americans, but they are concealing
their American citizenship and forgetting
what little English they ever learned. and