The Press., 1898-03-31
Washington Letter.
Washington, Mar. 2s, 1898,

Washington Letter.
 Washington, Mar. 2s, 1898.
 Congress and all the world DOW knows officially that the Maine was blown up by enemies, and while the report does not specifically name those enemies, 1t places the responsibility, in the eyes of every American, upon Spain. Leading men gof all parties promised the president before the report was sent to congress that they would endeavor to prevent congress taking any action thereon until he had been given an opportunity to make last di- plomatic attempt to settle the whole Cuban question with Spain, but 1t Is by no means certain that this endeavor will be success fuI. Congress, as q whole, believes that war Is bound to come, and may consequent moment and take action that will bring on war at once. Nothing short of a mir aole can now prevent war, and miracles are not of frequent occurrence in these days. It would be miracle for Spain to propose to retire from Cuba and recognize It's independence, if it failed to restore peace In a given period as one report says 1t intends to do and 1t would be miracle for Spain to meet this country half way in any peAceable effort to settle the Cuban question, notwithstanding Mir. McKlnley's expression of the belief that 1t would do so.
 The president has not asked indemnity from Spain for the loss of the Maine, be- cause of his unwiIlIngness to give Spain even the shadow of right to ask that the matter be arbltrated. There Is nothing to be arbitrated. The alleged report of Spanish naval officers, claiming that the Maine was destroyed by an internal ex- plosion, will be ignored by this govern ment. The president has forwarded Q copy of the report of our court to the Spanish government, and 1t Is expected to make a.reply. Upon the nature of that reply, the next move of this government will depend, provided 1t Is promptly made. But regardless of that reply, the president has fully determined that 1t Is a duty this government owes to humanity to put an end to present conditions In Cuba, peace ably If possible, by a war If necessary. In accordance with that determination, he will ask congress to appropriate the money to feed and clothe the poverty y-stricken Cubans of all classes and congress will promptly do lt, and the distribution will at once be made by the U. 5. officials. Tn other words, the intervention that the president promised in his message to con- gress, last December, If the conditions then existing In Cuba were not bettered- is about to become an accomplished fact. If Spain resents that intervention, so much the worse for Spain, and 1t Is the general belief in Washington that 1t will resent 1t and thereby start the war.
 Not few persons, especially among naval officers, believe that the Spanish hotilla of torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers, now making it's way from the Canary Islands to Porto Rico, Is being sent to American waters for the hostile purpose, although the government Of Spain hss declared to the contrary. This government has, there Is reason to believe notified Spain that If this fiotilla makes a start from Porto Rico to Cuba It will be destroyed by our warships, as there could be no other possible reason for such Q movement than to make an attack upon us. The situation isnow SO strained that it cannot possibly continue for many days. Peace Is possible, but war is much more probable.
 In a speech commenting the valor oi American sailors when our navy was much lees formidable than 1t Is today, and pre-. dieting greater deeds of valor for them iu the future, Representative Foss, of Ills gave some interesting figures Of the cost of our new navy. He said "We have expended nearly s876 100000 for the naval establishment since 1882. or this 8sl ,O00, 900 has been expended for the construction of now vessels, and $4i 800, OO0 for armor and armament of new vessels, making In all total of &122, 500, 900 for the construction and equipment oi new vessels. Today our navy compares Eavornbly with the navies of the world"
 Those who believe that men alwayE back their real opinion when they offer tc bet, may probably be able to extract q pointer from the offer of Chairman Carnor of the house approprlatl committee, tc bot box of cigars that there would be nc war with Spain.
 onicials of the war department do mol think that 1t will be necessary for the government to open recruiting offices In order to got all the soldiers that will be hooded In a war with Spain. According to the enrollment now In the department, there are more than 100000 mon In the militia of the states, The president, in- stead of Issuing . call for volunteers, has only to order that the state militia organi- Emtlona be mustered Into the U. 6. service by regiments to add theso men to the U. s. army, and to use as many of them as may be considered necessary to assist the navy ln driving the Spanieh out of Cuba. Arrangements have already been made by which they could be landed on the island ready for business in little more than q week.