The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-02


can representatives, the second to relegate
the whole matter to Congress and let that
body do as it sees proper-which, / think.
would mean intervention-and, third, TO
take a middle stand. But, as l said before.
nothing has yet been determined on by the
President, or if he has reached decision
he did not communicate it to the members
of the Cabinet this afternoon,
Yes, reference was made by Spain to the
Maine matter in the reply she sent through
Minister Woodford She made no offer to
pay for the loss, but suggested that the
matter be settled by arbitration. So far as
I recall she expressed regret for the sad
occurrence, and the whole thing was re-
garded as a cold-blooded statement"
THE SECOND SESSION.
The second session of the Cabinet lasted
from 5 o'clock till $40 p. m. All of the mem
'bers were present except Secretary Sher-
man. When the adjournment was taken
the announcement was made that the only
business under discussion was the Presi-
dents forthcoming message to Congress.
The President was very much fatigued and
would retire early tonight Tomorrow
morning he would begin the preparation of
his message and hoped to have 1t ready
by Monday. Nothing further concerning the
meeting would be made public.
The Spanish minister called at the State
Department at 430 o'clock and was in con-
ference with Judge Day for some time. AL
though there was the strictest reserve as
to what had occurred it can be stated posi-
lively that the United States submitted no
further propositions, nor did the Spanish
minister offer anything which changed the
situation of affairs. Both sides regard the
issue as made up with no Likelihood of
further negotiations between now and the
time when the President will submit the
whole case to Congress. The United States
has presented it's demand and Spain has
given her answer. Thus the case stands.
While this brings halt to the active nego-
tiations which have been in progress for
the last few days, it does not mean that
diplomatic relations between the two coun-
tries are terminated, for such a step is the
last preliminary before an actual state of
war. United States Minister Woodford re-
mains at his post at Madrid and is said to
be entirely safe from harm. The Spanish
minister Senor Polo Bernabe, also re-
mains at his post at Washington. The crit
ical condition of affairs within recent days
has led him and his staff to consider what
disposition Of their effects would be made
In case their position here became unten-
able
From the Spanish standpoint there is the
same disposition as that shown by the au-
thorities here, to regard the issue as made
up. The answer of Spain is looked on as the
limit of concession which Madrid will
grant If there is to be another move the
Spanish government looks to the United
States to make it. This at least is the situa-
tIon as it presents itself to those best in
formed in Washington. OF course it cam
not be foretold what Madrid will do in the
stress of circumstances within the next
two days. But those best able to judge
do not expect any further move from
Madrid, as they say that Spain has reached
the limit of her concessions.
THE SPANISH MINISTER.
Inc Spanish minister has naturally been
a center in the exciting incidents of TODAY.
he is fully conscious of the gravity of the
situation, and while still expressing hone
Tor peace, speaks to his friends of the
eventualities which may come To one of
tnem he said to-day that he could not be-
heve that two nations made up of calm
and sensible people would rush into the un-
told horrors of war. He added that it would
be wicked and cruel crime for this result
to be precipitated. The staff of the legation
the legation Office were burning until 3
o'clock this morning while the secretaries
and attaches We're deciphering cablegrams
and in turn reducing dispatches to cipher
for transmission to Madrid The minister
personally superintends all this work. and
no effort is made to condense or spare ex-
pense in presenting by cable the informa-
tion between the officials here and at
Madrid
Late this afternoon a Madrid bulletin was
received stating that the Pope was seeking
to exercise pacific influences, by inducing
both Spain and the insurgents to accept
an armiStice in Cuba. If this be true, the
Pope has not given any instructions or in
formation along this line to Monsignor Mar
tinelli, the papal delegate at Washington
The latter has taken no step towards medi-
alton. 1T has been reported that one of the
archbishops of the Catholic Church, in the
course of an informal conversation with
high officials here, suggested the mediation
of the Pope. This, however, was unofficial
and no authorized proposition of any char
acter has come from Rome. Furthermore
there is little reason to believe the admin
istration would receive with favor any
proposition of this character from a foreign
source.
In Congress the situation was little
changed from the tension of the past two
days. While the Senate was in secret ses-
sion there was a great deal of war talk
| The subject under debate the acquisition
of the Danish West Indies, served as a
tool for the discussion. On the House side
the members gathered in groups and talked
of the warrior they seemed to have the
impression that such an outcome was in
evitable. The Associated Press bulletin an
nouncing the reply of Spain was read with
much interest, scores of members listening
while one would read aloud the dispatch
The foreign relations committee of the
nearly all day considering the Maine dis
aster as a part of tho Cuban question. as
we'll as the reply of Spain, which had been
furnished the committee early in the day
Nothing of Importance was actually ac-
complshed at the Capitol, but the senti-
ment showed plainly that if the President $
message is for Intervention he will receive
hearty support. There is d disposition in
some quarters of Congress to merely recog-
nize the independence of Cuba. The recon-
mendation of the President will carry great
weight. If the President should simply re-
port that diplomacy is at an end and leave
the determination of the future course with
Congress, it is probable that immediate in
tervention will be recommended.
Tonight for the first time in ten days