Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-04-07

cabinet officers after the special cab
met session. The same sentiment
characterized the diplomatic confer
ences at the state Department.. But in
congress, which offered the greatest
field for anti-Spanish and warlike ex.
pressiOns, ~ strain of discomfort and
unca:iness prevailed after the presi.
dents message and the Maine report
were submitted, especially on the
house side.
The presidents message. submitting
the Maine report and accompanying
evidence, was the main
Event of the Day.
Those who had anticipated that the
message would contribute to the ag.
gressive spirit were disappointed. Ii
contained @ surprises.
Tho special cabinet session was held
to go over the presidents message and
more particularly to consider the lat
est developments in the negotiations
now proceeding with Spain. These
had assumed a wide field. embracing
not only the Maine question, but the
entire Cuban problem.
The answer of Spain was in hand
to the firm note sent through Minister
Woodford last week stating that thu
condition Of Cuban affairs had become
to intolerable that the United States
could not mud h longer remain mac
tive toward it. The general tone OF
the Spanish answer impressed the
president and cabinet officers most fa.
vorab!y. so much so that after the
meeting it was stated by members that
the outlook was far more assuring
and that Spain had shown sucn 4
conciliatory tone that it was believed
she would make concessions sufficient
to permit an amicable adjustment OF
the present strained relations. This
was qualified, however, by the state
ment that the danger point has not
yet passed, and that war, while M
longer a probability, was yet pos.
sibility. The president has distinctly
disclosed to his cabinet associates his
purpose
To Avert War
if it was possible with Il Just solu
ton of the Cuban problem. and he had
felt. from the disposition manifested
by Spain, that this just solution could
be reached. This, however. is without
considering congress, which may, now
that the subject is formally before it
take some radical action. Meantime
at the state department, cablegrams
were being received from Minister
Woodford, and the Spanish minister
Senior Polo v Bernabe, was in lengthy
conference with Judge Day as to tho
prospective adjustment. The meeting
between the Spanish minister an(
Judge Day came after the cabinet con
ference, so that such representation
as Spain submitted through him die
not get before the cabinet. At leas-
two OF these new phases submitted
by the minister were Of exceeding i'm
portance. The Spanish government
made it known that no objection
would be made to the humanitarian
object of the United States government
in extending relief to the sufferers il
Cuba on far greater scale than hth
erto had been contemplated. On thu
contrary, Spain has made known tina
it recognizes that the humane purposes
will be executed in such way as t.
avoid all opportunity for friction. L
had been feared that this relief, givel
directly by the United States govern
ment would be resented by Spain as
indirect Intervention. In that even
there is little "eason to doubt that thu
relief would have been forwarded a
any cost.
Even the Cost Of War,
as the administration has felt that
war in behalf of humane objec
would command the universal appro
baton of the world.
Another important Spanish docu
ment which reached the government
during the day was the abstract Of
the report Of the Spanish naval com
mission. The conclusions reached ar,
directly the opposite of those Of thu
American court No demands have
been made in connection With thu
Maine, and therefore there is no re
spouse beyond the submission OF the
Spanish report.
Following the call of the Sparisl
minister at the state department.. the
French ambassador, NJ. Cambon, haC
Il conference with Judge Day. This
renewed the talk of European media
ton, which is assumisg tangible form
The speech of Premier Hanotaux il
the Paris chamber last Saturday is
looked upon as foreshadowing ut leas
sympathy. if not direct steps, tCwarC
mediation by France and other con
tinental powers. There is good reason
to believe that Spain is ready ant
anxious for this move, and has beer
encouraging it at the European CAPT
tails.
At the war and navy departments
the stir of preparations continued as
usual. The navy department made
plans for n mosquito fleet to be
composed Of tugs and steam yachts
recently purchased and armed as an
auxiliary qeet. The war department
made numerous shifts in the location
of troops in the West with view
to their speedy concentration.
Favor Immediate Action.
After the adjournment of the house
there was considerable discussion ovel
a proposed consolidation Of the forces
in the house who favor some form OF
immediate action on the Cuban issue
M'KINLEY is FIRM.