The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-03-30
PEACE PROPOSITIONS.
Spain Makes Them to Our Gov
ernment.
No Opposition to the Sending of Further
Supplies to the Destitute In Cuba
Report of tho Spanish Board of
Inquiry-COngressme Show
a Restive Spirit.


a day of action in every branch of Of
fetal life; action in the White House,
where the president and his cabinet
advisers assembled in special cabinet
session at 1890 o'clock; action in both
branches of congress, where the mes
sage of the president on the Maine DIS
aster and the report and testimony of
the board of inquiry were received; ac-
tion in the secret conferences of state
officials and diplomats concerning the
latest phases of Spanish-American ne
gotiation, and action in the war and
navy departments, with the Spanish
situation as the common purpose of all
the varying aspects of official action.
Seldom has day been replete with
so many diverse and important phases
of single subject.
And yet, throughout this activity,
the prevailing tone, as received from
administration sources, was more in
the line of peace than it has been for
some days. This was the impression
conveyed by cabinet officers after the
special cabinet session. The same
sentiment characterized the diplo-
matte conferences at the state depart
ment. But in congress, which afforded
the greatest field for anti-Spanish and
warlike expressions, a strain of dis
content prevailed after the presidents
message and the Maine report was sub
mitted, especially on the house side.
The special cabinet session was held
to go over the presidents message and
more particularly to consider the latest
developments in the negotiations now
proceeding with Spain. These had
assumed 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 the
condition of Cuban affairs had become
so intolerable that the United States
could not much longer remain inactive
toward it. The general tone of the
Spanish answer has impressed the
president and cabinet officers favor
ably.
This was qualified, however, by the
statement that the danger point has
not yet passed, and that war, while no
longer probability, was yet possi-
bility. The president has distinctly
disclosed to his cabinet associates his
purpose to avert war if it was possible
with just solution of the Cuban prob
lem, and he had felt, from the DISPOSE
tion manifested by Spain, that this
just solution could be reached. This,
however, is without considering con-
gress, 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, Senor Polo de Bernabe. was
in lengthy conference with Judge Day
as to the prospective adjustment. The
meeting between the Spanish minister
and Judge Day came after the cabinet
conference, so that such representa-
tions as Spain submitted through him
did not get before the cabinet. At
least two of these new phases submit
ted by the minister were of exceeding
Importance. The Spanish government
made it known that no objection would
be made to the humanitarian objects OF
the United States government in ex-
tending relief to the sufferers in Cuba
on far greater scale than hitherto
had been contemplated.
This acquiescence by Spain clears
the way for the presidents message Of
the next few days, asking large ap
preparation for the relief of destitutior
in Cuba.
Anotherimportant Spanish document
which reached the government during
the day was the abstract of the repor
of the naval commission which investi
gated the destruction of the Maine
1t is the only answer Spain has thu
far made to the action of this govern
ment in submitting to Spain, through
Minister Woodford, the findings of tn,
American court. The conclusion
reached by the Spanish commission ar
directly opposite to those of the Amer
lean court. No demands have beel
made in connection with the Main
and therefore there is no response be
: yond the submission of the Spanis
report.
Following the call of the Spanis
r minister at the state department tn
French ambassador. M. Cambon, had
: conference with Judge Day, This re
? newed the talk of European mediation
= which is assuming tangible form. Th
speech of Premier Hanotaux in tn
Paris chamber last Saturday is locke
. upon as foreshadowing at least syn
] pathy, if not direct steps toward med
alton by France and other continents
powers.
There is a good reason to believ
= that Spain is anxious for this NOV
! and has been encouraging it at tn
' European capitals. 1t would not /
an offensive intrusion, but more
a friendly offer to mediate the diffe
ences which have recently threatene
v to terminate in war between I'll
United States and Spain. 1t is unde
e stood, however, that M. Cambon hi
= not received any definite instruction
:. to take the initial step in such medi
j. tion.
l. Has Roupht a6tCruiser