The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-08
washington Bureau st. Paul Globe, !
C0rcoran Buiidinq. (

Special to The st. Paul Globe
WASHINGTON, March THE lin
goes, although not making themselves
SO offensive with their demonstration
as lew weeks ago, are watching every
turn, and expressing, privately, their
nope and expectation that the report
OF the board Of inquiry will show that
the explosion On the Maine was caused
by something outside Of the vessel.
Even the extremists are now ready
to- admit the justice of Secretary
Longs remark that the Spanish gov
eminent Is beyond suspicion Of any
deliberate share in the matter. But
they come back promptly to the point
that, granting their assumption of an
outside explosion, the Spanish govern
ment must be held responsible on the
ground that proper precautions would
nave prevented the disaster In any
event, they declare, war is inevitable.
If we do not seek it of our own accord
we shall drift into it," and this, they
argue, would put us in an ignoble light
before the world; hence, if we have got
to have war anyway, why not bring
1T ON promptly, while Our own state of
preparation is still better than SPANS.
One Of these men, whose name is al
most equally well known on two con-
tinents, presented the lingo case to
your correspondent today in compre-
hensive style.
Strong pressure" said he. "has been
and will be brought to bear upon the
president to induce him to make a
strictly commercial affair Of this, by
asking Spain for damages in money.
It seems to me, if anything were calcu-
lated to strengthen the impression some
foreigners have Of us, that the al
mighty dollar is first in our thoughts,
waking or sleeping, it is this. There
are some things which no money will
pay for, and which man would feel
ashamed to try to liquidate in dollars
and cents
yet you did not feel that way when
President Harrison made terms with
Chilli on money basis?" he was re-
minded.
''That was different matter. The
assault upon our sailors in Valparaiso.
while probably inspired by dislike of
the United States, was after all an as
sault upon individuals, and not the
same as If some miscreant had attack
ed the ship to which they belonged,
and which was in a sense a part Of the
United States"
THE president may not appreciate
your distinction; but what would YOU
have him do instead Of demanding
money indemnity"
Demand Cuba's Freedom.
1--WE would have him demand the
freedom Of Cuba as the only compensa-
ton we could afford to accept in view
Of all the circumstances. No matter
what may be said in proof that Spain
had no share officially in the matter,
there will always remain in the popular
mind feeling that there was at least
a singular series Of condolences, and
that the fact that the occurrence was
in Havana harho., the the fn ass place Where
Spain wanted one Of our warships, had
not received due consideration in judg-
ing Of the whole mysterious affair, In
every day life an accident may happen
to you on your neighbours premises, and
he may assure you Of his deep regret,
and offer you reparation as far as
money will buy that, and yet the at
tending circumstances may be such
that If you are q frank man you can
not bring yourself to accept these
terms. If the Maine was blown I'D In
Havana harbor, even by no direct con-
nivance Of the Spanish government.
we have right to assume that Spain
cannot maintain law and order In her
own colony. and we should be morally