Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
ADMINISTRATION ATTITUDE
Its Aim il for Peace, but It il Preparing for
War.
The Situation ms Viewed In Congress
No Relief From the Pres
sure Indicated.


viction is being forced upon the admin
istration. as 1t has already been upon most
of the men in Congress and upon con-
siderable proportion of the public, that
the destruction of the Maine was a de-
sign. Suspicious of official connivance are
now finding expression. The history Of the
Cuban rebellion, with all It's barbarities,
is pointed to as warranting such suspicion,
and 1t Is strengthened by the evident diff
Guilty of such an outrage being committed
without connivance. 1t is suggested as a
significant thing that none of the Span
ish officials have denied that there were
and are mines in the Havana harbor. 1t is
fact within the knowledge of the Spanish
officials whether there are mines In the
harbOr. but. as far as Is known, they have
been silent on the subject and have not
ventured any assurance even that there
was not mine within the anchorage Of
the Maine.
The number of false reports that have
been set In circulation instead of increas-
ing excitement, have contributed to induce
a reservation of opinion. Out Of SO many
reports proven to be false. it is impossible
to determine just what to believe, and to
avoid hasty Judgment, based on false
hood, the disposition in Congress is to
await official information. II the general
ity of reports circulated were reasonably
accurate there would not be this DISPOSE
Administration Attitude.
The attitude of the administration is get
ting TO be pretty well understood among
the more substantial men in Congress. 1t
is known that the President would endure
much before taking steps that would lead
to war. 1t is known that the President
and the Secretary of the Navy adopted
the accident theory in the hope that it
would be sustained and with the intention
of quietinS public sentiment. There is also
a general understanding that the admin
istratton has been reluctantly losing con-
fidence in this theory and does not now
feel that peace is as secure it hoped
to make it. 1t is believed that now reli-
ance is being placed, not so much upon
the expectation that the explosion will be
proven to have been accidental, as upon
the hope that it will not be shown that the
Spanish government was responsible for
the horror and that it will make such a
disavowal as will render it possible for
war to be avoided. This is borne out by the
fact those who, in the interest of peace,
have been holding to the accident theory
strongly are now qualifying this with the
argument that even IL the explosion was
Mckinley will do all in his power honor
ably to avoid war;
This qualification in the dim light of ac-
cumulated evidence is regarded as sgniii-
cant of the growing gravity of the situa-
ton. 1t is interpreted as meaning that the
accident theory Will soon have to be aban-
doned altogether. If it cones to this, it is
understood that the administration will still
endeavor to preserve peace, but it is recog-
niZed that this viii be difficult, not only on
account of the public indignation that will
be felt in this country, but because 1t is
possible that Spain may not on her part do
what would be necessary to make peace
possible. 1t is felt that the Spanish senti-
ment is not reassuring. and that if Spain is
restrained from assuming an intolerable at
titude il will be only through the exercise
of foreign influences which will be DESTROYS
of preserving peace. The one thing re-
gardej as beyond question is that President
Mckinley will do all in his power 10 avoid
war.
The expressions of sympathy emanating
officially from Spain make no impression
as evidence of friendly feeling. No less
might be expected even if the worst possi-
BILE construction that could be put upon the
destruction of the Maine were found to be
warranted. Such expressions do not neees-
sarily mean anything.
Steps for National Defense.
The administration is taking as effective
steps as possible for national defense, with
cut startling the country by a direct appeal
to Congress for emergency appropriations.
All defense work and preparation for posi-
BILE hostility are being pressed as rapidly as
possible. The significance of this is that
the danger OF war Is recognized not that
war Is regarded as inevitable For more
than year precautionary preparations
have been in progress, but now, as the dan
ger appears more imminent, greater haste is
being urged. The feeling inspiring all this
activity is an apprehension that all efforts
TO avoid war may fail. not that the hope of
peace is abandoned or Is to be abandoned.
except in the last extremity.
The statement in dispatches from Havana
that General Lee has suggested to Ameri-
cans that they should not remain in Ha-
yana II 1t is not necessary for them to do
so, Is regarded as probably true. The sue-
gestion, however, may have been made for
the purpose of avoiding. as far as possible,
the danger Of conflict between the Spanish
people of the street and Americans hanging
IDLY about. rather than on account of any
Ieellng OF certainty on the part of General
Lee that there Is to be war.
Inc whole of 1t Is that the situation IL
strained almost as much as possible. and
no relief of the pressure Is in immediate
prospect
The question Is how long this can con-
tlnue and how much greater pressure can
De stood without a rupture. If American
sentiment alone had to be considered. II 4,
believed that the President would be con
fident of his ability to preserve peace. hut
the Spanish temper has to be taken into ac-
count. ~