The times., 1898-01-24

(. War--Adm4nsts6f ton LIS Secretive.
The startling rumors flying about the
country show the intensity of the pub
lie sentiment on the Cuban question.
The frequency of these rumors presage
the elimination of events which can
scarcely be prevented. The blow will
surely fall ON Havana, and the country
is expectantlg awaiting the first overt
act OF the Spanish mob which shall
embroil the United States and Spain III
war.
The rumors of yesterday may find
expression in1he Senate today. A res
olution may be introduced calling upon
the President for the information which
he is supposed to have, and which. it is
said is being suppressed. The reports
of Gen. Lee are of the most alarming
character, and while the AdminiStra-
ton is taking steps to protect Ameri-
cans when the blow falls the Senate
will probably want to know what the
exact conditions are on the island so
far as the Administration has received
information. There has been no reply
yet to the Cannon resolution, and with
the air full of sensational reports to-
day appears to be a good time for Mr..
Cannon to push his resolution to the
next step..sss,
Last night the city was startled with
the report that Consul General Lee had
been assassinated. The announcement
came from Key West, where it was
stated the news was on the streets ana
was currently believed to be true. 1t
was denied on the authority of two
Cabinet officers, who should know the
facts. The positive statement was
made that the department knew the
story was false. The assassination of
Gen. Lee would be a fact OF such great
moment that the Government would
learn of it as speedily as cables and
telegraph wires could convey the in
formation. 1t would probably not have
to depend upon its own agents in Cuba
for the intelligence, for the Spanish
government itself could not fail to
promptly notify the United States OF
such a depIorabfe AFFAIR The Spanish
government would be prompt to con-
vey the intelligence and equally prompt
to qisavow that the deed had any poliu-
cal significance. Even the false rrmor
set the diplomats and politicians TO eis-
cussing the situation with renewed in
terest and the clubs Were alive with the
gossip of the possibilities that would
grow out OF such an Scl.
Another story of the day which was
also denied by the department was
that the fleet had sailed from Key
West. This report is expected to de-
velop into a reality ere long. promi-
nent member of the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations made the
statement last evening that tEe Admin
istration was preparing for the trou-
bic that seemed inevitable. While the
massing of the vessels in the waters
of the gulf was done ostensibly under
orders issued months age, and without
reference to the Cuban situation, this
Senator said he knew that the sole
object of such q move was to have
the ships where they could strike. and
strike hard, at the first blow The Ad-
ministration- has been slow to act, but
this Senator asserted ii had taken
every precaution, and if war did re-
suit he said the American people would
soon see that nothing had been taken
for granted.
AS a matter of fact, the President
expects an outbreak. He will avoid it
if possible. but the hvr-fleaded Span
lard is aching for a fight, and must
have it. The feeling in Havana is
approaching fever heat, and the next
riot to break loose upon the city will
be aimed at the Americans who reside
there. Then it is that Gen. Lee will
forward the message that will send
the fleet across the channel into Cuban |
waters. The Spanish official organs |
have said that the entrance into tbs |
habor of Havana of one man-ofwar !
Will be tantamount to declaration of |
war II is predicted that that condition !
will be facing the jolly tars of Uncle |
SANS navy before the month is out.
1t is more than likely that the Senate |
win fix UP the consular and diplomatic |
bill so that the House will be compelled |
% face the Cuban question in a way |
hat the direct vote cannot be lodged. |
Leading Republican members of the ]
Committee on Foreign Relations last 1
week discussed the advisability of put |
ing the belligerency resolutions they |!
passed some months ago onto that bill |
is an amendment. The President heard |
IF it, and requested them not to do it. |
rhe idea was then abandoned.
If. however Mr.. Allen, or any other |
member on the other side of the cham |
per, were to offer those resolutions as
an amendment when the bill comes up |
m the Senate every member who IA |
vors belligerency will vote to sustain |
t. The Senate has always under its |
-ules held that anything the majority |
'avors is germane to any bill. and Sem |
ators, unlike the members of the |
House. will vote their sentiments, and |
uphold the amendment if it be offered. |
When it goes back to the House that |
body will find itself confronted by the |
Cuban question in an unexpected man. |
1er There can be no gagsing them. |
The vote will have to be taken on |
notion to concur or non-concur in the |
Senate amendment, and that will be /
equivalent to a vote on the main ques-
ion. That it would pass by an over
vhelming majority no sane man de-
lies The only thing the radical Adj
men in the Senate can do |
S to postpone action on the diplomatic
pill until the last moment. This will |
the Cuban question, and |
meanwhile something may happen
which win remove the sl,ackles that
nave been put upon the House.