The age-herald., 1898-01-25
LETTING SLIP
 THE WAR DOCS BattIeship Maine Is Ordered to
 Havana'S Harbor. READY FORACTION IF NEEDED Minister DeLOme'S Protest AVailS Him
 Nothing. MAY BE GIVEN HIS PASSPORTS American Interests To Be Protected by the Government in Proper Manner. : IF WAR IT MEANS ALL HANDS READY Commander Sigsbee on the Bridge, Able and Willing to Let Lose the Guns
 Spain's Fortress in Protection
 of the American Flag.
American Interests To Be Protected by the Government in Proper Manner.
IF WAR IT MEANS ALL HANDS READY
Special to The Age-Herald.

Special to The Age Herald.
 Washington, Jan 2.-Not since the firing upon Fort Sumpter April 14, 1S61 has there been so much war talk at the capital as prevails here tonight. Aside from the few conservative members of congress, there is not man or woman in Washington who is not ir favor of war. Even those con- servatives who have been opposed to Cu- ban recognition are now supporting Presi- dent Mckinley in ordering a warship to Havana harbor. The action taken by the president today is the sole subjeA of con- versation. When the news was received at the capital that a warship had been ordered to Havana, there was general rejoicing by members of both political par ties The people are in earnest about wanting a fight with Spain. The insults that have been heaped upon the American flag within the past three years has in- cited the spirit of rebellion in every patri- otic heart at the capital.
 What It Means
 The sending of warship to Havana '-o
 means one of two things: That the Ameri- can interests are not to be disturbed, and if they are battleship will be in the har- bor to protect them. It means that Spain must keep in the middle of the road or Havana will be bombarded by American war vessels It means more: That Spain's conduct upon the island of Cuba in g1v- ing to the insurgents and their sympa- thizers more humane treatment, or Amer ica will contest with the mother govern ment the right to govern the island and' if necessary, take possession of it and an- mex it to the United States.
 DeLo,ne Mad
 Perhaps the maddest man in the United States tonight is the Spanish minister Dupuy De Lome. He made a vigorous pro- fest at the war department against the sending of a war vessel to Cuba. He first tried persuasion with Assistant Secretary of State Day. That proved a failure. Then he resorted to threats as to what Spain would do in the event war vessel was sent The assistant secretary told Minis 
 ter De Lome that the president of the United States had ordered the warship to Cuban waters and if he did not like 1t. his passport would be furnished him within ten minutes MT. Day further told the Spanish ministers that this country needed mo advice from the representative of Spain. It was a bold, audacious position to take by the assistant secretary of state, but he took it like man. De Lome realizes now that his power is practically gone. That he no longer has any particular influence at this court. He has prevented action for many months by making false represen- tations to the president and to the state department. It has been proven that hardly a statement he has made regarding Spain within the past year contained one syllable of truth. He Left the state de- partment in high state of indignation. To his few friends with whom he conversed later in the day, he indulged himself with cursing the United States with all the vgor possible.
 ConsuIts With Hale
 Tonight he was in close consultation with Senator Hale, of Mane who is the only man upon the floor of the senate who is championlng the cause of Spain. Senator Hale, however is not as ardent Spaniard as he was several months ago. He has been censured by every patriotic man for his conduct, especially by his constituents in his own state. His conduct in favor of Spain may cost him his seat in the sen- ate.
 That Friendly Visit CD
 The attempt of the administration to make it appear that the sending of the warship is nothing more than friendly act is treated with extreme ridicule. At no time since the rebellion began has the situ- ation been so serious between Spain and this country as at the present time. Amer ican interests in Cuba were never so mem aced as they are now. The hostile feeling toward America by the Spanish in Cuba