The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-31

House. whore the president and his
cabinet advisers assembled in special
cabinet session at 1890 o'clock: action
in both branches of congress, where
the message of the, president on the
Maine disaster and the report and tes-
timony of the court Of inquiry were
received; action in the secret confer
ences Of state officials and diplomats
concerning the latest phases of Span
ish-American negotiations, and action
in the war and navy departments,
with the Spanish situation AS the COM
mon purpose of all the varying as
poets of official action Seldom has q
day been replete with so many diverse
and important phases Of a single sub
Ject. And yet: throughout this activ-
lty. the prevailing tone, as received
from administration sources, has been
more reassurlng. more in the line OF
peace than it has been for some days.
This was the impression conveyed by
cabinet officers after the special cab
met session. The same sentiment
characterized the diplomatic confer
ences at the state department. But in
congress, which offered the greatest
field for anti-Spanish and warlike ex-
presslOns, a strain Of discomfort and
uneasiness prevailed after the presi-
dents message and the Maine report
were submitted, especially on the
house side.
The presidents message. submitting
the Maine report and accompanying
evidence, was the main
Event of the Day.
Those who had on+io;ro+ +l,aL
message would contribute to the ag-
gressive spirit were disappointed, It
contained Q surprises,
The special cabinet session was held
to go over the presidents message and
more particularly to consider the lat
est developments in the negotiations
now proceeding with Spain. These
had assumed a 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 thu
condition of Cuban affairs had become
to intolerable that the United States
could not mut h longer remain mac
! tive toward it. The general tone Of
the Spanish answer impressed the
president and cabinet officers most fa-
vorably, so much so that after the
meeting it was stated by members that
the outlook was far more assuring.
and that Spain had shown sucn 4
conciliatory tone that it was believed
she would make concessions sufficient
to permit an amicable adjustment OF
the present strained relations. This
was qualified, however, by the state
ment that the danger point has not
yet passed, and that war, while no
longer a probability, was vet a DOS
sibility. The president has distinctly
disclosed to his cabinet associates his
purpose
To Avert War
If it was possible with a Just solu-
ton OF the Cuban problem, and he had
telt, from the disposition manifested
by Spain, that this just solution could
be reached. This however. is without
considering congress, which may, now
that the subject is formally before it,
take some radical action Meantime,
at the state department, cablegrams
We're being received from Minister
Woodford, and the Spanish minister.
Senior Polo y 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 con-
ference, so that such representation
as Spain submitted through him did
not get before the cabinet. At least
two of these new phases submitted
by the minister were Of exceeding i'm
portance. The Spanish government
made it known that no objection
would be made to the humanitarian
object of the United States government
in extending relief to the sufferers in
Cuba on a far greater scale than hith-
erto had been contemplated. On the
contrary, Spain has made known that
it recognizes that the humane purposes
will be executed in suchAa way as to
avoid all opportunity for friction. II
had been feared that this relief, given
directly by the United States govern
ment would be resented by Spain as
indirect intervention. = In that event
there is little reason to doubt that the
relief would have been forwarded at
any cost.
= Even the Cost of War.
as the administration has felt that
war in behalf of a humane object
would command the universal apprv-
baton of the world. s, -
i Another important Spanish Il docu-
during the day was the abstract Of
the report of the Spanish naval COM
mission. The conclusions reached are
directly the opposite of those OF the
American court. No demands have
been made in connection with the
Maine. and therefore there is no re-
spouse beyond the submission of the
Spanish report.
4. Following the call of the Spanish
minister at the state department., the
French ambassador, M. Cambon had
a conference with Judge, Day. This
renewed the talk of European media
ton, which is assumisg tangible form.
The speech OF Premier Hanotaux In
the Paris chamber last Saturday is
looked upon Us foreshadowing at least
i sympathy. II not, direct steps, toward
/ mediation by France and other con-
/ tinental powers. There is good reason
I to believe TINT Spain is ready and
anxious for this move, and has been