Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-07
SPAIN MEANS FIGHT
General Interpretation Placed Upon
Her Latest Move.
EXPECTS 10 CATCH Us UNPREPARED
Intense Interest Manifested in the
News From Madrid.
FEARS FOR LEES SAFETY

The almost universal Interpretation of
the action of Spain is that she regards war
as inevitable and is disposed to force it at
the present time as being more opportune
for her than to wait until this government
has had more time to prepare.
1t is regarded as alike extraordinary for
Spain to make such demand under the cir
cumstances and for this government to de-
cline in so emphatic a way to accede to her
demands. 1t Is conceded right of any gov
err ment to object for any cause. real or
imaginary. to the representative of for
eign government. and the ordinary require
ments of comfy are that the objections
should be respected In the present in
stance. however, the suggestion for the re-
call of Gen. Lee is inopportune. and the
situation is such as to make it almost i'm
perative that this government should have
refused to recall him.
The action on both sides is regarded by
nearly every man in Congress with whom
Star reporters have talked on the subject
as indicating that conflict is regarded by
both governments as inevitable and close
at hand, and that Spain has determined to
force war at once.
Intense Interest Manifested.
Last night as the news spread through
the city the most intense interest was
manifested Senators and members of the
House and the general public were seeking
information, and there was an unusual as
semblage in the hotel corridors and in
other public places where information
might be expected and the current discus
sion heard.
The most conservative opinion was that
this incident indicated the speedy develop
ment of a crisis. and the fear was very
generally expressed that Gen. Lee might
not be safe in Havana if it were known
there that his recall had been demanded
and this government had refused COM
pliance.
The most common Interpretation put up
on the action of Spain is that she has de-
termined to force the inevitable issue now
in hopes that she may find US less pre-
pared for war than we would be IL a little
more time were allowed for the purchase
of war vessels and the assembling of mu-
nitions of war.
Three Dissenting Views.
OF the large number of public men with
whom Star reporters talked last night
there we're but three who did not say that
they thought this demand of Spain meant
war. One of the three exceptions was
Gen. Wheeler, who said that it did not
necessarily mean that war was upon us
though it looked that way, and was prob
ably the case. Another of the exceptions
was Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, who refused
TO talk on the subject, on the grounds that
he had no official information, but who
added that If This government got into
war with any one it would be supported by
the American Congress, and the American
people would win in the end, even if they
had to fight the world. He added that
this was Fourth of July talk, and that he
had nothing to say about war with Spain
The other exception was Boutelle, who
could not bring himself to believe that
there had been any official knowledge of
the incident having occurred, and who
thought it improper to discuss the matter
as long as there was any hope of a peace
able solution of the Cuban question: Mr.
Boutelle, like the others who did not ex-
press their opinion outright that war was
meant stood on official propriety and wis
dom not justifying too much talk
Every other man said he saw hostility in
the incident.
What was generally regarded as giving
the peculiarly pointed significance both to
the demand of Spain and the refusal of
investigation into the Maine disaster
change in the American consul general.
ship would be disadvantageous. If not alb
solutely embarrassing. to the United
States, and might very seriously interfere
with that investigation. This, it was
thought, ought to be sufficient reason to
restrain Spain whose honor is at stake in
the inquiry, from demanding Lees recall,
unless she is prepared to abondon all idea
of vindicatilg her honor and to face war.
1t is also sufficient excuse for this gov
eminent refusing to accede to the demand.
Our Rights In Cuba.
The present extraordinary condition. of
affairs in Havana leaves this country not
only with the interests ordinarily had in
foreign country to be protected, but with
a right to be maintained to complete under
the most satisfactory conditions the inves-
LEGATION into the cause of the destruction
of our naval vessel and the horrible death
of our sailors under suspicious circumstan-
ces. Either the investigation must be per-
mitted to proceed without any sort of in
terruption or introduction of side issues or
embarrassing changes of conditions, such
would be involved in the. recall of Lee
Or else the assumption must be that Spain
wants to bring about a crisis which will
CLOSE tne ill'SStiSdtlOIi, pTeIeTTlnB TO Stanu
suspected rather than await the result.
Senator Martin of Virginia said that 1t
looked to him as if Spain had made the
demand for the purpose of forcing the war
at once, feeling, perhaps, that she was rel
atively stronger now than she would be
if time was allowed for this country to pre-
pare. The surrounding circumstances gave
to the demand, in his opinion, a sgnif-
canoe which would not ordinarily attach
to a request for the recall of foreign rep
resentative. 1t was therefore indicative of
serious situation. The country would not
have approved Of the demand being ac-
ceded to.
Views of SeatOr Davis.
Senator Davis, chairman of the foreign
relations, said:
Il think the Presidents position is ex-
actly correct.
''Of course If these acts on the part of
Spain had happened during times when
everything was quiet they would not stand
out with the Importance they assume I'M