The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-21
WHY OPPOSED RECOGNITION.
President Had Very Substantial Grounds
For His stand.

Washington. April 2o.-There was a
look of relief on the face OF Secretary
Dav when he finally announced upon his
ratprn +o the State Department from the
White House this forenoon that the joint
Cuban resolutiona had been signed and
that the ultinatum was to go forward to
Mr.. Woodford Immediately. Although
courtesy forbade the publication of this
important state paper before the Spanish
government had an opportunity to receive
and digest it. it was said to be, in general
terms, request upon the Spanish gov
ernment to withdraw its forces, land and
naval, from Cuba and Cuban waters at
once. The document itself was reported
to be Short in fact not more than a third
of column of an average newspaper,
The State Department has made all ar
rangements for the immediate withdraw
al OF its consular officers from Spain. Il
will be left to General Woodford, how
ever, to give the word for their withdraw
al and he undoubtedly will do this before
asking for his own passports.
Senator Davis, chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign relations, had an
interview with Judge Day early in the
morning.
3 Is was learned today from an admins
tration source just why the President
was desirious of avoiding express recog.
milton of the Cuban republic. Aside from
the reasons that have been set forth in
the debates in Congress, mostly based on
constitutional questions, there were two
very important practical considerations
that affected the Presidents decision.
The first was purely military consider
alton. He was satisfied that the United
States and naval forces would operate, in
the event OF the recognition of the Cuban
republic at great disadvantage. In
stead of moving under a free rein the
military forces would be obliged to treat
with the officials Of the Cuban republic
at every step as equals and allies, and he
believed they would be very much ham
perd thereby in their operations.
Another consideration that affected
him, WAS the statement. based on prece-
dent, that the conclusion of peace at the
termination OF hostilities, would be very
much complicated by the previous recog-
milton on the part of the United States
of the Cuban republic, and treaty of
peace would, it is said necessarily be
drawn between Spain on the one hand
and Cuba on the other, leaving the
United States, which had borne the brunt
of the fight without voice in the peace
arrang aments.
GUN POWDER FOR OUR SOLDIERS,
= New York, April a0.-The Spanish
steamer Panama sailed for Havana this
afternoon with about one hundred Span.
iards who are expected to join the Span
ish army. Her, cargo consists of proyis-
IONS and several tons of powder for Ha-
-Fana. There was large crowd on the
pier when the Panama sailed, and a
hostile demonstration was made.
Opprobrious epithets were flung at the
departing vessel. The captain and crew
who were on deck, were CURSED in voices
raised to the highest pitch.
.Kill them, ~ "hrlrrah for Cuba. -
down with spain,'' and other cries
were heard until the Panama was well
out into the river. There was not a
sound heard from her deck in reply.
= SENECA SAILS.
New York, April 2O.-The Ward liner
Seneca loaded with provisions and carry
ing quantity of mail, sailed for Havana
this afternoon. Tomorrow the English
steamer Alvodene which has been char
tered by James e. Ward & Co., will leave
with another cargo of provisions, presum-
ably for the support of the Spanish army
in Cuba.
VIEW OF SPANISH SAILORS.
Madrid, April 2O.-Advices from Cadiz
say that the commander of the new Span.
ish squadron now being formed there, re-
Gently visited the Shrine of the Virgin
with his men and there addressed the
crews of the ships, offering the choice
OF remaining behind to whomever felt
fear The crews, it is added, unanimous.
'ly declared that. they preferred to go to
battle, whereupon the Spanish comman.
der and his men knelt and took solemn
vow never to return to Spain unless vic
torious.
NEGOTIATI TING FOR FAST STEAM
ERS.
. St. Paul. Mimi, April 20.-It is report
ed that the government is after the steam
ers Northwest anu Northlnnd of the
Northern Steamship company, which
Operates between Duluth and Buffalo
ing 81 miles an hour, are steel built anC
have been used exclusively for passenger
service, SO that if secured by the govern
ment 1t is thought they would pro badly
be used as troop ships.
WILL BE EXPENSIVE.
Washington, April s0.-Chairman Can
non of the House committee on appropri
ations says no war appropriations will
D5 AidhO CAOoPU upOd lOSuA O6ulIQaUSe
from the various departments.
He says he understands that there il
about 100000 900 of the $50, 900. 900 emer,
gency fund still left. No accurate esti.
mate has been made of the cost under the
volunteer bill considered in the House
today, but it is thought it cannot be
less than $3.50, 1000 q day.
MEXICO NEUTRAL.
Mexico City, April 2o..-Mexioo will
maintain a strictly neutral attitude in
case of hostilites..
Spaniards here generally feel gloomy
over the situation.
THE PRETENDER MOVES.
Ostend, April 20.-Don Carlos, the
Spanish pretender, accompanied by a
numerous suite, has arrived here. It il
understood that the pretender will remain
at ,Ostend for some time to come.
HOW PRESIDENT SIGNED.
% Washington, April 20.-The signing Of
The Cuban resolutions by the President
swas an exceedingly interesting event al.