The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-03-31
washington Letter.

sixty hours at the latest, to be disposed
Of as the national legislature sees fit.
Washington Letter.
washington, Mar. 28, 1898.
Congress and all the world now knows
officially that the Maine was blown up by
enemies, and while the report does not
specifically name those enemies, 1t places
the responsibility, in the eyes of every
American, upon Spain. Leading men $Of
all parties promised the president before
the report was sent to congress that they
would endeavor to prevent congress taking
any action thereon until he had been
given an opportunity to make a last di-
plomatic attempt to settle the whole Cuban
question with Spain, but it is by no means
certain that this endeavor will be success
full. Congress, as a whole, believes that
war is bound to come, and may consequent
" get away from the leaders at any
moment and take action that will bring
on war at once. Nothing short Of mir
acle can now prevent war, and miracles
are not of frequent occurrence in these
days. 1t would be miracle for Spain to
propose to retire from Cuba and recognize
its independence, If it failed to restore
peace in a given period,as one report says
1t intends to do and it would be miracle
for Spain to meet this country half way in
any peaeeable effort to settle the Cuban
question, notwithstanding Mr.. McKinley's
expression of the belief that it would do
so.
The president has not asked indemnity
from Spain for the loss of the Maine, be-
cause of his unwillingness to give Spain
even the shadow of right to ask that the
matter be arbitrated. There is nothing
to be arbitrated. The alleged report of
Spanish naval officers, claiming that the
Maine was destroyed by an internal ex-
plosion, will be ignored by this govern
ment. The president has forwarded a
copy of the report Of our court to the
Spanish governmental and it is expected to
make areply. Upon the nature of that
reply, the next move Of this government
will, depend, provided it is promptly made.
But regardless Of that reply, the president
has fully determined that it is duty this
government owes to humanity to put an
end to present conditions in Cuba, peace
ably if possible, by a war if necessary. In
accordance with that determination, he
will ask congressto appropriate the money
to feed and elothe the poverty stricken
Cubans of all classes and congress will
promptly do it, and the distribution will
at once be made by the U. s. officials. In
other words, the intervention that the
president promised in his message to con-
gress, last December, If the conditions
then existing i'll Cuba were not bettered-
Is about to become an accomplished fact.
II Spain resents that intervention, SO
much the worse for Spain, and it is the
general belief in Washington that it will
resent 1t and thereby start the war.
Not a few persons, especially among
naval officers, believe that the Spanish
fotilla of torpedo boats and torpedo boat
destroyers, now making its way from the
Canary Islands to Porto Rico, is being
sent to American waters for the hostile
purpose, although the government Of
Spain has declared to the contrary. This
government has, there is reason to believe
notified Spain that If this fotilla makes
a start from Porto Rico to Cuba it will be
destroyed by our warships, as there could
be no other possible reason for such g
movement than to make an attack upon
US. The situation is now so strained that
it cannot possibly continue for many days
Peace Is possible, but war is much more
probable.
In speech commencing the valor Of
American sailors when our navy was much
less formidable than it is today, and pre-
dieting greater deeds Of valor for them il
the future, Representative Foss, of Ills.
gave some interesting figures of the cos
Of our new navy. He said: 'We have
expended nearly 1915, 100000 for the
naval establishment since 1882. OF this
$S1 ,OOO, 900 has been expended for the
construction of new vessels, and $41, 800,
600 for armor and armament Of new
vessels, making in all total of $780, 500,
600 for the construction and equipment o
new vessels. Today our navy compares
favorably with the navies of the world"
Those who believe that men always
back their real opinion when they offer tx
bet, may probably be able to extract {
pointerfrom the offer of Chairman CaLnoI
OF the house appropria ton committee, Il
bet box Of cigars that there would be nj
war with Spain.
Officials OF the war department do MOI
think that 1t will be necessary for the
government to open recruiting offices il
order to get all the soldiers that will be
needed in a war with Spain. According
to the enrolment now in the department
there are more than 100000 men in the
militia of the states. The president, in
stead of Issuing call for volunteers, has
only to order that the state militia organi.
cations be mustered into the U. s. service
by regiments to add these men to the U.
s. army, and to use as many of them as
may be considered necessary to assist the
navy In driving the Spanish out of Cuba
Arrangements have already been made by
which they could be landed on the island
ready for business In a little more than q
week.