Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-04-08
OFFICIAL PAPER BuRLEIGn Co

w. +. CURTIS, one of the most con
s%ervative correspondents at Washing
ton, says in the Chicago Record: 1t
looks as if nothing but the interposition
of Providence can prevent war. Unless
Spain Immediately comedies the indie
pendence of Cuba I do not see how a
can be avoided. The president will not
back down on that point, and congress
is quite as firm as he and even more
belligerent. If gres we're left to
itself it would declare war tomorrow,
and the senate committee of foreign re-
%lations, composed of such men as Davis
of Minnesota, Cullom, Frye, Foraker,
Lodge, Morgan, Turpie, Gray, Daniel,
Mills and Clark of Wyoming, have
already prepared a series of resolutions
of a most radical character, and a re-
port to sustain them. They are practi-
cally a declaration of war and would be
SO understood by Spain and the world
I large. These declarations are based
upon the general issues that are familiar
to everybody and the popular demand
for Cuban independence, and the de-
struction of the Maine is introduced as
d casus belli, because it is believed
that the Indignation of the public over
that horror will justify the most extreme
measures. The resolutions are those
introduced in the senate the other day
by Mr.. Foraker, with some insertions
and notifications, and it is proposed to
report them to the senate as soon as
possible after the presidents message
is received. The president, however,
does not wish to 60 SO far. He prefers
the Frye resolutions, introduced on the
same day as Mr.. Foraker's. They are
more moderate and cannot be construed
as a declaration of war, but rather as a
notice to Spain that this country is
united in sustaining the position which
the president has taken in the diplo.
matte controversy that has just closed
and instructing him to take more ex-
IRENE measures and wen use force to
accomplish the independence of Cuba.
The president believes that some such
declaration may bring Spain to its senses
and avert hostilities. It will at least
give Spain another chance to offer a
peaceful settlement and the freedom of
Cuba without war. And while this
plan is quite acceptable to members of
the committee, the members of the SEN
ate committee appear to be suffering
from IN aggravated attack of emotional
insanity which they have caught from
Senator Foraker, and they have an ex-
IRENE thirst for Spanish blood. They
say there are only two things for the
president to do-he must either lead the
popular movement or fall before it. If
he does not join with them for war they
predict that he will "fall into a hole SO
deep that nobody can ever find him"
The president realizes his responsibility
and his delicate situation, but he is
very firm in a determination to prevent
hostilities if possible, and has scouts
out trying to pursuade the most radical
members of congress to take a more
conservative ground, and join with him
in some such measure as the Frye reso-
lutions. He has not yet decided what
to recommend in his message. The
work of preparing that document was
begun at the state department yesterday
under the direction Of Assistant Secre-
tary Adee. A narrative of the negotia-
tons with Spain, and events relating to
Cuba that have taken place since March
4, 1897, ie being compiled, and will be
submitted on Tuesday, if it can be fin.
ished by that time, or on Wednesday at
the latest, with a message in which the
president desires to define a clear and
positive policy, buthe does not wish ia
close all the avenues for peace. He
hesitates about serving an ultimatum
upon Spain. He still believes that
peace is possible, and realizes the awful
responsibility Of plunging the country
a war. If after such a declaration as il
contained in the Frye resolution the
Spanish government does not come tt
it's senses the president is willing t.
push the feet of the United States to
ward Havana, and demand the evacua
ton of the island by the Spanish force,
in the name Of humanity and in defens.
Of the Monroe doctrine.
ACCORDING to Washington advice
Senator Hansbroueh won a signal vic
tory last week in his fight against til,