Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
SENSATIONAL DISPATCHES BEGIN
MING TO HAVE AN EFFECT.
LONDON PRESS ON OUR ATTITUDE.
rt Regards the Situation as Critical.
Madrid Papers OF the More Con-
servadve Sort Are quiet and Con-
ciIintory.
cfIintory.

Otner Jnlteu states Oihclaiss eit ocsH-
ming to AFFECT public opinion on this side
Of the Atlantic and create the impress
sion that there may be possible truth In
the reports which allege that the loss Of
the Maine was me- due TO an accident.
as at first believed here.
War between the United States and
Spain, however. is still regarded as i'm
probable, and the disposition In tho
city is TO regard the apprehensIons re-
specting Cuba as altogether exaggerated.
The statist points cut that this is
grave mistake, "as. apart from sentl-
ment the material losses inflicted uoon
Americans by the anarchy in Cuba must
not be beittled."
The Statist believes, however, Thar
President Mckinley is "strong enough 10
resist the pressure" and congratulates
him upon the firm and statesmanlike
qualities which the immediate RESPONSE
bllities OF his position have developed
and upon the honorable and noble princi-
ples which he enunciated at Philadelphia
when he quoted Washington.
AT the same time" continues ths
statist. I'VE realize that the President
cannot afford to quarrel with his sup
porters, II the latter press war.
1.-THE AFFAIR THREATENING"
The Saturday Review is OF the opinion
that the AFFAIR Is "gravcly threatening.
and comments upon the silence OF me
court OF inquiry into the loss OF the
Mama as being "omlnous," as In he
nervous anxiety OF President Mckinley
and his ministers to avoid rupture WITH
spaln. they would obviously have
FASTENED to publish anything which
would help to stop the mouths or Sena-
tors Mason and Allen, who, win me
assistance of certain newspapers. are ell
ing for instant war In the best phso
/ style"
Proceeding. tho Saturday Review re-
marks: secretary Sherman having been
! silenced By the simple process OF not
allowing him to know anything, the IKE
cutive has lately kept its secrets i'd
mirably: but il Is shrewdly suspected
that the specific disposition OF PRESIDENT
| Mckinley Is largely owing TO the Reports
! OF his naval advisors, TO the erect thil
America IL not in condition 10 go TO war
with spain. with any certainty OF an Inn
mediate and overwhelming success rho
snanish feet is rot TO be despised. ana
the South American republics nave not
displayed the love for their northern BIS
ter which Mr.. Blaine tried 60 instiil But
all this Will not prevent the jlngoes rom
forcing the Presidents hand. II scrap OF
evidence duplicating the Cuban authofl-
ties becomes public"
The Spectator Is certain that the
limited States Government, whether
moved by information from Europe, CT
being only DESTROYS OF peace, is anxious
TO avoid war"
stnl. apart from the loss Of the Maine,
the Spectator thinks that the narrowing
consular reports from Cuba may SO IRE
the Americans that they win insist upon
their governments ending such miseries
within American waters
SENTIMENT IN MADRID.
Advices received here from Madrid
show that vale the revolutionary organs,
such % Ell PAS, are shrieking denuncia-
lions and threats. the responsible news
papers have adopted qu,et and concilih-
tory attitude For instance. I'll Liberal,
In a leading article made synpathehc
reference 10 Washington'B birthday, and
exoreassd approval OF President Nckin-
le,'s speech at Philadelphia, considerirs
r 90 be . rebuff for those seeking TO
embroV he United states and SPAIN
and expressing the hope that the Presi-
deDfr snsiOn would be IN accord vain ms
, yqbyfs"
ne MONSTERS deeiafe ti,et the Iessi'
-,a.n yiens OF the Spanisn nres1 ~
5aif tho echo Of the sensational state
lnetits made By certaln American news
papers." and they say they ARE more
than ever assured that The Washington
Cabinet will do all possible TO prevent
anything from altering the excellent rela'
lions between the two governmental
III Pals, repeating the charge that "th'
real seat OF war is not In Cuba, but IN
the United States. which by lies and Chi
canery are seeking 10 justify their acts
says: The war in Cuba VIII only end
when we send an army against the United
States"
A HOT CAMPAIGN.
London Is in the throes Of the hottest
campaign in its history, the contest TOT
seats In the London County Council com
pletely throwing into the shade even
the most keenly-fought general parlia'
mentary elections.
For three weeks past tho night has
been waging alike in Belgravia and
Whltachapel Nightly there ere scores
OF meetings. attended by Cpbine; snlr's-
ters and "front-benchers' % ootn par
ties. Peers and peeresses, commonera'
, clergy, pubhcans, ohlce'9' "y'o''
iud,s,s. doctors. and labor agitafors are
all involved.
Dor the rs seats 20 be filled on March
. Al ,,,sre are 2i0 candidates, including a
: fe,r Independents. National issues have
been included In the fght IN manner
: hitherto unknown In municipal politics
untn n has become a square battle be-
tween the Unionists and Liberals, under
ire titles OF "Moderates' and Pro
gressives." ,n,
BOON IN sHIP-BUILDING
The present year promises 70 witness
the biggest boom IN ship-buildlng ever
known, and doubtless the ship-buildess
az the United States are arranging 70
a,tcspate IN the consequent demand Tor
} ,,shss iron, steel. and machinery OF a'l
a'acripitons.
Al idea OF the enormous amount OF
work on hand can be formed from the
fact that the Clyde Giore nov has or
ders Tor 5si 900 tons. apart from the fou'
big Cunard freighs-haats. whlcb are SAT-
10 be In negodaticr-
-
A pstpaSie ult.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
want to congratulate Congressman
trnas ON his 'smost palpable hit'' on tn