The age-herald., 1898-03-12
And Relaxation of the Tyrant's Grasp
 on Cuba
1s MANDATE OF A NATION oFPATRIoTs
Brilliant Reception at the White House As the Wires Burn With Orders Wheel ing the Giant Monsters of
 War Into Line.
Special to The Age-Herald.
 BY MAX F. IHMSEN.


 Washington, March 1.-The cabinet would have described the presidents prospective message to congress today had the meeting beenAsufficiently lengthy. The Belgian min ister and the visiting Prince Albert made an inopportune call and the session lasted but few minutes.
 It is the presidents intention to- night, as his friends understand it, to send his Cuban message to congress early next week, accom- panied by the report of the court of inquiry. There is practically now no concealment made by high officials that the Maine was treacherously blown up and that Spanish officials are crimiually re- sponsible and that war is inevit- able.
 There is state dinner at the White House tonight. The president and vice. president are there greeting foreign am- bassadors with smiles and handshakes, while the young Belgian Prince, in whose honor the dinner is being given, is the lion of this joyous occason and such are the necessities of diplomatic usuage. Contrast the scene at the White House tonight with ones that occurred today-the grave pres ident receiving reports from his cabinet officers, issuing orders to mobilize all the artillery regiments on the Atlantic sea- board, hurry orherS beng constantly given to the manufacturers having ammunition contracts to complete the work at the ear- Hest moment possible.
 Throws Aside the Mask
 So clear is it now to all that sharp work must soon come that the president him self, in a private conversation, throws aside the mask he has been wearing for the past weeks. He said to an intimate friend today that the situation is one of gravity, and that in his opinion the pos sibiity of settling the controversy with Spain without war was "very remote.
 He said he had had in his possession for nearly week full information of the causes which led to the disaster at Ha- vana, and that the circumstances are such to render peaceful negotiations tex ceedingly difficult" He admittei that the war and navy departments are engaged on work intended to anticipate the direst re- suit, and this result he saw little hope of escaping.
 The president informed this gentleman that he would send to Congress within the next few days a message which will con- vey to the public the findings of thte Sampson court of inquiry. The president told his visitor that the Maine was blown up by submarine mine under such con ditions as surrounded the disaster with all that promised the ''grayest conse- uuences." He also explained that careful plans had been mapped out, but they would se manifestly improper subject for discussion.
 It was noticed that the Age-Herald's discoveries relative to the Maine horror are daily being corroborated. The details of the president's message are being awaited with intense interest. There is strong sentiment in Congress against even the proposition of an indemnity as q means of bringing the claim of the United States forward. The majority in congress Is strongly opposed to the pursuit of the ordinary diplomatic method of procedure in this case.
 An Act of War Itself
 Ii is alleged that if the Maine was biowa rp from the outside and through the con- niyance of Spanish officials that this is BE act of war; of necessity, and that money damage is impossible. In other words, the sentiment in Washington Is in favor of strong measures at once. plan Of cam paign strongly favored Is this:
 The sending of the presidents message te congress declaring that the blowing pl of the Maine was an act of war and the sub- mitting of the report of the court of in- uuiry as reason for this declaration. This [ IS 10 pc IDlUWeu Dy lifc ilpNcHiSht oA tiAO fleet at Dry Tortugas upon Havana and the immediate bombardment of that city and the Spanish warships in its harbor. This is not given as the probable method that the president will pursue, but tonight In the opinion of every eight out of ten intelligent men it is an entirely possible one.
 The situation should crystalline when Senator Proctor who has been in Cuba as a quasi-agent of the administration, ar rives here on Sunday. It is suggested that the senator, who is accompanied by the second stenographer of the court of in uuiry, may bear a copy of the courts re- port, which Judge Advocate Mark Is to present to the secretary of the navy in per- yon. As The Age-Herald exclusively an- nounced, the president has an official fore rast. of the report, but he unquestionably wishes to secure 8 copy of the important document itself as quickly as possible. It has been suggested that Consul-General Zee favors the assemblage of several war Hips to Havapa harbor as an obj t lesson