The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-09
.A KEEN DISAPPOINTMENT.
Tie President, at the Last Minute.
Held His Message Back
for Good Reasons.
AMERICAN LIVES WOULD Be IN DARGER R.
Consul-GeneraI Lee, at Ha vana, Had In
formed the President that All the
Americans Could Not Leave Within the
Time Set-There Were Other Reasons
Made Apparent.

Americans Could Not Leave Within the
Time Set-There Were Other Reasons
Made Apparent.
WASHINGTON, April 7.-Swlft as q
lannon's flash changed the Cuban stu
alton yesterday. The galleries were
crowded. Senators and representa-
tives were anxious and agitated. Even
the diplomatic corps was. in a ferment,
awaiting a message from the presi-
dent of the United States to the con
gress of the American people thaG
might mean war, when, with excite
ment at the very highest, like an cleo
trio flash, the word passed hat there
would be no message" Its sudden
ness stunned the public, which
heard the news in distort-
ed forms, and amazed veteran
members of congress. Ultimately it
became known that there not only
would be no message yesterday, but no
message this week, and it was a possi-
bility hat the message written and APP
PlONSu ~ LSNSI SSG W SChSANoS ~
all.
The first reason for the delay was
the administration had received adj
vices from Gen. Lee, at Havana, init
mating that all Americans could not
be gotten off the island yesterday, and
would be in grave peril if the message
preceded their departure.
The second reason. and perhaps
equally potent with the other, slowly
drifted into public comprehension late
in the day, chiefly through the medium
of published dispatches from Madrid,
though extreme reticience was main
tanned on the subject by the few in
Washington who knew the facts-and
even cabinet officials were unadvised
on the subject. This important news
was that the Spanish government, after
what plainly had been most exciting
times in inner Spanish circles at
Madrid, had decided to reopen the case
closed, so far as this government was
concerned, by the refusal OF Spain to
make satisfactory response to the rep
reservations made by the United States
last week, in order to avert impending
war, and had decided to make conces-
sions heretofore refused.
What will be the final outcome it is
too early to say, but the aspect of af-
fairs certainly is considerably more pa
cific,and sufficient to renew the hope of
the president in a solution of the Gu
ban question satisfactory to the Amer
lean people, and achieved without blood
shed. The details remain to be worked
out, but it is expected that between
now and Monday a clearer light will
be thrown on the future by action at
Madrid, of which one important fea-
ture, at least, is the declaration of an
armistice by the queen regent of Spain.
This armistice, it is expected, will
lead to ultimate independence of Cuba
from Spanish rule, but by what inter-
mediate steps, perhaps, the governing
powers do not at this time know.
Much, it is supposed, will depend upon
the Cuban insurgents and the peoples
of the two countries of the United
States and Spain.
The powers of Europe, material and
moral, it Is known, brought to bear all
their influence on the government of
Spasn. and still are actively at work
seeking, by the wisest and most polite
course necessary, in view of the cir
cumstances and sentiments of the two
great nations involved, to bring peace
out of the gathering war clouds. All
the capitals of Europe have been in
communication to this end, a fact evil
denced by the assemblage at the British
embassy in this city Tuesday of the
representatives of the six great
powers of Europe, who then
and there were made mutually
acquainted with what had beer done
abroad, and with the desire of those
who accredited them to Washington
that they should work in accord here.
This concert, however, in the United
SJdteS, WIS nOI 10 ~ oSyOIu LAllu
tender of good offices to secure peace
or delay a definite declaration of war
if hostilities finally became inevitable.
Some of the representatives assembled
at Sir Julian Pauncefote's may have
wished to offer mediation, but, if SO,
were warned against it by others in
the conference, who understood more
clearly that such a procedure would
be resented, and work to hostile and
not peaceful ends.
The improved condition of affairs
was reflected throughout all public
quarters late in the day. 1t was mani
tested at the White House, among cab
met officers and at the embassies and
legations, including the Spanish lega-
ton.