The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-02

terminated, Tor such a step Is the last
preliminary before an actual state OF
war. United States Minister Woodford
remains at his post at Madrid, and is
said to be entirely safe from harm
The Spanish minister Senior Polo y
Bernabe, also remains at his post al
washington. The critical condition oil
affairs within recent days has led him
and his staff to consider what dispo-
stion Of their effects would be made
in case their position here became un-
tenable.
The Issue Is Made Up.
From the Spanish standpoint there
Is the same disposition as that shown
by the authorities here to regard the
issue as made up. The answer Of Spain
is looked upon as the limit Of conces-
sion which Madrid will grant. If there
is to be another move, the Spanish
government looks to the United States
to make 1t. This at least, is the situa-
tion as 1t presents itself to those best
informed In Washington. OF course
1t cannot be foretold what Madrid will
do in the stress Of circumstances with
in the next two days. But those best
able to judge do not expect any fur
ther move from Madrid, as thev say
that Spain has reached the limit of
her concessions.
The Spanish minister has naturally
been center in the exciting Incidents.
He Is fully conscious of the gravity Of
the situation, and while still express
ing hope for peace speaks to his friends
of the eventualities which NAV come.
To one of them he said yesterday that
he could not believe that two nations
made up of calm and sensible people
would rush into the untold horrors Of
war. He added that it would be a
wicked and cruel crime for this result
to be precipitated. The staff of the e-
cation Is working day and night, and
the lights in the legation office were
burning until 3 o'clock this morning
while the secretaries and attaches were
deciphering cablegrams and in return
reducing dispatches to ciph for trans
mission to Madrid
Late yesterday afternoon. Madrid
bulletin was received stating that the
pope was seeking to exercise pacific in
fluences by inducing both Spain and
In Cuba. If this be true the pope has
not given any instructions or infor-
nation along this line to Mgr. Martini
elli, the papal delegate at Washington
The latter has taken no step toward
mediation. 1t has been reported that
one of the archbishops of the Catholic
church, in the course of an informal
conversation with high officials here,
suggested the mediation OF the pope.
This, however, was unofficial, and no
authorized proposition of any char
acter has come from Rome. Further
more, there is little reason to believe
the administration would receive with
favor any proposition of this character
from foreign sources.
The War Spirit in Congress.
In congress the situation was little
changed from the tension of the past
two days. While the senate was in Sc
cret session there was great deal of
war talk. The subject under debate,
the bill for the acquisition of the Dan
ish West Indies, served as a text for
the discussion. The session was closed
by the practical withdrawal of the res
olution by Senator Lodge, its author.
He stated that the debate had devel-
oped such wide difference of opinion
in the senate. where there had hereto
fore been such unanimitv, that he
would not further press the matter at
time when the president needed the
support of all senators of all parties.
He moved that the senate proceed to
the consideration of executive business,
thus voluntarily for the time abandon
ing the resolution.
After an exceedingly turbulent ses-
sion of six hours the house passed the
naval appropriation BILL and then ad-
journed until. Monday. The war spirit
was manifested in the speeches, and
overrode the naval committee itself
by increasing the number of torpedo
boats and torpedo boat destroyers to
"a. the bill as reported providing for
but u. The amendment of Mr.. Can
non, chairman Of the appropriations
to reduce the number of
to one was buried under an
majority. The provision
relating to armor plate, which in or
dinary times would have precipltated
a debate Of several days, was disposed
Of in ten minutes, proposition to de-
crease the price agreed to in the bill
from s400 to $500 per ton being drowned
In perfect chorus of noes. Mr.. Can
non, during the course of the day, an
nounced the belief Of majority Of
The members that war would be upon
US within a week and Mr. De Almond,
Of Missouri, made a notable speech de-
,laring that if hostilities were to come
t was our duty to strike the first blow.
Tho Flying Squadron Uudisturbed.
The flying squadron Is to remain in |
Hampton Roads. for the present at |
east. This announcement was mada |
ate yesterday afternoon by Secretary |
long, and sat at rest the reports which |
rad been current throughout the day |
hat a movement of the squadron was
imminent. The secretary stated that
he department believed that the pres
mt rendezvous was the most available
me from which the ships under Com
nodore Schley could operate in carry
ng out the purposes for which it was
ormed-that is, the protection Of the
orth Atlantic seaboard.
In the various phases of the situa.
ion yesterday the flying squadron
TODD out prominently, both as a center
# public interest in connection with
he rumored orders for its sailing from
he Roads and as matter of consid-
ration by the department. 1t IL stated
n reliable authority that the depart
lent discussed the question of order
ng the ships to sea, presumably,
hough not officially so stated, in con-
ection with the approach of the Span
III torpedo fotilla. which arrived yes
erday at Porto Rico.
1t has been an open secret for some
me that the naval authorities have
ngarded the approach Of the Spanish
otilia with apprehension. and their
ceilings In this regard were strong
nough to call the matter to the atten-
on Of the authorities. After consld-
ring the matter however. It was de-
ded that no orders would be issued
'oking to a movement of the squad
,n. While the decision Is understood
} have been based primarily upon the
,ct that 1t would be unwise to re-
owe the ships from their present val
able strategic position, yet 1t Is be-
eved that diplomatic considerat tions
SO had some weight It was pointed
1t that the sending Of the squadron in
lie direction of the West Indies, even