Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-02
SATURDAY. ....,....APRIL 2, 1898
A SEASON OF SUSPENSE.

our relations with Spain are strained
TO a tension which. before another week
passes. may break with clash of arms.
That fact cannot be ignored. We are
face TO face with a crisis fraught with
more terrible possibilities than any that
has overtaken the country since 1851. 1t
would seem that the two nations have
reached the parting Of the ways, and that
they cannot part in peace.
The Madrid government has rejected
what we are told this administration con-
siders the most essential conditions of
our proposals for settlement of the
Cuban question. and in lieu thereof sub
mitted for our consideration unsausfac-
tory counter proposals. programme
which we are led to infer leaves, in view
of the Presidents attitude up to the
present stage OF the complication, no
avenue open for compromise on his part.
He will. therefore, we are informed, have
no further negotiations with Spain on the
subject, but is preparing to lay the case
before Congress in special message to
be presented to that body on Monday, to
which day Congress has adjourned.
The time between now and Monday
must necessarily be one of intense and
painful suspense, coupled with fears for
the worst. We regret to say that the
speech on Thursday Of Representative
Observation-Disclosures intimate per-
sonal and party friend-militates against
the probability that the President will in
his message essay to use his influence
further for peace. 1t would seem, though
we trust we are mistaken, TO initiate
against the suggestion that he may seek
10 get Congress to divide with him the
responsibility Of still trying TO secure
.peace with honor" When this is con-
sideres in connection with the temper of
Congress as developed during the last
few days, TO hope for less than decla-
ration OF war, or. at least, action that
would precipitate war, would appear to
be hoping against hope.
And vet, in the experience of nations,
A. has been shown that darker clouds
than the one that overhangs the present
situation had silver Innings 1t is posi-
BILE for much to happen between now
and Monday that would change the as
pect of things. The graver the crisis the
more serious the thought; the more acute
the appreciation of what the final step
may involve. Spain for a nation of her
pride has pursued the natural course but
who knows that at the last moment she
may not be willing to make further con-
cessions rather than bring another war
upon her already debt-ridden and i'm
poverished people? And who knows that
when the fearful responsibility of plung-
ing this country into war becomes an
immediate question with Congress. that
body will not take further counsel of
conservatism? We admit that the stua-
tor would seem almost 10 shut out all
justification for optimism, but, none the
less, we shall not give up hope entirely
until there shall have been spoken the
dread words that let slip the dogs of war;
for well we know how often these words
have died on the lips of a nation, when
the world was momentarlly expecting
their utterance and that, too. without
the failure to utter them carrying with
II loss of prestige. dignity, influence, or
honor