The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27


plosion of the battle ship Maine, and that
will be sent to Congress on Monday next.
Spain has been advised of the Presidents
purpose in a note which was cabled to Min
lister woodford this morning, and which was
communicated to sagasta during the day.
This note of warning is couched in the
friendliest terms, and sets forth the ardent
desire of this country to maintain peaceful
States. 1t goes on to say, however, that
conditions in Cuba are distressing; that in
obedience to an overwhelming popular SEN
timent in the United States measures of re-
lief will have to be taken and help extended
to the starving thousands in Cuba, the help
less victims of the warfare on that island.
The cooperation OF Spain is asked and as
surance is given that this move is not to
provoke opposition or war. A paragraph in
the note is DEVOTED to the Spanish torpedo
feet which sailed from the Canary islands
Thursday for Cuban waters and while it is
admitted that this country may have no
valid grounds for protesting against the
demonstration, there is an intimation that
the act cannot be regarded as conducive to
the promotion of good feeling between the
two countries, and the wish is dplomati-
cally expressed that the fleet had been kept
at home.
The message as a whole will be a full re-
view of the Cuban situation from an Amer
lean standpoint. 1t will convey to Spain a
distinct notice that the bloody war on the
island must cease. If Spain should ac-
quiesce in the proposed measures of relief,
tain, for the President is fixed in his deter
mination to enforce measures for the pacif-
cation of stricken Cuba. There is reason to
believe that Mr.. Mckinney will take strong
message will be kindly the iron hand will be
recognized 1t may be we'll if these expecta-
tions are realized, for Congress is said to
be in an ugly temper and liable to take
matters in it's own hands If the President is
not sufficiently pronounced to suit it's views.
The President has secured in advance the
cooperation of Congress up to a certain
point, but this pledge does not extend to the
limit unless a decisive position is taken
that promises speedy and effective relief
from the existing unsatisfactory situation.
1t must be confessed that many strong men
in Congress have grave doubts as to the
70 in
troduce intervention with q relief measure.
They have not yet gone to the extent of ex-
pressing open disapproval of the scheme,
and are willing to wait and hear full ex-
planation This they expect will be given
in his message accompanying the transmits
sion of the Cuban consular correspondence
next week. If that explanation should fall
short of what Congress thinks should be
done the President will be made aware of
the fact
From the brief, semi-oficial statement of
what the report of the court of inquiry con-
tains and from the authoritative statements
which have gone out as to the Presidents
proposed disposition of the Maine matter,
the impression has been formed that the
executives desire is to have it sheved be-
cause he regards it as altogether too serious
to adjust in the usual way, and as not be-
ing quite strong enough to make basis
of war or intervention. This understanding
makes Congress ugly, and tonight finds it
in mood to criticise any measure that
does not promise to go right to the root of
the trouble. The President had intended to
delay the Intervention message for a week
or ten days, but when he was advised of
the feeling among congrf ,smen he concluded
that if he did so Congress might take the
bit in it's teeth and run away with the whole
business.
An opportunity will be presented on Mon
day for a splendid exhibition of self-re-
straint, and the belief is general that the
Senate and House will prove equal to the
| occasion and let the Maine report go to
the foreign committees without demur, but
| if the Intervention message that follows on
Tuesday should not be regarded with favor,
or as not going far enough or going at it
| right, then it will be the Maine question
and not the relief measure that will be
called for by Congress. 1t may not be as
easy to get rid of the Maine report as the
President could wish. 1t is the common un-
| derstanding the testimony will give decided
direction to suspicion as to the response
bility for the explosion, and it is not i'm
possible that when the evidence comes to
be studied Congress may conclude it is am
PIE to justify an open declaration of war.
There is a powerful current running that
way
Advices from Madrid are far from being
reassuring in tone. The elections which are
now in progress throughout Spain have
served to arouse popular feeling in tnat
country to fever heat. The candidates of all
the parties are trying to see who can yell
the loudest for war with America, and it
would be fatal to suggest the slightest
yielding of Spanish rights in Cuba. This
condition is very unfavorable to satisfactory