The herald., 1898-04-12

day. but there was no cabinet meeting
< The message left the White House shortl,
before noon, in order to reach congress
promptly on its assembling, and, this done
the president Joined his family at luncheon
with evident satisfaction at having the tre
mendous strain and burden of recent day:
in measure removed. There was an as
pect of holiday gayety surrounding the
White House, as Easter Monday was OBJ
served as usual by the egg-rolling, gather
ing thousands of children on the grounds in
the rear of the executive mansion. The
Marine band furnished music for the young
sters.
The effect of the message downtown was
on the whole, quieting. Cabinet officers, OF
course, expressed their complete and hearty
approval of the message. This view was
reflected throughout administration circles
Polo Is Silent
The Spanish minister, Senor Polo, re-
manned at the legation during the day,
sending and receiving many dispatches and
comforting with his advisers. He cabled
the entire presidents message to Madrid
except only the historical reference to Gen.
Grants message, Texas, etc. The minister
said he must decline to make the slightest
public allusion to the presidents message,
as any remark from him would be incon-
sistent with his position. 1t is known,
however, that Senor Polo is keenly sensf-
tive to the language of the message. What
this effect will be upon his service is not
known for no word has yet come as to the
effect of the message upon the authorities
at Madrid. Up to tonight Senior Polo has
received no instructions to withdraw, nor
Is there any intimation of such instruc-
tions.
Not Well Received
At the other embassies and legations the
message aroused the greatest interest. But
1t cannot be said that it was received with
satisfaction. AT one of the most important
foreign establishments general feeling was
expressed by the statement that the pres
ident had, through his message, washed his
hands of the subject and imposed the re-
sponsibility upon the shoulders of congress.
In other high diplomatic quarters some
question was expressed as to that portion
of the presidents message in which he
speaks, in the name of civilization, of the
duty Of stopping the war in Cuba, and the
intimation was made that the great powers
of Europe, so far as they represented civ
ilization, did not support this view ex-
pressed by the president. There has been
no further general conference between the
ambassadors and ministers of the powers,
nor is there any present indication of fur
ther action from that quarter.
No New Phases
No new diplomatic phases of the ques-
tions developed today at the state depart
ment. Secretary Sherman said he would
not be surprised if the Madrid cable report
proved true, that Minister Woodford was
about to leave Madrid. At the same time
the state department was without advices
that this step had actually been taken.
Gen. Lee is enroute here, and it is expected
that his arrival will be the signal for not
able demonstrations.
The war and navy departments contin-
ued their active prepara tons today. While
eventualities are being prepared for, the
sentiment in army and navy circles is that
war Is not SO imminent as it seemed to be
few days ago. 1t can be stated on au-
thority than no consideration has yet been
given to the withdrawal of the United
States feet at Key West, as the adminis-
tration holds that the situation has under
gone no change which makes this with
drawal necessary or advisable.
Polo Explains
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Spanish
minister, Senior Polo, has written letter
to Henry E. Burton of Middletown, Conn,
which, although personal In character pre-
sents the Spanish situation from his stand
potut. 1t was in response to a letter from
Mr.. Burton, commenting on the recent in
terview Of the minister, asking for fair
nav opR Of hotb CT or
the case. Senior Polo says:
Dear Sir-I enclose herewith, in reply
to your letter of yesterday date, copies
of the new constitution for Cuba and
Porto Rico. The Cuban parliament Ghe
house of representatives elected by uni
versal suffrage) will meet on May 4th The
interview OF which you send me copy is
a correct statement of what 1 said to the
representative of the Associated Press.
Ignorance of certain facts and exag-
geration of others has created fictitious
state of opinion that certainly could not
exist If the exact truth was known. 1t is
next to impossible now to convince the
average American that autonomy is
reality, that the Cubans themselve have
the power in Cuba, and that the govern
ment OF Spain cannot appoint a single civil
OHlCer III tne .SIanQ Otner tnah the per-
sonal staff of the governor general. All
the governors and officials, including the
judiciary, are appointed by the Cuban cab
met, and all of them are Cubans. The
governor general, like the king Of Italy
and the queens Of Spain and England, does
not govern. He only reigns as the queens
representative. At this moment of trouble
he has more power as commander-in-ch chief,
but in ordinary times he will have really
less control Of affairs than the governor
general Of Canada.
'It Is also next to impossible to make
most Americans understand that If the
insurrectlon of Cuba exists. the United
States have a great deal to do with it, and
this is the situation here, certainly not
created by Spain, instead of helping to end
the sad state of affairs in Cuba, only ia
vors q rebellion that has no means of as
suming success, and has detained the vely
strong movement for autonomy amongst
the insurgents that are not adventures or
soldiers Of fortune
There is talk of war all the time. and
while the probability OF conflict hangs.
that strong movement, Of course is held
back waiting events. I regret to say #