Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-08
NOT LESS GRAVE
How the Situation is Regarded in
Congress.
War PREPARATIONS GOING ON
A Political Phase That Cannot
Be Ignored.
GOOD DIPLOMATIC STROKE

| fifty-million defense resolution which had
| been attached by the committee on appro-
! pr1ations to an urgent deficiency bill which
| carried appropriations for the army and
| navy and other matters of minor impor-
| tance. This method of making the report
| was TO give 1t the usual form of appropria-
| ton bills. The report of the committee
| recommending the passage of the emer-
gency resolution was unanimous and the
| bill will be passed by unanimous vote at
twenty minutes after 4 o'clock this after
| noon Much public disappointment was
| manlrested when it was announced that
| tnere was to be debate on the proposition.
| Ihere being absolutely no opposition to the
| measure, it was thought that the effect of
| this patriotic action by Congress wouli be
| much better if the bill had been passed
| without a word of debate. 1t would have
| been more dignifed, given a stronger moral
| tone 10 the action and afforded less oppor-
| tunity for something to be said that might
emparrass the administration in dealing
WIN spain. The temptation for members
| TO exploit themselves was too strong. how
| ever, to be resisted and in snita of NJ
| CanIons efforts to induce a general asra.-
| ment to act at once he had TO agree in ad
vance OF the matter coming before tho
rouse that four hours would be allowed for
| oepate. Mr.. Sayers insisted upon this.
| LII. ush there was a general feeling ex-
| cept cI the part of those who waited 20
40 the taking that it was bad judgment to
| nave Debate, the absolute harmony Of mo
| 1--WE rendered 1t out of place TO have any
| contention on this one point. The te.,aper
| or the House was shown when Mr.. Barrett
| OF Massachusetts interposed an objection
| to the agreement in order that he might
| nave an opportunity to offer an amend
| ment. he was absolutely cried down and
| misses were heard al through the House,
coming chiefly from the galleries, and the
| Objection was at once withdrawn
Situation Not Less Grave.
The opinion expressed abeut Congress is
that the situation as respects cur relations
| with Spain is not less grave than it has
| been since Saturday. The situation is de-
scrlpeo as less excited, and mot as im-
mediate but as grave as ever The pass
age of the $500000oO appropria ton, while
| it Is expected to have a salutary effect in
impressing upon Spain that this country is
not to be trified with, also imposed upon
the administration, it is said an obligation
to proceed upon lines of vigorous policy
Ihers has been no change, 1t is said
Whlch renders the preparation for war
less desirable nor the probability for war
less apparent. As before, it lies with Spain
TO choose whether she will have war or
not. The feints and moves forward and
backward occupy the eye and seem TO pre-
sent variety of changes, but it is in
sisteo that there has been no change in
the main issue, except the development in
ore direction with steadily increasing gray
ity. This is the plain truth, # truth is
desired
Spain has "for the time being with
drawn her request for the recall of Consul
General Lee. All this indicates, In the
opinion of those who know, if anybody
does, is that things moved too rapidly in
Washington for Spain
There is no doubt in the minds of mon In
Congress that the request for the recall of
Lee was disclosure of the purpose of
spain to move to desperate measures But
SPAN dld not expect such promptness from
this government. The vigorous course of
president Mckinley, whom De LONE had
deceived the Spanish into thinking was
not likely to act promptly, set things into
motion more rapidly than was anticipated.
1t became necessary to draw back little
but this backward movement is well un-
derstood to be but a temporary expedient
on the part of Spain.
Ths things that are attracting most at
tention and causing most excitement are
referred to as but surface irritants
Moves Toward War Going On.
The great moves toward war are going
on without check. The reliable signs are
the borrowing of money and the buying of
ships and the gathering of offensive forces
The action of Spain with respect to Lee
Is regarded as almost significant with
the request withdrawn it would be If
insisted on. The request was never a
cause of war, but was an indication. The
withdrawal simply informs this govern
ment that Spain is not quite as near ready
for action as her insstence would have
shown her to be.
The appropriation of $4,000 900 by Con-
g1ess today for national defense, it is said
ans that this government is going to
follow oLt policy which can result in but
one of two things-an immediate ameliora-
iGn of conditions in Cuba or else war
Spain must back down altogether or MAIN
tain herself by other means than d.
plomacy.
A Political Phase.
Aside from the recognition of the grav-
ity of the situation in asking for the ap-
preparation, there is a political phase
which cannot be ignored.
1t is said to be recognized by every one
here, the administration not less than Con-
gress, that when the President asks for
and gets from Cor greSS by the vote of all
parties such an appropriation to be used
absolutely at his discretion in national de-
fcnse he ohligates himself to bring to a
SoiiSiuSilA LIE SuDdn SITUATION.
THIS, It is said, he undertakes (by impIica-
tion) to do, whether it causes war or not
If Spain wisely decides to avoid disaster
and not to go to war the otherwise inevita-
eie result can be avoided. Apparently the
only escape is by her retirement.
The course of Spain in preparing for war
: In the way She is convinces practically
every one here that she is not wise enough
to, or else not able to, retire She is drain
ing the resources OF her people to make
these preparations and it is not believed
that Sagasta will dare yield without max
ing use of the means which the sacrifices
of the Spanish people have put in his
hands for the defense of the Spanish con-
tention.
All the most conservative and substantial
men in Congress with whom a Star re-
porter talked today seem to take even a
more serious view of the situation than
they did under the excitement OF the Lee
II rcident. These men see beneath the sur
face, and are influenced by things they
know, and not by the surface happenings
and the news OF the hour.
Good Diplomatic Stroke.
1t is raid that the decision to substitute