Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-31
PEACE IS PROBABLE.
Spain Shows a Conciliatory Tone
and the Outlook Is Better.
The EXTENSION OF RELIEF TO CUBA.
The Spanish Government Has Made 1t
Known I hat 1t Has No Objection to
the decentralization Plan-The
spanish Report.

OIlCldl lllc, dCtlOu III uliC WulN uOuoC,
where the president and his cabinet
advisers assembled in special cabinet
session at 1880 o'clock; action in both
branches Of congress, where the mes
sage of the president on the Maine
disaster and the report and testimony
of the court Of inquiry were received;
action in the secret conferences of
state officials and diplomats concern
ing the fastest phases of Spanish
American negotiations, and action in
the war and navy departments-with
the Spanish situation as the common
purpose of all the varying aspects Of
official action.
Seldom has day been replete with
so many diverse and important phases
of single subject, and yet, through
out this activity. the prevailing tone,
as received from administration
sources, has been more assuring, more
in the line Of peace, than it has been
for some days This was the impress
sion conveyed by cabinet officers after
the special session. The same senti-
ment characterized the diplomatic
conferences at the state department
But in congress, which afforded the
greatest field for anti-Spanish and
warlike expressions strain OF dis
content and uneasiness prevailed after
the presidents message and the Maine
report were submitted, especially on
the house side.
The presidents message, submitting
the Maine report and accompanying
evidence, was the main event OF the
day. Those who had anticipated that
the message would contribute to the
aggressive spirit were disappointed
1t contained no surprises With the
report was submitted the voluminous
evidence taken at Havana and Key
West before the court of inquiry.
The special cabinet session was held
to go over the presidents message, and
more particularly to consider the lat
est Developments in the negotiations
now proceeding with Spain. These
had assumed wide field, embracing
not only the Maine question, but the
entire Cuban problem. The answer of
Spain to the firm note sent through
Minister Woodford last week was in
hand, stating that the condition of
Cuban affairs had become so intoler-
able that the United States could
not much longer remain inactive
toward it. The general tone of
the Spanish answer impressed
the president and cabinet officers most
tavorabiy, so much so that after the
meeting it was stated by members
that the outlook was far more assuring,
and that Spain has shown such con-
ciliatory tone that it was believed she
would make concessions sufficient to
permit an amicabe adjustment Of the
present strained relations This was
qualified, however, by the statement
that the danger point has not yet
passed, and that war, while no longer
a probability, was yet possibility.
The president has distinctly dis
closed to his cabinet associates his
purpose to avert war If it was possible
with a just solution of the Cuban
problem, and he had felt from the dis
position manifested by Spain that this
Just solution can be reached. This,
however, is without considering con-
gress, which may, now that the sub
ject is formally before it, take some
radical action.
The meeting between the Spanish
minister and Judge Day came after
the cabinet conference, so that such
representation as Spain submitted
through him did not get before the
cabinet At least two of these new
phases submitted by the minister were
of exceeding Importance. The Span
ish government made it known that
no objection would be made to
the humanitarian project OF the
United States government in ex-
tending relief to the sufferers
in Cuba on a far greater scale
than hitherto had been contemplated.
This acquiescence by Spain clears the
way for the presidents message of the
next few days, asking large appro'
priation for the relief of restitution in
Cuba. 1t had been feared that this re-
lief given directly by the United States
government would be resented by
Spain as indirect intervention. In
that event, there is little doubt thai
the relief would have been forwarded
at any cost. even the cost of war, as
the administration has felt that wal
in behalf of humane object would
commend the universal appreciation o.
the world.
Another important Spanish docu
ment which reached the government
during the day was the abstract o.
the report of the Spanish naval com
mission, which investigated the de
struction of the Maine. 1t is the only
answer Spain has thus far made to thu
action of this government in submit
ting to Spain, through Minister Wood
ford, the findings of the American
court The conclusions reached BY
the Spanish commission are directly
the opposite of the American court
Democratic Victory at Council Bluifs.
COUNCIL. BLUFFS, Ia, March 20. -Tht
city election held here yesterday re