The Saint Paul globe., 1898-04-07

the administration had received ad-
vices from Gen. Lee at Havana inti-
mating, that all Americans could not
be gotten off the island today and
would be in grave peril If the message
preceded their departure.
The second reason, and, perhaps,
equally potent with the other, slowly
drifted into public comprehension late
In the day, chiefly through the medium
of dispatches from Madrid, for extreme
reticence was maintained on the SUBJ
ject by the few in Washington who
ficials were unadvised on the subject.
Spain Weakens.
This important news was that the
Spanish government, after what plain
ly had been most exciting times in in
ner Spanish circles at Madrid had de-
cided to reopen the case, closed so far
as this government was concerned by
the refusal of Spain to make satisfac-
tory response to the representations
made by the United States last week,
and in order to avert impending war
had decided to make concessions here
tofore refused.
What will be the final outcome 1t is
too early to say, but the aspect Of af-
fairs certainly is considerably more
pacific and sufficient to renew the hope
of the president in a. solution of the
Cuban question satisfactory to the
American people and achieved without
bloodshed.
The details remain to be worked out,
but it is expected that between now
and Monday a clearer light will be
thrown on the future by action at Mad
rid, of which one important feature, at
least. is the declaration Of an armistice
by the queen regent of Spain. This
armistice, it is expected, will lead to
ultimate independence of Cuba from
Spanish rule, but by what intermedi-
ate steps perhaps even the governing
powers do not at this time know. Much,
it is supposed, will depend upon the
Cuban insurgents and the peoples Of
the two countries, the United States
and Spain.
Pressure Applied.
The powers Of Europe, material and
moral, 1t is known, have brought to
bear all their influence on the govern
ment Of Spain and still are actively at
work seeking by the wisest and most
polite course, necessary in view Of the
circumstances and sentiments of the
two great nations involved, to bring
peace out of the gathering war clouds.
All the capitals of Europe have been
IN communication to this end, a fact
evidenced by the assemhlage at the
British embassy in this city yesterday
of the representatives of the six great
powers Of Europe who then and there
were made mutually acquainted with
what had been done abroad and with
the desire of those who accredited them
to Washington that they should work
in accord here; this concert, however.
in the United States, not to go beyond
a definite declaration of war If hoStili
ties finally became inevitable.
Some Of the representatives assem-
bled at Sir Julian Pauncefote's may
have wished to offer mediation, but If
so were warned against it by others
in the conference who understood more
clearly that such a procedure would be
resented and work to hostile and not
to peaceful ends.
More Pacific.
The improved condition of affairs was
reflected throughout all public quarters
late in the day. 1t was manifested at
the White house, among cabinet officers
and at the embassies and legations, in
Guiding the Spanish legation. At the
latter establishment, Senor Polo said
that while he could not disclose any
Of the information reaching him in an
official character, yet he felt that the
strain of few hours ago was material
ly relieved, and that the prospects for
peace looked much better He in no
way confirmed, nor would he even dis
cuss, views entertained in other high
official quarters that Spain was slowly
but surely yielding, and confined his
utterances to the general statement
that conditions were improving.
Accompanying the actual develop
ments of the day came the flood of re-
port and rumor Of sensational char
acter, little of it, however, having any
authentic basis. The rumors Of dis
turbance at Havana were not borne
out by any official advices here.
The uncertainty following great
disappointment was the condition exist
ing at the capitol at the close Of the
day when the expected did not happen.
Senators and members were at sea as
to what was coming next.
While the message was awaited,
there came a hurried summons of
leaders of the senate and house to the
White house, and they were there in
formed that the message was to be
withheld upon the Information re-
ceived from Consul General Lee. The
reasons he gave were deemed entirely
satisfactory by all, and Senator Davis
informed the senate, while the house
Ieeueis > Cal leu lHe he"S " ludl pouy.
That the danger to American life was
considered sufficient reason for nom
action appeared in the postponement
of all proposed meetings to consider
the situation.
New Features Injected.
The proposed armistice by Spain in
jected another feature into the dis
cussion of the situation, and, while
some were very hopeful that a salts
factory solution of the problem might
eventuate from it, the general feeling
was that the conditions in Cuba, the
determination of the insurgents to con-
tinue fighting until independence was
recognized. and the sentiment of this
country in favor of Cuba's independ-
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