The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-27
NO CRISIS is NEAR.
RumOrs of Impending Rupture with
Spain COntradicted.

CHICAGO, Feb 26.-The Washington cor
respondent of the Times-H Herald says:
There is no immediate danger of war with
Spain. What may happen months or years
hence it is useless to speculate about. But
for the present there is no occasion for
alarm or excitement"
This statement was made to me Friday
night by one member of the Cabinet, and
was afterward confirmed by two other
members. ALI speaking with obvious frank
ness. Their statements were made after
Cabinet meeting which continued two hours
and han, and at which scarcely anything
besides the Spanish situation was discussed.
The foregoing statement represents the
exact facts. / am well aware that there
are newspapers which claim we are on the
very brink of war; that perhaps tomorrow
the big guns may be fred But have
made an investigation which satisfies me
the present situation is not even critical;
that this government is trying to avert war;
that the government OF Spain is trying to
avert war; that there is much less danger
OF a rupture over the Maine disaster than
most people suppose.
There are newspaper which claim any
thing or everything. For instance they
publish that President Mckinley is con-
WINGED that war is inevitable, while almost
the exact contrary is the truth. President
Mckinley believes that war is improbable
There are newspapers which assert that
Congress Is in great state of excitement,
eager to break away and declare war, while
the truth is that Congress is calm, is await
ing the verdict of the court of inquiry, is
almost unanimously content to leave the
whole matter in the hands of the President
and that any man who were to propose ac-
ton in advance of entertainment of all the
facts would be squelched in short order.
1.av.f sa1s
cannot be stampeded. Congress has shown
that II cannot be stampeded, despite all the
eiamor OF yellow journalism. Abundant evil
dence Is at hand to show that the country
Is not stampeded, either but that it sup
ports the calm, patient, patriotic altitude
assumed In this emergency by all branches
ties in public life. At the Cabinet meeting
al the members We're present, and the
Is very little retcence among the Presi-
dents advisers in talking about the dis
cgssion for there is nothing TO conceal.
The government has no information upon
which II would be jutiSfied in concluding the
Maine met her fate in one way or another
That is still an open question, and must re-
main an open quetison till the inves tigation
Is finished. 1t Is not true that Consul Gen
eral Lee has reported To the President the
Maine was blown up from the outside. 1t is
true General Lee has reported his opinion
leads to the theory of exterior cause bur
ne is too careful a man TO reach a definite
conclusion, or 10 attempt to influence the
action of his government in advance of the
official verdict, and he distinctly says this
is only his Individual impression.
L may be month yet before the naval
court of inquiry is finished, as our gov
ernment is determined to know the truth
and all the truth, regardless of time and
expense The court OF inquiry may be able
to make a report the latter part of next
week, but If it appears they have INSULT
cient evidence upon which To base an ab-
solute and unimpeachabie verdict they may
be directed TO await the effort which is TO
be made to raise the wreck by means of
Golfer dams It was agreed at the Cabinet
meeting that IL would be better to consume
two months, II necessary. IN getting at the
whole truth than to base action upon a
hasty conclusion which subsequent develop
ments may show to be erroneous.
II is agreed that If possible our inquiry
must disclose not alone whether the dis
aster was caused from within or from with
out the ship, but II tles former whether
from fire, explosion. carrIessness or unprc-
ventable accident, and " the latter whether
from submarine mine. floating torpedo or
discharged torpedo tube. This Is an inquiry
Of semt-judicial character Cor TIVE purpose