The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27
LONDON ON THE NAMES LOSS.
WAR SCARE YARNS BEGINNING TO
AFFECT PUBLIC OPINION.


Review Looks Upon the Situation
as GraveIy Threatening-The
American Navy Not Looked Upon
as Certain 10 Win "a Victory over
the Spaniards.
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.
London, Feb. 26.-Sensational dispatches,
purportlng to represent alarmist
utterances of President Mckinley,
Secretary Long and other Of
ficials, are beginning to affect
public opinion on this side of the Atlantic
and create the impression that possibly
there may be truth in the reports, which
allege that the loss of the Maine was not
due to an accident, as was at first be-
lieved here. Although a war between the
United States. and Spain is stin regarded
as improbable the disposition in the city
is not to regard the apprehensions respect
ing Cuba as altogether exaggerated.
The Statst points out that this lis a
grave mistake, as, apart from sentiment,
the material losses inflicted upon Amerl-
cans by the anarchy in Cuba must not be
belittled."
The Statlst believes, however, that Pres
ident Mckinley is strong enough to resist
the pressure, and congratulates him upon
the firm and statesmanlilSe qualities
which the immediate responsibilities of his
position have developed" and upon the
honorable and noble principles which he
enunciated at Philadelphia when he quot
ed Washington.
"At the same time" continues the Stat
ist I'VE realize that the President cannot
afford to quarrel with his supporters If the
latter press war"
The Saturday Review is Of the opinion
that the affair is gravey threatening, and
comments upon the silence of the court of
inquiry into the loss of the Maine as be-
ing ominous, as in the nervous anxiety of
President McKinleyfand his ministers to
avoid a rupture with Spain they would OBJ
viously have hastened 10 publish anything
which would help to stop the mouths Of
Senators Mason and Allen, who, with the
assistance of certain newspapers are yell
ing for instant war in the best lingo style.
Proceeding, the Saturday Review re-
marks: Secretary Sherman having been
silenced by the simple process of not al
lowing him to know anything, the execu-
tive had lately kept his secrets admirably,
but 1t is shrewdly suspected that the pa
cific position of President Mckinley is
largely owing to the representatives of
his naval advisers to the effect that Amer
lea is not in condition to go TO war with
Spain with any certainty of an immediate
and overwhelming success.
''rhe Spanish fleet is not to be desplsed,
and South American republics have not
displayed the love for their Northern sis
ter which Mr.. Blaine tried to instlll. But
all this will DrpVant the fiupOpG from
forcing the Presidents hand if a scrap of
evidence duplicating the Cuban authorities
becomes public"
The Spectator is certain that the United
States government whether moved by
information from Europe or being only
desirous of peace" Is anxious to avoid
war. Stll apart from the loss of the
Maine, the Spectator thinks that the har-
rowing consular reports from Cuba may
so fire the Americans that they will insist
upon their government ending such mis-
cries within American waters.
The Spectator then proceeds to repeat
the reported war preparations in the
United States, and concludes: But grave
persons everywhere in the union are walt
ing for evidence and are not inclined for
war unless the honor and policy of the
country really require it,"
Advices received here from Madrid
such as Ell Pals, the shrieking denuncia-
tions and threats, the responsible news
papers have adopted conciliatory atti-
tude.
For instance, El Liberal, in a leading
article, made a sympathetic reference TO
Washington's birthday and expressed APP
proval of President McKinley's speech at
Philadelphia, considering 1t to be a re
buff for those seeking to embroil the Uni
L.. fe4fa
hope that "the Presidents action will be
in accord with his words"
In conclusion El Liberal says: thine
will tell but for the present we ought 10
cry a truce to suspicious and animosites,
in honor of the memory Of the great man,
who in addition to laying the foundation
for the liberty of his people, contributed,
as few others have done to the redeeming
and dignifying of human conscience"
The ministers declare that the .pesslmis-
tic views of the Spanish press are only
the echo of the sensational statements
made by certain American newspapers.
and they say they are more than ever
assured that the Washington cabinet VIII
do all possible 10 prevent anything from
altering the excellent relations between
the two countries"
El Pals, repeating the charges that the
real seat of war is not In Cuba, but in
the United States, which, by lies and CHI
canery, are seeking to justify their acts" :"
says: '"rhe war In Cuba will only end
when we send an army against the United
States"
London is In the throes of the hottest
campaign in It's history the contest for
seats in the London County Council COM
pletey throwing into the shade even the
| keenest fought parliamentary elections
For three weeks past the fight has been