The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-26
SPITE WORDS FROM SPAIN
AMERICA CHARGED WITH HELP
ING THE REBELS.
SPAIN EITHER IGNORANT OR GUILTY
Her Position as 10 Sub Marine Mine thus
lndefenSible in Either CaSe.-America
win Triumph But Will Fight
al a Disadvantage

London March 25.-The Madrid cor
respondent of the Standard, says
THE ministerialsts arc making no
secret that important communications
have already passed between Washing
ton and Madrid, acquaintinS the Spanish
government with the drift of the policy
President Mckinley is about to adopt,
and which has been met with concilia-
terry, but firm protest and representa-
tons on the part of Spain.
The Madrid correspondent of the Daily
Mail, says:
1.-The temper of the comment of the
Spanish press is that the American
Commission of Inquiry into the Maine
disaster is afraid of an international in
vcstigation. 1t was first reported that
the United States would not accede to
Captain Sigsbee's request; but later in
formation alleges that the Washington
government is discussing the advisa-
bility of blowing up the remains of the
Maine.
The general belief in Madrid is that
America does not consider the Maine
question a sound basis for conflict, and
is seeking to provoke Spain by sending
help, nominally to the reconcentrados,
but really to the rebels. The Spanish
press is unanimous in treating as an in
suit Americas suspicion that Spain is
guilty of having exploded the Maine
The Daily Mail, which regards war
between the United States and Spain as
inevitable, the only uncertainty being
the time Spain will choose for beginning
hostilities, says:
America will naturally triumph and
earn the worlds praise for Kidding Gu
Ira of ruthless tyranny: but she will
fight at a disadvantage If compelled to
fight Immediately"
The Daily Graphic this morning com
mends President Mckinley for making
the Maine matter side issue:
1T is the duty of both sides to OBJ
tain an independent investigation. To
send assistance to the non-combatants
in Cuba is to force war. President Nc
Kinley should either help the Sagasta
Cabinet to make home rule a reality or
should give Spain notice to quit."
The Morning Post says:
The gravity OF the Cuban question is
enormously increased by the American
report. because, even if no distinct in
dictment of the Spanish government is
included. the reserve hitherto maintain
ed will be abandoned and Spain will be
charged by the American papers with
treachery and malice, while the Ameri-
can people will be excited to fever
point.
Spain. however, has already borne so
much that conflict may still be avoided,
but if her object has only been to gain
time, it may be that she is now in po-
siton to adopt a more martial attitude.
The Daily Chronicle, after expressing
a doubt whether the Spanish inquiry has
been conducted as carefully as the
American, the report Of whose commits
sion, it says, is lin harmony with all
the probabilities of the case" proceeds
to review the principal aspects of the
question. 'fThe patience of the Wash
ington government" says the Daily
Chronicle, land the calm, pacific policy
of the President, have been beyond all
praise. Had the people of the United
States been p0lled on the question, war
would have been declared before now,
not, as has been falsely suggested. on
account of financial and commercial in
teresis, but on grounds of humanity and
because Of the intolerable stencil Of this
open sore close to the borders OF the
great republic. But it is evident that
the time for action has arrived
President Mckinley must take such
steps as to challenge in the most direct
way Spain's right to murder her revolt
cd colonists any longer. If she attempts
TO resist the provisioning Of starving
Cubans from American ports, war there
will and must be, quite apart from any
treacIlery to the American warship.
Despite all rumors, it is quite certain
that Spain will have no allies, and the
result will be liberation of Cuba"
The Daily Telegraph says:
'.Supposing the American report to be
substantiated, there can be no question
that Spain is primarily responsible, as
any country would be il "A similar cata-
strophe occurred along its coast line.
IF the Spanish authorities We're lg-
norant of the position of the submarine
mines, their ignorance IS cuipable. III
they were aware and omitted to warn
their guests, their position is still less de-
feasible. The report adds fuel to the
flame. If the task of diplomatists ana
statesmen was arduouS before, it is ten