St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-03-16
THE CRISIS WITH SPAIN.
The Situation MS It Has Been During the Past


The war cloud has lowered low, and
then lifted to an appreciable extent, and
again dropped to so low a plane as to
put the whole country into fever OF ex-
element. Rumors have been flying
about thickly and newspaper headlines
have been black and startling. At the
present NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is not
so much likelihood Of war between the
two countries, but each is getting ready
Just the same and arranging to meet the
worst II the worst comes.
The government is perlecting it's plans
to make the movements OF troops to the
coast defenses. orders for which were
issued bv the war department on Friday
and published at that time.
Considerable excitement was stirred
ND on Saturday nv the rumor that the
Montgomery, United States battleship
in Havana harbor, had been blown up;
but this proved to be canard.
A Madrid despatch of the 18th says:
The view held in official circles is that
Spain will not provoke war, because,
If she did. she would find herself isolated I;
but il America gives the provocation,
Spain will not be alone in the struggle.
The general opinion is that, in the event
of war; Spain will not need to attack
American territory. 1t will suffice her to
pursue a war Of privateerine. AS Amer
ica's commerce is seven.fold greater than
SPANS. American interests would suffer
most. War would be madness. benefit
ing neither nation, and good sense, there.
fore. counsels peace.
The President had up to Saturday
night. received no intimation ofwhat the
court of Enquiry into the Maine disaster
will report. He has not had word
from anv man directly or indirectly con-
nected with the court, either as to the
trend of the testimony or the opinions of
the members Of the court. He would
consider it highly unbecoming to obtain
any advance Information as to the find
dict shall be above all suspicion OF being
Influenced. Upon the verdict of the
court will probably hang momentous
action-action on which it is desired to
have the approval not only of this
nation. but Of the world
Secretary Long. Secretary Alger. Sec
rotary Gage. Represent alive DngIev and
Others close to the President condemned
the published stories OF advance informa
ton being received as utterly false, and
as having no foundation. The President
feels as keen an interest in what the
board will report as the humblest citizen
of the country. and expressed to the
cabinet his deep interest. He is at sea as
much as anybody.
The Mantonomah, Katadin. Mime.
apolis. and Columbia. now in League
Island navy yard, will be ready to sail in
a dav or two, if so ordered, and what
ever additional repairs may be necessary
can be attended to en- route. The work
OF recruiting landsmen, ordinary seamen
and machinsts continues.
The government has purchased two
powerful Braz liam cruisers. which will be
material addition to our navy.
The inhabitants OF Boston and New
York smile over the prediction that those
cities would be easy marks for Spain's
gun. 1t is said that the coast defences
lhereabouts would ensure the destruction
Of hostile vessels before they could get
near enough to lombard those cities.