The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-09
WAR INEVITABLE.

tits now believed, even by those
who have heretofore been most con-
servative, that war with Spain is in
evitable. Hasty war preparations
have taken the place Of guarded di-
plomatic discussions. Spain seems
determined to bring the matter to
head, and the apparent willingness OF
the administration not to check her
has awakened Congress and our ad-
ministration to the fact that active
preparations for actual warfare are
necessary.
A bill was introduced in Congress
Monday to appropriate $50, 100000 for
the National defense, and it is be-
lieyed this bill will be passed imme-
diately. The activity in the war,
State and navy departments clearly
indicates that declaration Of war on
the part Of either country may be e1-
pected at any moment. Orders for
the enlistment Of marines and artil-
lerymen have been seat out notwith-
standing Congress has not yet author
lied it. SPANS demand on this gov
ernment for the recall Of Consul Gen
eral Lee, and the further demand that
this country send supplies to Cuba on
merchant vessels and not on the Nash
Vile and Montgomery, which are
armed cruisers, is looked upon as an
opening wedge for hostilities. In re-
ply to both demands the President
has fatty refused, and orders were is
sued Monday naming the cruisers
Nashville and Montgomery as the ves-
sells to perform the mission. The
prompt action Of the President caused
Spain to cancel her demand for the
recall Of Lee, stating that it was
simply a request and not demand,
but she is ominously silent as to her
demand concerning the cruisers. The
President takes the position that if
vessels of the United States navy can
be excluded from Mantanzas or Sagua
in times Of peace they can likewise be
excluded from Havana harbor, prevent
the sending of another warship to
Havana, as promised, and leave
American citizens resident in Havana
entirely without protection.
Diplomatic relations could be sew
cred without provoking war, but
should Spain undertake to enforce her
demands concerning the warships and
FIRE upon the Nashville or Montgom-
cry the act will certainly precipitate
war. The first gun fred at the Amcri-
can flag would surely be the beginning
of hostilities.
The blowing up Of the battleship
Maine and the finding of the court OF
inquiry have almost Faded before the
apparent determination of Spain to
bring about war. Sunday morning
last l 800 soldiers from Spain were
landed at Havana from the Spanish
vessel Alfonso NIL amidst the hiss
and roar Of rockets and batteries and
military music which were answered
by mighty cheers from the soldiers
The presence in Havana harbor Of the
two big Spanish warships Niscaya
and Oquendo and the landing of more
soldiers has given the Spanlards an
exaggerated notion of Spain naval
power and led them to believe that
war with the United States would not
he serious and whcttcd their desire
for war. When this is considered IL
connection with the fact that il wal
does come the first guns will be trained
either on or from MORO Castle it has
the effect to intensity the belief that
war is inevitable.
The President and his Cabinet and
Congress are fully awake to the seri
BUSINESS of the situation, and no time
i heinz lost in preparing for the dc