The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-12
IF REPORT is NOT DEFINITE
OR If THE MAINE WAS BLOWN UP BY
ANY OUTSIDE AGENCY,
Indemnity Will BE Demanded, to Be
in Behalf of Peace in Cuba.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 11.-Whether or
not there will be war between the United
States and Spain will depend entirely on
the latter country. The Washington gov
ernment is planning series of moves which
will tax the patience and endurance of
Spain to its utmost Following hard on the
demand for indemnity for the blowing UP
of the Maine will come intervention by the
United States for the restoration of peace in
Cuba, and it may be they will be presented
together Upon that the President has
not decided, and will not, it is said, until
he knows definitely that the destruction of
the Maine can be laid at the door of the
Havana authorities. If there is nothing
but suspicion of treachery due to the fact
that the explosion was from external
agencies Intervention ard indemnity may
be separated If treachery can be proved,
or if there is j strong ground for believing
that there may have been foul play, it is
more than probable that the two demands
may be consolidated, in which event there
will be nothing left for Spain to do but
fight or abandon the island of Cuba Not
even the President is in a position to more
than speculate as to what course Spain will
pursue when confronted with such a crisis.
One mans judgment in such a matter is
almost as good as anothers. Until there is
an actual test we must remain in a state
Of suspense.
Meantime preparations for war are going
ahead as actively as though the admnistra-
tion expected hostilities to break out to-
morrow. Every energy is being strained to
the utmost to put the Nation on war
footing Details of these preparations are
so many that they have become confusing,
and the public can only take in with in
telligence and comprehension the great gen.
eral sweep of affairs. Incidents in connec-
tion therewith, which would have been sem
sational a short time ago, are now almost
commonplace and hardly excite remark.
Business affairs, however, are stagnant.
Capital has sought the cyclone cellars, and
the whole commercial and financial world
is waiting until it is known definitely what
is going to be DONE The President is i'm
pressed with the full consciousness that the
welfare of the country demands early
and decisive action. The court of inquiry
into the cause of the Maine disaster has
been advised that the administration would
like to hear from it at the earliest mo-
ment, and the report is given out this even
ing that the findings are expected here next
week. It is not believed that the Presi-
dent will keep the report on his table many
days after its receipt and that within Il
fortnight Congress and the country will re-
ceive official notification of the exact nature
of the demands which will be made on
Spain.
An Associated Press dispatch says: The
statement was persistently circulated this
afternoon, and in some cases the report
came from those whose sources of infor-
nation should be reliable, that the admin
istration was in possession of int:mations or
information that the result of the investi-
cation of the court of inquiry as to the
cause of the Maine disaster would show
that the explosion which destroyed the bat
tie ship came from some external agency.
A Cabinet officer was even quoted as max
ing this announcement, and another report
had it that the stenographic reports of the
inquiry were before Secretary Long. When
the matter was brought to the attention of
Secretary Long he pronounced the state
ment as false in every particular. There
is not word of truth in it," he said, mo
word has been received by the President or
any one else as TO what the board of in
quiry will determine. The rumor was float
ing about all afternoon, but it is utterly
without foundation"