The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-03-25
A CABINET MEETING.
The Spanish Situation and the
Maine Report Considered.
MATTER FOR AMERICANS TO SETTLE.
Any Demand by Spain TO Have the Maine
Verdict Referred to Arbitration WIN
He Denied-A Cuba Message
Report on Its Way.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-The cabi-
net meeting yesterday lasted some
thing over an hour, and was devoted
exclusively to the Spanish situation in
general and the forthcoming report of
the Maine court of inquiry in particu-
lar. The tone of the discussion was
very firm and it was determined that
there must come an end TO the present
state of affairs in Cuba. Secretary
Long authorized the statement that
the understanding before the cabinet
was that the report would reach Wash
ington on next Thursday or Friday;
that 1t was very voluminous, and that
the publication and transmission to
congress would not occur until next
Monday or Tuesday, rs the presi-
dent would require time to give the
document that mature consideration
that its momentous character required.
Other cabinet officers stated that the
general plan included the sending of a
presidential message along with the
report, stating that Spain had been
called upon to make suitable response
to the case presented by the court of
inquiry. While the cabinet associates
of the president maintained their
usual reserve as TO the exact character
of their deliberations, yet it was con
coded that the discussion proceeded on
the theory that the coming report
would show that the Maine explosion
was not the result of an acc dent, but
was due to an external cause.
MATTER FOR AMERICANS TO SETTLE.
CHICAGO, March 23.-The Posts
Washington special says:
The time taken by the court OF inquiry to In
yestigate the Maine disaster has given the
president opportunity to test the sense OF
Americans and to formulate a course OF action
All doubts may he set Ut rest. and the people
may feel certain that their will with regard to
Cuba will be executed There has never been
any doubt on that question. but there has been
uncertainty as to the time and methods which
1t might be found best to employ. II Is as good
as settled that any demand from Spain for ref
erence OF the issues growing out OF the Maine
verdict to neutral court Of arbitration will be
denied The position taken is that, II the report
Is anything short OF an explosion from clearly
preventible causes the question OF national
honor cannot be disassOclatad from the issues,
and that no question in which national honor
Is involved, even ia the remotest degree can
be submitted to arbitration by outsiders IL Is
contended that II Is a matter for Americans to
/
| through a president and congress OF their
own selection They hold that, II Spain has a
defense to make or facts to present. she must
| make them to an American tribunal-a court
owing allegiance only to the flag OF the United
States
A CUBAN SITUATION MESSAGE.
WAsHINGTON, March 23.-Speaking
OF the Cuban situation, the Post to-
day says:
Having formulated no plan to solve the
problem, and being anxious to gain all the
time possible, the president will not immedi-
ately make any suggestion to congress. The
message which he will send In on Monday will
treat alone OF the Maine, and congress will be
informed that the president will, at a later
date communicate with It on the Cuban situa-
tion. The report OF the Maine ana the accom-
panying papers will. therefore, be at once re-
ferTed In both houses to the committee on for
egn AFFAIRS, and then congress will anxiously
aud patiently await the president next recon-
mendatiOn. II the policy OF relief be finally
| agreed upon, an appropriation will undoubted-
ly be made for the purchase Of supplies and
| the work OF wholesale succor will be entered
upon II Spain should regard this act rs hos
| tile one. the responsibility for provoking war
would be upon her. The president still hopes
| that, In the meantime, something will occur to
diminish the likelihood OF opposition or. II the
| programme is inaugurated, that Spain will ae-
cepL the ACTION OF the CHlteu SluttS VI lTltnuly
| spirit
THE REPORT ON ITS WAY.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 23.-Lieuten-
ant Commander Mark left Key West
Yesterday afternoon on his way TO
Washington, taking with him the re-
port of the court on the Maine disas-
ter. He should reach Washington
Thursday evening. The decision
reached by the court is still matter
of surmse. Perhaps some Significance
may be attached and conclusions drawn
from a remark made by Adm. Sicard,
when he said to correspondent: "The
case of the Maine is most peculiar, per-
haps the most peculiar which has ever
occurred in the history of the world. u
| Within the last five days a minority
sentiment has been steadily growing
that the court has been unable to de-
termine definitely the cause of the ex-
plosion. Still it is true that a major.
| ity hold to the conviction that the re-
port will find and prove that the Maine
was blown M Intentionally.
WAsHINGToN, March GA feature
of the senate yesterday was an ex-
tended speech by Senator Gallery, OF
Louisiana, In support OF the pending
national quarantine bill. In the course
OF his argument Senator Caffery said
that he wanted the whole quarantine
power in the hands of the United
States government the only authority
which could make quarantine effect
i've, and he added that he was as
stanch a states rights advocate as
any man.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, inquired
whether he would object to the follow
ing amendment to the pending bill:
| Nothing In this act shall be construed to In
terfere with the right OF any state or munici-
| paltty to protect It's citizens from infectious,
contagious or epidemic diseases by such rules
and regulations as the authorities OF said state
or municipality may deem necessary.
In reply to Senator Bacon's inquiry,
Senator Gallery said he saw no objec-
ton to the terms OF the amenumenG,
as he understood It. II the state or
municipal power were sufficient, he