The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-07
The President May Never Send
the Message
Which He Had Prepared For
Congress.
! ANY BE SUBMITTED
1t Will Probably Be Along Diff
ferent Lines
From Those Covered by the
Document Withheld.

Washington, April 7.-When excite
! ment was at the very highest yester-
day, like an electric flash the word was
passed that there would be no message.
! Its suddenness stunned the public which
| heard the news in distorted forms and
amazed veteran members of congress.
| Ultimately, 1t became known that not
| only would there be message this
week but that it was a possibility that
| the message written and approved
might never go to congress at all.
The first reason for the delay was the
administration had received adviceS
from General Lee at Havana intimating
| that all Americans could not be gotten
| off the islands yesterday and would be
in grave peril if the message preceded
their departure. The second reason,
and perhaps equally potent with the
other, slowly drifted into public COM
through the medium of published Asso-
ciated Press dispatches from Madrid,
for extreme reticence was maintained
on the subject by the few in Washing
ton who knew the facts-and even cab
| met officers were unadvised on the sub
| ject This important news was that
the Spanish government, after what
plainly had been most exciting times in
inner Spanish circles at Madrid, had de-
cided to reopen the ease, closed, so far
as this government was concerned by
the refusal of Spain to make satisfac-
tory response to the representations
made by the United States last week in
order to avert impending war, and had
decided to make concessions heretofore
refused.
The aspect Of affairs certainly is con-
Siderably more pacific and sufficiently
so to renew the hope of the president in
a solution of the Cuban question salts
factory to the American people and
achieved without bloodshed. It is ex-
pected that between now and Monday
a clearer light will be thrown on the fu-
ture by action at Madrid, of which one
important feature at least is the de-
claration of an armistice by the queen
regent of Spain. This armistice, it is
expected will lead to ultimate independ-
ence of Cuba from Spanish rule. Much,
it is supposed, will depend upon the Gu
ban insurgents and the people of the
two countries of the United States and
Spain. The powers of Europe, material
and moral it is known brought to bear
all their influence on the government of
Spain and still are actively at work seek
ing by the wisest and most polite
course necessary in view of the circum-
stances and sentiments of the two great
nations involved to bring peace out of
the gathering war clouds.
All the capitals of Europe have been
in communication.
The improved condition of affairs was
reflected throughout all public quarters
late in the day. 1t was manifested at
the White House among cabinet officers
and at the embassies or legations inc1ud-
ing the spanish legation. AL the latter
establishment Senior Polo said that
while he could not disclose any of the
news reaching him in official char
acter, yet he felt that the strain of a
few hours ago was materially relieved,
| and that the prospects for peace looked
much better.
He in no way confirmed nor would he
even discuss, views entertained in other
| high official quarters that Spain was
! slowly but surely yielding and confined
his utteranceS to the general statement
| that the conditions were improving.
The uncertainty following a great dis
| appointment was the condition existing
| at the capitol at the close of the day,
! when the expected did not happen. Sen
| ators and members were at sea as to
| what was coming next.
While the message was awited there
came a hurried summons of leaders of
| the senate and house to the White
| House and they were there informed
| that the message was to be withheld
upon the information received from
deemed entirely satisfactory by all and
| Senator Davis informed the senate
while the house leaders carried the
news to that body. That the dangers
cient reason for non-action appeared in
| the postponement of proposed meetings
| to consider the situation.
The proposed armiStice by Spain in
jected another feature into the discus
sion of the situation and while some
were very hopeful that a satisfactory
solution of the problem might eventu-
ate from it, the general feelings was
that the conditions of Cuba, the de-
| termination of the insurgents to con-
tinue fighting until independence was
recognized, and the sentiment of this
country in favor of Cuba's independ-
ence of Spain, possibly made oVertures
on this line too late.