The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-10
THE PROGRAM.
The Message VIII SO to Congress ut
Noon TOuBOrrOw.

The Message VIII so to Congress ut
Noon TOmOrrOw.
The program for tomorrow, as it is Off
cialIy announced by the Administration,
is that the message shall go to Congress
at 1 O'Clock II is war message and
Congress wfl 20 at least as far as the
President does and tat quickly. This
program. if carried ou, will mean war
tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest. 1t
viii mean that there is to be the sailing
Of the United States. fleets of warshfps
with guns loaded and decks swept for
action. In a few hours it will mean that
these guns viii point at Havana, and
that the frs shot will be fired, another
shot that will be heard around the world.
On this Easter Sunday morning there
are many THAI are cynically doubtful if
these various events will take place as
scheduled on Easter Monday. or Easter
Tuesday either. Leaving the possible
backdown from Spain out of the question
entirely. there is stin in the face of the
solemn promise of the Executive a doubt
in many hearts if faith will be kept with
the people.
There IS every reason to believe that
AIr Mckinley has at last given up the
struggle and determined to act. The real
indications all point in this way. The
Administration senators who have talked
peace persistendy up to this time say now
that the message wll surely be sent The
reasons possible for delay have been util-
iZed. too, and is seems impossible that
even Mr.. Mckinley wished he could find
another. And still there is a skeptical
class. 1t is a skepticism born of habit
now rather than of reason When in real
ity there is every reason to believe the
Executive now the disappointment of
many hopes deferred makes disbelief sec
ond nature. Mr.. Mckinley has done il
himself. However. he will tomorrow at
II and at o'clock force the skeptics to
acknowledge their mistakes
Spain VIII Not Withdraw.
Despite the fierce protestations of the
Madrid government the only real chance
of averting war lies in Spain and Is with
out doubt very good one. On the out
side there is not the slightest indication
that Spain will withdraw from her posi-
tion in the most minute particular. Her
ministers make the fiat assertions that
such a thing is out of the question. 1t is
stated positively that if the government
| wished to concede the demands of the
| United States in the interest of economy
and prudence, the people would tear the
/ kingdom to pieces rather than allow it,
/ But in the face of this dispatches come
! from Europe that confirm the statement
/ first made in The Times that the powers
,
! duce the government to yield. They have
the queen on their side very strenuously
and also the Pope. There is no question
/ that they would agree to the queen on her
/ throne if they could induce a ma
/ jority of the ministry to accede to theiI
plan.
Apparently there is still much faith
placed in the armistice plan by the queen.
She hopes that this plan viii induce the
American President to give her more time.
| Undoubtedly this might succeed If the
| President cared to try it. His own wish
es would be in this direction. The peo-
pie, however. know that the plan can on
ly be the veriest farce. Spain talks of
granting an armistice, as If the Cuban
3
wiped off the face of the earth by wave
of the hand. The simple truth is, as
anyone can see, that the Cubans are the
party to grant an armistice.
The queen has waited to try this last
move, when there is not moment more to
wait. If this fails she viii perhaps ac-
cede to tho wishes of the powers and
grant everything. trusting in them not
to be swept away.
The most casual glance at the barom-
eter of the situation indicates calm, fair
weather ahead. If the barometer is
wrong, it is the first time in the history
of the entire Spanish-American trouble
since the Maine went down. Yesterday
at y o'clock war was only forty-eight
closed with a good advance for the last
market day before the firing of a gun.
and fine advance, too, for the last week
of peace. If the war is to come there
was never such another phenomenal
movement in the history of Wall Street
or any ~other stock exchange. The mar
ket is confidently expected to advance
after the first days panic, If war is
declared, but before war 1t has always
been that there was a steady decline.
The general public sold stocks yesterday,
and the movement was on an excellent
tip of some kind possessed by the big
people. 1t good u Zip that they
held up prices courageously. seemingly
in the face of Providence. The provi-
dence of Wall Street. however. is not
that of other men This tip came from
Washington, or from the other side.
Preparations Continue.
The war preparations go forward every
day and every hour in the War and Navy
Departments as if there were no doubt
that the crisis is at hand. They have
gotten beyond the point where the buy
ing of more ships and guns and ammuni-
ton is the most important matter They