The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-27
War Relaeenilhs United States and siainI
Regarded as Improbable.
RED HOT POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
Comments of tho Press on tho Maine
Disastcs- Tho Contest for SCENTS In
london County Council ono OF tho
W"rn'ost Ia Its Iaistory-A noolm
20 Shipbuiiding.
Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press)

Aoiuon, req. 70, 1873.
Sensational dispatches, purporting to
report alarmist uttcrances of Presi-
dent Mckinley, Secretary Long and
other officials. are beginning to affect
public opinion on this side of the At
iantic, and create the impression that
there may be possible truth In the re-
ports which allege that the loss of the
Alame was not due to an accident, as
at first believed here. Although war
between the United States and Spain is
stu regarded as improbable, the dis
position in the city is to regard the
approximations respecting Cuba as alto.
gether exaggerated. The Stutist points
out that this is a grave mistake, .'as
apart from sentiment, the material
losses inflicted upon Americans by
the anarchy in Cuba must not be be-
lifted"
The Statist believes, however, that
President Mckinley is Strong enough
10 resist the pressure" and congrat u-
lates him upon the firm and sta res
manlike qualities which the immediate
responsibilities of his position have
developed and upon the Honorable and
noble principles which he enunciated
at Philadelphia when he quoted Wash
!ngton.
AT the same time" continues the
Slatist. We realize that the President
cannot afford to quarrel with his sup
porteN II the latter press war"
The Saturday Review is OF the 'oDin-
ion that the affair is gravcly threat
ening,' and comments upon the silence
OF The court of inquiry into the loss OF
hntt
the nervous anxiety OF President Nc
Ninley and his Ministers TO avoid Il.
rupture with Spain they would OBJ
N.ously have fastened to publish any
thing which would help to stop the
mouths OF Senator'S Mason and Allen
who. with the assistance of certain
newspapers, urc yelling for instant war
in the best lingo style"
proceeding, the Saturday Review re-
marks:
Secretary Sherman, having been
silenced by the simple process Of not
allowing him TO know anything, the
Executive has lately kept it's secrets
admirably; but it is shrcwdly suspect
ed That the specific disposition of
PRESIDENT Mckinley is largely owing
to the reports of his naval advisers TO
the effect that America is not in con-
dition to go TO war with Spain with
any certainty OF an immediate and
overwhelming success. The Spanish
fleet il; not to be dcspiscd and South
american republics have not displayed
The love for their northern sister which
Mr.. Blaine tried to instill. But all this
VIII not prevent the jingoes from
FORCING the Presidents hand IL n scrap
OF evidence duplicating the Cuban
authorities becomes public"
Fhe Spectator is certain that the
tlmited States Government, whether
moved by information from Europe or
being only DESTROYS Of peace is anx-
ious to avoid war"
Stlll. apart from the loss OF the
Maine. the Spectator thinks that The
narrowing Consular reports from
Cuba may so fire the Americans that
they will insist upon their Government
ending such miseres within American
waters"
Advices received here from Madrid
show that while the revolutionary
organs, such rs IL Pals. are shrieking
denunciat!ors and threats. the rcspon-
sirle newspapers have adopted a cor
rect and conciliatory attitude.
For Instance, FL Liberal, in Il leading
article. made sympathetic reference
to Wa shington's birthday and eXp.css-
ed approval OF President AIcKinlcy'.s
speech at Philadelphia, considering it
10 lie "a rebuff for those seeking 10 en-
broil the United States ana SPAIN" and
expressing the hope that the Presi-
dents action will be in accord with his
words"
The Ministers declare that the pcss-
mistic views of the Spanish press are
only the echo of the sensational state
ments made by certain American news
papers and they say they ARE more
than ever assured that the Washington
Cabinet will do all possible to prevent
anything from altering the ex cellent re-
lations between the two governments
I'll Paris, repeating the charge that
the real seat OF war l., not in Cuba,
but in the United States which by lies
ana chicanery, are seeking to justify
their acts" says: The war in Cuba will
only end when we send an army against
the United States"
London is in the throes OF the hot
test campaign in its history the contcs:
for seats in the London County Coun-
cil~competcly throwing into the shade
even The keenest fought parliamentary
elections. For three weeks past the
fight has been waging alike in Bc,gra-
via and White Chapel. Nightly there
are scores of meetings, attended by
Cabinet Ministers ana front benchcrs'
OF both parties, peers and peeresSs COM
moners clergy, publirana. officers. dip
lomats, judges, doctors and Ia Dor agi-
tators are all nvoivar. Fo: the lis seats
TO be filled on March Sd there are $40
candidates. including few indepen-
dents. National issues have been in
cluded in the fight In a manner hither-
TO unknown in municipal politics. until
1t has become square battle between
the Unionis,s and Liberals, under the
titlea of ''Moderators and Prog.essives."
The present year promises 10 witness
the biggest baom in ship building ever
In MI Il.