Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1898 — WAR CLOUD DARDER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR CLOUD DARDER

Feeling that a Conflict with Spain Is Soon to Come. MILLIONS FOR DEFENSE Congress Makes Appropriation ol 850,000,000 for Emergency. UNITED STATES IS BEADY. Spirit of Patriotism Is Universal Among American People. The Administration and All Officials at the National Capital Realize that the Country Is Facing a Crisis—Conditions Deemed Pitch that Hostilities Seem Inevitable Spaniards Have Sought to Cause a Clash and Must Take the Bitser Consequences-No Honorable Recourse Save the Arbitrament of Arms Appears Open. ‘Washington correspondence: • THERE is a general feeling at the capital that we are face to face with a crisis. The bill to appropriate $50,000,000 for the national defense is evidence that the administration has recognized this in its preparations for an emergency. Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Monday introduced the bill

appropriating $50,000,000 for national defense. This bill is as follows: “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That there is

hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not -otherwise appropriated, for the national defense and for each and every purpose connected therewith, to be expended at the discretion of the President, and to remain available until June 30, 1899, $50,000,000.” Mr. Cannon introduced this bill in his individual capacity, but it was after a most important conference at the White House attended by Secretary Ix>ng, Senators Allison and Hale, and Representatives Cannon, Dingley, Boutelle and Grosvenor. The conference continued for an hour and was regarded as most significant, in view of the developments of the day and the reports that the President had given an emphatic refusal to the request for the recall of Consul General Lee, and another to the request that relief supplies should be sent to Cuba in merchant rather than in war vessels. While Senators and Representatives were speculating as to the meaning of such a conference, the answer came from Mr. Cannon when he introduced his bill appropriating $50,000,000 for the national defense. There was much excitement in the House, but Mr. Cannon said he had no intention of adding to the excitement throughout the country. “The bill speaks for itself,” said he. "It is an appropriation for national defense and it gives the President discretion in the use of the money. I am not certain that we should not always have such an emergency fund. But just now, with the strained relations between this Government and Spain and the talk of war, it is important that the President should leave nothing undone that would strengthen the national defense. He is doing everything, bitt there are some things which cannot be done legally, such as the purchase of ammunition for our navy, projectiles for our big coast defense guns, coal for our fleet, and other things that have to be contracted for when there is an emergency. This appropriation is to be drawn against in just such an emergency.” The bill is not simply a private bill, it is an administration bill and an emergency measure. The situation regarding Cuba has become so delicate that it is recognized that war is inevitable unless Spain is made to understand that this Government is ready for war and will not stop at halfway measures. The President proposes to be ready for any emergency, and if Spain wants war she shall have it, but she will be driven from the western hemisphere. She has done enough bluffing. Although few persons will openly admit it, the feeling in the inner circles of the

SPANISH PREMIER SAGASTA.