Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1898 — HIS LAST HOPE GONE. [ARTICLE]

HIS LAST HOPE GONE.

President McKinley Said to Confidently Expect War. SPAM’S REPLY IS CfSATISFACTORY. Ho Farther Propo««U to Be HadeUeiMie to Be Seat to Congrreas— Spanlab Torpedo Flotilla Arf rive* at Porto Rico.

Washing-ton, April 2. —There is little Soubt that the president and the members of his cabinet now regard a conflict with Spain as almost inevitable. In his message to congress, which in all probability will be sent in next Monday, and certainly early next week, It is understood that the president will review at some length the record as it stands between this government and Spain, but will not insist upon further time in which to continue negotiations looking to a peaceful solution of the Cuban problem. „ . ! Spain’s Answer Unsatisfactory. The cabinet meeting Friday morning was unquestionably the most important held in many years. It received Spain’s answer to the ultimatum of this government, and, finding it unsatisfactory, practically decided upon a policy which at this hour seems certainly to involve hostilities. The whole record will be laid before congress, and the question is now under earnest consideration of what shall be the particular form our policy shall take in bringing to an end the horrors in Cuba and securing the independence of the island. Propositions ranging from a simple recognition of Cuban independence to a straight-out declaration of war have been urged at the capitol, but there is hardly a doubt that the majority of congress await the executive’s lead before taking action, and is disposed to adopt Mr. McKinley’s suggestion on this point. It is thought that any of the resolutions, except possibly simple recognition of independence, would lead to war. I No Offer of Mediation. There w«re, of course, all sorts of rumors in circulation including reports of mediation by some European powers, lmt no such suggestion has come to this government, for as late as five o’clock in response to a direct question Assistant Secretary Day said that there had been no offer of mediation by any foreign government.

Tallca of the Meetlngii. One member of the cabinet, in speak ing of the meetings Friday, spoke substantially as follows: “In the morning.lt was apparent to all of us that having exhausted all diplomatic efforts to bring about a better condition of affairs In Cuba, and they having failed, the whole question must be submitted to congress. At our afternoon meeting the president requested each member of the cabinet to express freely hts Individual opinion as to what should be done. The discussion was entirely on the Unea Indicated by the members. Nothing definite was decided upon and no conclusions reached. The president will now take the views submitted to him under consideration preparatory to his message to congress, which will be sent early next week. President McKinley has done a great deal of work recently, and appears pretty well fatigued. Consequently, he will take some little rest before beginning active work on the message. He has not yet decided upon what recommendation will be communicated to congress. Little Faith In Spain. “My own Indtvdual opinion Is that but little faith can be put In promises made by Spain, and thle makes me hesitate about accepting with any confidence her latest proposals. In the first place, she promised a long time ago that the reconcentrados would be released. The result shows that this promise has not been kept. Now she proposes to release them, but keep them under military supervision. Who can tell whether she will adhere to this expressed intention? Three Courses Open. “Broadly, there appears to be three courses open to the president in dealing further with this matter. The first of these Is to accept the propoeals submitted by Spain In reply to the American representations, the second to relegate the whole matter to congress and let that body do as It sees proper—which I think would mean Intervention—and, thirdly, to take a middle stand. But, as 1 said before, nothing has yet been determined upon by the president, or, if he has reached a decision, he did not communicate It to the members of the cabinet this afternoon. “Yes, reference was made by Bpaln to the Maine matter in the reply she sent through Minister Woodford. She made no offer to pay for the loss, but suggested that the matter be settled by arbitration. So far as 1 recall she expressed no regret for the sad occurrence, and the whole thing was regarded as a cold-blooded statement." The second session of tbs cabinet lasted from five o'clock till 0:20.

The Inane Made lip. The Spunish minister called at the state department at 4:30 o'clock p. in. and was in conference with Judge Day for some time. Although there was the strictest reserve as to what had occurred. it can be stated positively that the United States submitted no further propositions, nor did the Spaninh minister offer anything which changed the situation of affairs. Both sides regard the issue os made up, with no likelihood of further negotiations between now and the time when the president will submit the whole case to congress. The United States has presented its demand and Spain has given her answer. Thus the case stands. While this brings a halt to the active negotiatiosa.which have been In progress for the last few days, it does not mean that diplomatic relations between the two countries are terminated, for such a step ia the last preliminary before an actual state of war. United States Minister Woodford remains at his post at Madrid and ia said to be entirely safe from harm. The Spanish minister, Senor Polo y Bemabe, also remains at his post at Washington. Substance of Spain's Reply. Washington, April 2.—The following official statement of the contents of the cablegram received from Minister Woodford Thursday night is made public: That the Fpantsh governmtnt has placed at the disposal of the governor genera] the credit of 1,000,W0 pesetas (1600,000) to the

eats that the country - people may return at ones mod with success to their labora The Spanish government will accept whatever assistance to feed and succor the necessitous may be sent from the United States, In accordance with the plan now In operation. Spain proposes to confide the preparation for an honorable and stable peace to the insular parliament, without whose concurrence the Spanish government would not be able lo arlrve at the final result, It being understood that the powers reserved by the constitution to the central government are not lesenfed or diminished. As the Cuban chambers will not meet until the tth day of May, the Spanish government will not, on its part, object to a suspension of hostilities, If asked for by the insurgents from the general In chief, to whom it will belong to determine the duration and the oondltion of the suspension. Preparing to Leave Madrid. London, April 2.—A special dispatch from Mudrid says United States Minister Woodford is making 1 the necessary preparations to leave Madrid Immediately ifi the event of a diplomatic rupture. Cubans Protest. Washington, April 2.—The Cuban (meaning thereby the present home rule authorities in Cuba and not the insurgents) have appealed to the president of the United State* to respect the will of the majority of the people of Cuba. The appeal was placed in the hands of the president Friday morning, and the statement was made that it was the direct expression of the Cuban government itself, without the inspiration or knowledge of the Spanish government either at Madrid, Havana, or elsewhere.