Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1898 — THE DATE IS FIXED. [ARTICLE]

THE DATE IS FIXED.

Senate Will Receive the President’s Massage Wednesday. / ' i . ■ _-,z..... SECRETART LONG SO ANNOUNCES. Karepenn Powers Said to Be Anxione te Mediate—Onr Government Not Disposed That Way—Latest Phases of the Situation. I I Washington, April 5. —Congress has but one more day to wait for the president to send in his message. At the conclueion of a long cabinet meeting Monday evening Secretary Long authorized the announcement that the message would be sent to congress Wednesday. The message will not be accompanied by the consular reports dealing with the state of affairs in Cuba, These will go to the committee on foreign relations of the senate for its private information and will not be made public just now. The diplomatic correspondence between the United States and Spain will not be submitted at present. The cabinet meeting lasted from eight until after 11 and was devoted entirely to the reading and discussion of the president’s draft of his message. Every member of the cabinpt was present. The document was gone over point by point and met with approval of the cabinet in every material respect. Character of the Measage. Secretary Long apparently had been deputed as spokesman for the meeting and gave the above brief statement. As to the character of the message he refused to speak. It was learned from other sources, however, that the message is in part a review es Spain’s course in the present and previous wars in Cuba. That it will contain some definite recommendations may be inferred from the remark of one member. “While I can say nothing explicitly concerning the details of the message,” he said, “I may sayl that it is a strong, explicit statement, and one with which congreee will be thoroughly in aceord.” It is understood that while the consular reports on Cuba are withheld from the public for the present out of regard for their authors, who are still in Cuba, their publication is notde-emed essential by the cabinet: From the fact that the diplomatic correspondence is not presented with the message it is inferred that its main features are touched on in the message itself, whether in the form of extracts or merely in substance. As Seen by tbe Wiuhlngton Post. Washington, April 3.—The Washington Post says that unless Spain within 4S hours yields all by surrendering Cuba war cannot be averted. It sum up the situation as follows: “President McKinley’s message to congress will be a ringing, vigorous document that promises to meet the full expectation of congress and the country. It will be a scathing arraignment of Spain, showing that she has. demonstrated her utter incapacity to govern; that her colonies have declined In population as the result of misrule and oppression; that Amerloan commerce has been damaged and American lives and property Imperiled, and that existing conditions should not and will not be tolerated by this government. The destruction of the battleship Maine and the slaughter of 26fl officers and seamen serving under the United States flag will be commented upon in strbng language, and Spain will be held responsible for that disaster. The president will make no direct recommendation, but his message will point clearly to the necessity of armed intervention to restore order and peace. He will not recommend ths recognition of the independence of the Island, for the insurgents have no established form of government, and the president and cabinet believe that a travesty would be presented to the world If, following the recognition of Independence, the United States should, as the result of war, take that Independence away by seizing or annexing the island. “The president’s message will be equivalent to a declaration of war and hostilities can now only be averted by Spain yielding all. Pope Leo XIII. is mediating between Spain and Cuba. The efforts of his holiness have already resulted. In an appeal from Spain to the insurgents, through the autonomic cabinet, for an armistice pending an agreement for peace and Independence. It is learned that his holiness hsu> represented to Spain that it is the part of wisdom to make every possible concession, even to surrendlng the island absolutely, rather than to go to war with the United States, whioh would Inevitably result la the loss of Cuba and other Spanish colonies, and at the same time endanger the dynasty. “The United States has ceased all negotiations, and will not accept mediation. “The administration and congress see no alternative but war.” The Latest Developments. Washington, April 5. —The two foremost broaches of the Cuban question in Washington Monday ware the president's message and European mediation, whioh now has taken an aotive form In tbs courts of Europa according to advioes received at foreign embassies here, though no proffer has been madi to the United States. Regarding the first it can be stated that it is fully expected by tbe administration that the message will be sent to oongross on Wednesday in all probability and certainly by Thursday. Members of President McKinley’s cabinet and his friends in congress stated definitely that it will deal vigorously with the question, will include the Maine incident and make definite recommendations to oongrese, one of whioh will be recognition of independence. As to the mediation of Europe or the pope, they declare that these material and moral powers must exercise their suasion on Spain, for this government will insist on independence of Cuba as an ultimate sine qua non unless tbe Insurgents themselves should oonaent to less, and this 1 hey have flatly refused to do. Uncle Sans Will Not Listen. Speaking on this point one of the cabinet officers said: "You can aay for me that all the powers of Europe and the heads of all the churches may propose mediation to Spain if they desire, but the United States will positively not listen to mediation of any kind that does not load to the acceptance of our condition, which is. Independence for Cuba" Notwithstanding tbe m.any rejKtrts of European mediation they assumed

their first tangible form Monday afternoon when at least two of the foreign establishments in Washington received official ir>formation tha’t an exchange of notes between the great powers was now in progress with a view to arriving at a basis on which they could make a joint proposal for mediation. It is evident that the exchange has not yet been productive of a common understanding, as the ambassadors and ministers st Washington have not yet received instructions to initiate the movement. Their only Information thus far is that ths, notes are passing by telegraph between the capitals of Europe. It had been understood that France and Austria were most active in bringing about this movement, and that Great Britain had held aloof from it, but it developed Monday that the British government was also taking part in the exchange, and that in case of concerted action by the powers Great Britain probably would net with the others. Spain Hopeful. What common ground the powers are geeking to reach can only be conjectured. The Spanish government seems to be hopeful of results from this movement, and this inspired additional ground for the belief that it will not be regarded with favor by the United States. The diplomats, however, think that if a common understanding was reached by the great powers of Europe such suggestions as these combined powers might make could not be lightly set aside. The general view of the diplomats is that the movement is not so much one toward reconciling the United States and Spain as it is to preserve the peace of the world by combined action. Tho Spanlih Argnm«»(. Spain’s policy in this matter is one of urging on the European powers that if Cuba was free from Spanish sovereignty the next move under the Monros doctrine would be to bring an end of European control over other West Indian possessions. Great Britain, France and Denmark have interests in that locality. In other quarters it was stated that the influence of the powers was more likely to be exerted on Spain, in urging her to the largest possible measure of concession. No Offer from the Pope. Washington, April 5. —President McKinley announced Monday to a leading member of congress who has the confidence of tihe administration that there was no truth in the reported mediation of the pope in the Cuban incident, and he (the president) had no knowledge of it whatever. He also announced that he was hourly expecting a cablegram from the Sagasta government notifying this government of the formal proposition for an armistice to the Insurgents. Has Not Offered to Mediate. Rome, April 5. —It was stated in Vatican circles Monday that, the pope has not formally offered to mediate between Spain and the United States, because he has not been requested to do so by those governments, it is true, however, that the pontiff has conveyed to Madrid his ardent wish for the avoidance of a conflict, and has asked Spain to arrange for a suspension of warlike measures or decisions. The Vatican refuses to publish the text of the communications which have passed between the. pontiff and Madrid, but the statement that his holiness has asked Spain to arrange for a suspension of hostilities in Cuba is confirmed. Spain Maneuvering for Time. London, April 5. —The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail learns on excellent authority that the Spanish reply to President McKinley is regarded as a move to gain time and to avoid replying directlj’ to the American ultimatum. Spain will now find the means of yielding while saving her face. Emperor Refused to Take Part. Berlin, April 5. —The Berliner Post says: “The attempts at joint European intervention between Spain and the United States failed, owing to a divergence of views. Emperor William declined to mix himself in the affair. It is doubtful if the United States at the pope’s word would consent to have a fat morsel torn from its grasp.”