THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 226 as his successor, and, in diplomatic language, " the incident was at an end."

the beginningof their fulfilment made byBlanco, allcounted fornothing. Fromocean tooceanthe feelingof the great majority of thepeople of the United States undoubtedly was that the time for diplomatic intervention and friendly co-operation withSpain had gone for ever,and the day for throwing the swordinto the balance inCuba had arrived.

But thenlike anearthquake shock that wasto shatter all hopes of peace came the destruction of the Maine in HavanaHarbour. Interpreted as a murderous act of Spanish treachery,it set in a luridlight all that had been already toldof the horrors of Cuba. The promises of Sagasta, CHAPTER VHI.

ON THE EVE OF WAR.

to do with the development of the Cuban question. PRESIDENT MrKINLEY'S declaration in favour of a peace policy in his inaugural address was the sincere expression.of his own personal feelings. While the Cuban war cloud was gathering, a friend who came to see him at the White House remarked that in any case war would increase his popularity. Every president who had gone to war had made his reputation by it, and he would be no exception. Mr. McKinley answered, " God forbid that my popularity should rest on such a foundation." Speaking to friends on another occasion he said: "I do most earnestly hope that war may be avoided. Ihave witnessed one war;Ido not wish to see another, unless there is grave necessity for such extremeaction. Those who talk so lightly of war perhaps do not realiseits horrors."

The President's policy was to obtain practical independence for the island, without necessarily putting an end to its connection with Spain. When the evidence given before the naval Court of Enquiry made it more andmorelikely that the accident theory about the Maine would become untenable, and that he wouldhave to demand some reparation from the Spanish Government, he decided to use this fact as a lever for obtaining concessions in Cuba. The destruction of the American warship was to be made a text for a request to Spain tobring at once to an end a state of affairs that had made such a disaster possible. While not directed to war,this attitude of the United States Government might lead to war in the event of Spain rejecting Americaninterference. Further, Congress might at any time force the President's hand. Wide as are his powers,he can be overruled by a two-thirdsmajority of both Houses, and he then becomes the mereagent of Congress in giving effect to its vote. It was therefore necessary to be prepared for any contingency, and whilehonestly working for the preservation of peace, President McKinley and his Cabinet began to prepare for possible war.

It was in this spirit that to the last the President strove to avoid hostilitieswith Spain. He was supported in this attitude by only a portion of the Press and people. The loudvoiced advocates of a vigorous warlike policy were naturally popular at a time when public feeling was excited, first by the story of the misery inflicted on the Reconcentrados by Weyler, and then by the destruction of the Maine. Added to this, there was in many minds in the United States the feeling that noEuropean Power hadany right to permanent dominion on the western side of the Atlantic. Spain's misdeeds in Cuba were represented as the natural outcome of monarchical rule on American soil. The hauling down of the Spanish flag at Havana would be one step more in that liberation of the New World which began with Lexington, Bunker's Hill, and the Declaration of Independence. Sentiment is a large factor in directing national policy, and this feeling has had notiJSfe In the last days of February, despite official denials and explanations meant to allay public excitement, it was clear that these war preparations had begun. Men were busy on the coast defences. Admiral Sicard's North Atlantic squadron usually passed the winter in southern waters, but it was evidently bent on more than mere peace manSuvres, for it concentrated at Key West, and wasreinforcedby new ships. In every dockyard overtime was being worked,and coal and ammunition were being collected at .the naval depots. Old monitors that had been