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f impressing the local Cuban authorities with the imminence of American power。 Not less important was the purpose of affording protection to American citizens endangered by the rioting of Spaniards； who were angry because they believed that Sagasta by his conciliatory policy was betraying the interests of Spain。 Accordingly the Maine； commanded by Captain Sigsbee； was dispatched to Cuba and arrived on the 25th of January in the harbor of Havana。 On the night of the 15th of February； an explosion utterly wrecked the vessel and killed 260 of the crew； besides wounding ninety。
The responsibility for this calamity has never been positively determined。 It may have resulted from an accidental internal explosion； from the official action of the Spanish authorities； from the unofficial zeal of subordinate Spanish officers； or evenas suggested by Speaker Reed who was an opponent of warby action of the insurgents themselves with the purpose of embroiling the United States and Spain。 The careful investigations which were afterwards made brought to light evidence of both internal and external explosions； it therefore seems probable that an external mine was the prime cause of the disaster and that the internal explosion followed as a consequence。 No direct evidence has been discovered which would fix the responsibility for the placing of the mine； but it is reasonable to attribute it to the Spanish hotheads of Havana。 It is not impossible that the insurgents were responsible； but it is incredible that the Spanish Government planned the explosion。
The hasty； though perhaps natural； conclusion to which American public sentiment at once leaped； however； was that the disaster was the work of Spain； without making any discrimination between the Government itself and the disaffected factions。 A general sorrow and anger throughout the United States reinforced the popular anxiety for national interests and the humane regard for the Cubans。 Press and public oratory demanded official action。 〃Remember the Maine！〃 was an admonition which everywhere met the eye and ear。 The venerable and trusted Senator Proctor； who visited Cuba； came back with the report that conditions on the island were intolerable。 On the 9th of March； 〃Uncle Joe〃 Cannon； the watchdog of the Treasury； introduced a bill appropriating fifty million dollars to be used for national defense at the discretion of the President。 No doubt remained in the public mind that war would result unless the withdrawal of Spanish authority from Cuba could be arranged peaceably and immediately。
Even in this final stage of the negotiations it is sufficiently obvious that the United States Government was particularly desirous of preserving peace。 There is also little doubt that the Spanish Government in good faith had the same desire。 The intelligent classes in Spain realized that the days of Spanish rule in Cuba were practically over。 The Liberals believed that； under the circumstances； war with the United States would be a misfortune。 Many of the Conservatives； however； believed that a war； even if unsuccessful； was the only way of saving the dynasty； and that the dynasty was worth saving。 Public opinion in Spain was therefore no less inflamed than in America； but it was less well…informed。 Cartoons represented the American hog； which would readily fall before the Spanish rapier accustomed to its nobler adversary the bull。 Spanish pride； impervious to facts and statistics； would brook no supine submission on the part of its people to foreign demands。 It was a question how far the Spanish Government could bring itself to yield points in season which it fully realized must be yielded in the end。
The negotiation waxed too hot for the aged John Sherman； and was conducted by the Assistant Secretary； William Rufus Day； a close friend of the President； but a man comparatively unknown to the public。 When Day officially succeeded Sherman （April 26； 1898） he had to face as fierce a light of publicity as ever beat upon a public man in the United States。 Successively in charge of the Cuban negotiations； Secretary of State from April to September； 1898； President of the Paris Peace Commission in October； in December； after a career of prime national importance for nine months in which he had demonstrated his high competence； Day retired to the relative obscurity of the United States circuit bench。 Although later raised to the Supreme Court； he has never since been a national figure。 As an example of a meteoric career of a man of solid rather than meteoric qualities； his case is unparalleled in American history。
The acting Secretary of State telegraphed the ultimatum of the Government on March 27； 1898； to General Stewart L。 Woodford； then Minister to Spain。 By the terms of this document； in the first place there was to be an immediate amnesty which would last until the 1st of October and during which Spain would communicate with the insurgents through the President of the United States； in the second place； the reconcentrado policy was to cease immediately； and relief for the suffering Cubans was to be admitted from the United States。 Then； if satisfactory terms were not reached by the 1st of October； the President was to be recognized as arbiter between the Spaniards and the insurgents。
On the 30th of March； Spain abrogated the reconcentrado policy in the 〃western provinces of Cuba；〃 and on the following day offered to arbitrate the questions arising out of the sinking of the Maine。 On Sunday； the 3d of April； a cablegram from General Woodford was received by the State Department indicating that Spain was seeking a formula for an armistice that should not too obviously appear to be submission and suggesting that the President ask the Pope to intervene and that the United States abstain from all show of force。 〃If you can still give me time and reasonable liberty of action；〃 ran Woodford's message； 〃I will get you the peace you desire so much and for which you have labored so hard。〃 To this the Secretary of State immediately replied that the President would not ask the intervention of the Pope； and that the Government would use the fleet as it saw fit。 〃Would the peace you are so confident of securing；〃 asked the Secretary； 〃mean the independence of Cuba？ The President cannot hold his message longer than Tuesday。〃 On Tuesday； the 5th of April； General Woodford cabled：
〃Should the Queen proclaim the following before twelve o'clock noon of Wednesday； April 6th； will you sustain the Queen； and can you prevent hostile action by Congress？ 〃At the request of the Holy Father； in this Passion Week and in the name of Christ； I proclaim immediate and unconditional suspension of hostilities in the island of Cuba。 This suspension is to become immediately effective as soon as accepted by the insurgents of that island； and is to continue for the space of six months to the 5th day of October； 1898。 I do this to give time for passions to cease； and in the sincere hope and belief that during this suspension permanent and honorable peace may be obtained between the insular government of Cuba and those of my subjects in that island who are now in rebellion against the authority of Spain。。。。〃 Please read this in the light of all my previous telegrams and letters。 I believe this means peace； which the sober judgment of our people will approve long before next November； and which must be approved at the bar of final history。〃
To this message the Secretary of State replied：
〃The President highly appreciates the Queen's desire for peace。 He cannot assume to influence the action of the American Congress beyond a discharge of his constitutional duty in transmitting the whole matter to them with such recommendations as he deems necessary and expedient。〃
On the 9th of April the Queen granted the amnesty； on the formula of a request by the European powers。 On the next day； General Woodford cabled that the United States could obtain for Cuba a satisfactory autonomy； or independence； or the cession of the island。
It was evident that there was no difference of opinion among those in authority in the United States as to the fact that Cuba must be severed from Spain。 There were； however； differences of judgment as to which of the three methods suggested by Woodford was preferable； and there was a substantial disagreement as to the means necessary to realize the aims of the American Government。 General Woodford believed that Spain would grant the demands of the United States； if she were given time and were not pressed to the point of endangering her dignity。 The overwhelming majority in Congress； and particularly the leaders of the dominant Republican party with the exception of Speaker Reed； refused to believe in the sincerity of the Spanish Government。 The Administration could not overlook the fact that the Spanish Government； however sincere it might be； might not be able to execute its promises。 Great Britain had just recognized the United States as intermediary in a dispute between herself and one of the American nations。 Spain； in a dispute much more serious to the United States； refused publicly to admit American intervention； while she did recognize that of the Pope and the European powers。 Was it then possible that