Immediately after the explosion Spain offered its regrets and helped the survivors, while the Maine’s captain said he could not explain what had happened. While newspapers, such as [[William Randolph Hearst]]’s ''New York Morning Journal'' and [[Joseph Pulitzer]]’s ''New York World'', printed sensationalist stories blaming Spain for the explosion, newspapers outside New York City printed sober accounts. President [[William McKinley]], and most American opinion leaders called for a suspension of judgment until the Navy reported on its inquiry a month later. | Immediately after the explosion Spain offered its regrets and helped the survivors, while the Maine’s captain said he could not explain what had happened. While newspapers, such as [[William Randolph Hearst]]’s ''New York Morning Journal'' and [[Joseph Pulitzer]]’s ''New York World'', printed sensationalist stories blaming Spain for the explosion, newspapers outside New York City printed sober accounts. President [[William McKinley]], and most American opinion leaders called for a suspension of judgment until the Navy reported on its inquiry a month later. |