The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-30
AN imperial OPPORTUNITY
How the Cleveland AdminiStrat ion
Could Redeem Itself.
LET 1T TAKE UP CUBA'S CASE
Evidences That the American People Arc
Getting Ready for u New Deal in
Their Foreign pOlicyNO
Longer babies.

Washington. Sept. 29.-We are now.
writes Walter Wellman. from this city.
to the Chicago Times Herald. having
in the capital a wholesome Illustration
of the power of public poinion. \
month ago almost every official of the
government pooh-poohed the Idea OF
United States action in the Cuban ques-
ton. Now Cuba and her woes and
the duty of this government in the
premises form the topic of daily con-
versation in official circles. The Thun-
der of the American press has been
heard in Washington. Not only is Sec
retary Olney making most thorough
examination of the question involved.
but when two or three members of the
cabinet chance to meet they talk often
Cf Cuba. 1t is q mistake TO assume
that President Cleveland cannot be
, reached by the power of public opinion
Though perhaps less amenable to such
influences than most of our presidents
have been. he makes closer note of what
the people are thinking and saying
shln most observers think he does.
1t chances just at this juncture the
Cleveland administration is casting
about for some popular policy with
w,:,ch TO close up is shop. Whatever
it - to do toward winning the approval
Of the great masses CT ',he American
people must be done, in all probability.
during the coming wirfer. After a
presidential election an administration
is verify nearly muribund. If Mr.. Cleve-
land is not eager to do something that
will win popular acclaim If he Is pre-
eminent!y sa .istied with himself ana
with his wonderful career as public
man now drawing toward an end, many
of his advisers are not in SO fortunate
or cGmplarsant mood. Some of them
! are ambitious for the future. Others
| are eager to return 10 private life with
more prestige than is likely To attach
TO their service in the Cleveland ad-
| mlnistratio ion in case the record is per-
m!tted to close practically where 1t is
a. the present moment. \ number of
Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet ministers
| would hail with joy intervention by this
| government between Spain, che oppres-
sor and Cuba, the victim
Dissatisfied with Their Record.
| 1t is no secret that Mr.. Cleveland
himself, and more markedly the mem
bers of his cabinet, are dissatisfied
with the record of this second Cleveland
! Illustration. Only a few days ago
on. of the presidents advisers said 10
! ME: I'VE can't afford to quit with
! nothing but the German tariff bill and
! one or two bond issues behind us.
( Ii Mr.. Cleveland succeeds in bringing
/ congress to its senses On the curfehc!
! question that will be famous victory.
!! II will lie a tau feather in the cap of
| ,he administration. But in the opinion
I of some OF the pres ldent's advisers that
Will be a mere bagatelle compared with
/ what may be done Important as 1t Is
( to the country there is no sentiment IN
I it. Two-thirds of the people of the
United States do not know what 1t Is,
and one-half of them do not care.
But let the American eagle once stick
his beak into the Cuban question. let
Uncle Sam invite Spain to walk span
ish out of the fair American island
which her oppression has brought to
the verge of ruin, and every American,
| whether man or woman, hoy or glrl,
will know what that means and feel a
thrill of Joy and pride on account of II.
Eyeryone can sac that II an admins
| tration ever had an opportunity 10 60
out in blaze of glory and whirlwind
Of popularity, it is the Cleveland ad-
ministiation. Cuba. Hawaii. the Mica
ragua canal are the related opDortuni-
ties. the grand openings TO test our
national strength and prestige when
any other country in the world would
eagerly advantage by
The Policy OF Isolation Is Doom.d.
What this administration will do
about ii the Lord only knows. III some
times moves in a mysterious way lts
wonders to perform. But whatever Mr..
Cleveland may or may not do many of
the shrewdest men about him perceive
in this Cuban agitation in America a
| phase of public oplrion which out
| statesmen must sooner or later heed
They perceive that the great outpour-
ing of sympathy for Cuba signifies
| American restlessncss under the policy
of isolation and seif-containment. IL
indicates the day Is fast coming when
the most popular act any adminiStra-
ton can perform is to down with the
walls of tradition and out to the sea for
empire This sentiment has for a long
time been slowly spreading among the
people. It has found expression in the
Hawaiian case. In support OF the Mica
raguan Canal, in the phenomenal popu'
larity of the new navy question out In
the cornfields of the Mississippi Valley
and the mines of the farther west, in
intense devotion to the principles of the
Monroe doctrine, and now II Is seen
again on the side of republican Cuba.
Some of President Cleveland's advis
ers who see these things and under.
StdHu tHelT great SISHillCiHce are mar
assed by thoughts or what the future Is
likely to bring. They foresee another
administration following this. whet thel
Republican or Democratic does nO
matter, that will develop nationa
oversee policy, which Mr.. Cleveland
has so far refused to sanction. They
fOresee a reaching out for empire, fol
territorial and commercial acquisition
for opportunities for our capital and fol
our young men, for strength and pres
tige which will enable us easily t.
hold our place as guardian Of America
against any possible European en-
croachment. II this policy were (,
have its beginning and much Of it's de
velopment during the four years ush
cred In March 4, 1S97-as now seems no
only possible, burt highly probable
then the second Cleveland administra
tion would indeed be odorous by com