The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-22
The Prc.ident criticired.

Cuban sympathizerS in Florida and else
where are criticslng the President severe
~ for his attitude in respect to the war
ia Cuba. The most of them. however,
would be the first to condemn him if he
should act in this matter in accordance
with their wishes and the result should
be injurious to the interests of this
country.
What IS it that they would have Mr..
! Cleveland say or do? Do they themselves
/ know? They must admit that the Presl-
dent sympathizes with the Cuban insur-
gents as profoundly as they do. He made
that very clear in his message. Nobody
is prepared to say that he did not deal
fairly with the Cuban insurgents in his
message, and, that too. without doing in
justice to Spain. He is better informed as
to the actual condition of affairs in Cuba
than those who are critcising and con-
demning him, and he is in a position to
know what effect upon our relations with
Spain hasty action in the Cuban matter
would have.
The fact must not be overlooked that
grave responsibility rests upon him. He
is bound to look out for the welfare of
this country in preference to lending a
helping hand to the Cuban insurgents. 1t
would be criminal for him to rush into
complications with Spain. and, perhaps,
other nations, without considering the in>
terests of his own country.
In his message he said that the time had
not come for the United States to inter-
fere with Spain's efforts to restore her
authority in Cuba. but that it might come
soon. Has it come? Who is there who
is prepared to say it has? Who is better
qualified than Mr.. Cleveland to say
whether or not it has? The jingoes, who,
having no sense of responsibility, and be-
ing ignorant of the actual situation of af-
fairs, are shouting for such action as
would lead the United States into war
with Spain? We do not think so.
Yes, Spain is a comparatively weak ma
ton. but she is strong enough to do us a
vast amount of injury before we could get
ready TO engage in a war with her She
has a navy greater than ours. and our
coast, particularly the coast of Georgia
and Florida, is unprotected. The war de-
partment and the navy department are
active. but it would require weeks, per-
haps months to put our war forces in
condition to meet successfully even a
weak enemy This the President knows
and the jingoes know it too. probably, but
while the President says wait, the time
to interfere has not yet come" the ire
sponsible jingoes who have nothing at
stake and who are chiefly bent on getting
themselves noticed, shout for policy that
means war.
The President can be trusted. He does
not want 10 play the part of a dictator
He has no further political ambition to
crafty. His term of office will end in two
months, and his sole aim is 10 prevent the
irresponsible jingoes from involving the
country in a war from which nothing is to
be gained, and by which much may be
lost. The safe conservative sentiment of
the nation is behind him and is supporting
him,
He has said nothing relative to Cuban
matters since his message, but his Sec
rotary of State has said that it is the pre-
rogative of the President, and not of con-
gress, to recognize the independence of
Cuba. No doubt the Secretary of State
made that statement with the approval of
the President. Is not the statement cor
rect? There may be a difference of opin-
ion as to whether it is or not but there
is the very best of authority for saying
that it is. 1t is made AN excuse however,
for some very bitter attacks upon the
observation-disclosures which emanate from
political enemies and the minimizing null
titude.
Such attacks will not swerve the Presi-
dent from what he regards as the strict
line Of duty. His duty is to his country.
and. however much he would like to see
Cuba free. he is not going 10 allow his
personal feelings to lead him to adopt
! policy that. in his opinion, would not be
for his countrys interests He is great
enough and strong enough to pursue, in
the face of public clamor, the course
which seems to him to be the best, con-
fident that when all the facts are known
and the situation fully understood, justice
will be done him.
S-o-
I