Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

The Star gave its approval Tuesday
to resolution introduced in the House 10y
Mr.. Woodman of Illinois calling attention
to the Presidents inaction in the matter of
Cuba, and requesting him to proclaim the
existence of state Of war in the island.
Doubt was suggested whether the resolu-
ton would accomplish Its purpose. but the
opinion was expressed that, in view of all
the facts in the case, the President ought
to be put on record.
Since then. Mr.. Morgan in the Senate, a
friend of liberty and an eloquent cham
pion of the insurgents has introduced and
had referred to the committee on foreign
relations joint resolution recognizing the
belligerency of the Cubans in arms against
Spain. He thinks the resolution will be re-
ported back favorably. and that 1t will
pass The Star sincerely hopes he Is JUS
titled in that opinion. The resolution ought
to pass. 1t is in tone and spirit Identical
with the concurrent resolution adopted by
Congress. but which, for some reason the
President has ignored Mr.. Morgan wants
the will o. the people of this country to
prevail in this matter, and If the President
mas good reason. or any reason, why 1t
should not, he ought to be required to give
it.
1t would seem. indeed. that the President
and his friends should welcome an oppor-
tunity whereby his attitude IN the prem
ises could be clearly and formally defined.
AS the case now stands, everything is left
to conjecture. And conjecture has not
dealt in a complimentary way with the
President. At home he stands condemned
for lack of sympathy with worthy neigh
bors struggling to free themselves from the
most brutal and appalling oppression. He
withholds his hand while Gen. Weyler pro-
ceeds with his bloody business, carrying
the torch and the sword as far into the in
terror as he care. and setting Industrious
burglars to work with the garrote in the
protected towns.
THIS was bad enough. 1t is always to be
deplored Nhen an executive crosses the will
of his own people to the extent of deserv-
ing and receiving their earnest and en-
phatic disc pprovaL 1t is worse when by
such action he invites the condemnation of
outsiders, for to the world at large he
stands and speaks for the country. Out
siders. We are now informed, are condemn
Ing him severely morning contempor-
airy quotes by name a business man of
Cuba now in Washington to the effect that
all foreigners in Cuba arraign the Presi-
uent IOr moral COWarulce ana as DelnS
an ally of Gen. Weyler.
Every consideration-the desire TO be I'M
derstood by his own people as we'll as by
the outside world-calls for an early and
an explicit statement of his position by the
President. The question Is acute. His own
credit and the credit OF the country are
at stake. The anti-Cuban argument Of
fered in the Senate and House will not
suffice. S"rely the President Is intrenched.
or feels himself to be intrencEed, behind
something more worthy the name Of argu-
ment than that put forward to defeat the
concurrent resolutions.
So, let the country hear from him. Let
Congress pass the joint resolution and that
will make the ISSUE The President will
then be enabled by veto or otherwise to go
into the question at length, and show why
Up to this time he has pursued so extraor-
binary a course.