The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-14
The Presidents Opportunity.

The Presidents Opportunity.
Poth local and national interest in the
Cuban crisis today is intensified. Never
before in this generation have so many
millions of f,eemen waited in anxious sus-
pense upon the action of one American
az the people Of this country wait 10 see
what President Mckinley will say and
do on Monday next. With even greater
prayer and hope, the shivering, starving
Americans in Cuba, and the abused, nut
ragged horror stricken women and children
of that island, wait for the word which,
when spoken 10y the Chief Magistrate of
Lhe United states, will mean either The
end Of the Spanish reign of terror or its
renewal with added hellislness, if that
were possible.
We always have insisted that Mr. Nc
Kinlcy's personal impulses were good and
humane. 1t is tue that this view seems
Inconsistent with the fact that, although
for weeks he has known that hundreds OF
Americans were being starved "a leath
in Cuba by the orders of the hyena, Wey-
ler, and that the food which our counsel
in Matanzas had purchased with his own
means to relieve about two hundred rick,
naked and starving citizens, shelterless
IN the streets OF that city, had been seized
by the Spanish authorities, he not only
did nothing in tie premises. but allowed
the State department to suppress and on
ceal the information. We are unable even
TO find that. since this Official knowledge
has beeu in the possession OF the Admins
tTati1n there has been the least 'iilninEtion
OF the Spanish minister's standing at
court, or that there has been any visible
decadence in Senator Hale's influence over
the Cuban policy Of the authorities
still we have believed in the good i'm
pulses Of Mr. Mckinley When Senators
Morgan, Davis and Foraker called at the
White House AID at the State Department,
and it became at once evident that the con-
tents Of the suppressed dispatches were
in possession OF two or three Senators,
Of two gentlemen Just returned from Cuba,
and OF The Times, and that the whole
truth would be published immediately IN
less the administration took instant action,
he was visibly touched and displayed real
interest in the subject that did his hu-
nanity credit. He appeared to realize that
~. sT4A..f n
by exposure and starvation OF one or more
Americans. 70 be added to the tale Of
agonized death that had come ID a hUudred
or more during the preceding two weeks.
It is IN dersto0d that he fully intended TO
send a message TO the Congress on Thurs
day; but at the time OF this understanding
ne had not vet seen either Mr.. nupuy de
LONE. Senator Hale or Nj Olney's adj
wiser, GIr. Edwin T Atkyns Yesterday lie
concluded to postpone the message until
Monday.
What that message viii contain no man
can say. 1t will, OF course, suggest relief
for whatever survivors there may be Of
the Americans sentenced TO starvation by
weyler 1t may Indicate some method Of
sending tire relief which, in the Executive
opinion, VIII be entirely agreeable 10 Spain
Mr. Dupuy de LONE has been in frequent
ConSultatio with the President and Sec
rotary Of State, and doubtless has made
every effort 10 induce them not to allow
the movement, if one must be made, to
partake in appearance OF a national move
nlcnt of sympathy for the Free RepuDlicif
Cuba or Of is prosecuted prisoners, wound
ed, women and children. AHolher Spanish
influences in and outside of the Congress
are feverishy and desperately active 10
The same end. Every element Of Spanish
interest. including the diplomacy Of Euro
pean Countries whose subjects are holders
Of Spanish bonds, is quietly nj work; and
the American alliances OF the great Euro
pcau1inanciers are more openly enga gedin
the same effort, which is TO secure delay,
defeat action, or, ifthat cannot be averted,
to nlininize it to the last possible degree,
In the interest OF Spain, and pardaulaTly
Of SPANS chances for borrowing money
with which 70 carry on the campaign If
devastation, outrage and butchcry in cuba;
a campaign against Americans as well as
Cubans.
still. we must hope for the best. If Mr.,
McKinley's noble impulses-and they are
plenty, manly and genuine-are not gar
roted by the native and foreign Spanish
advice and influence that envelopes him
like a black fog, be will yet do something
TO redeem the past, and win shake eff
his inertia once he is able to do that, we
may hope TO hear him speak the y ord that
will forever end the Spanish carnival OF
arson, rape torture and butchery on the
threshold OF the United States.
The crisis in Cuban affairs being the one
great topic of interest this morning the
Washington Post contained learned edi-