Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-05
HARRISON MAY FILL
The MADRID MISSION
The Plan to Make the Post an En-.
bassy Is Based Upon a
Special Purpose.
THIS IS ONLY TO BE TEMPORARY
McKinIey's Object Said 10 BE &c
Induce the Ex-President 20
Accept the Trust---End
OF Cuban War Near.

Washington, May 31.-President Nc
Kinley IL making the moves In his Gu
ban policy as steadily and surely as a
master OF chess moves the pieces across
the board. Day by day his plans come
to light, not by direct announcement,
but by Indications no less sure and pos
tive. And like the game OF chess, each
move is compelled 10 bear relation TO the
counter move OF his Spanish opponents
and the developments OF the situation.
Three men are thoroughly within the
inner circle Of MciK nley's statecraft-
the president himself, Assistant Secre-
tary OF State Day and Calhoun, the spe-
cial envoy to Cuba. The work Of pre-
pairing the way for the negotiations
with Spain is being pushed as speedily
as possible, but diplomacy Is slow and
the president besides is bothered by the
tariff bill.
There will be notes and pour parlers,
but the progress will be toward an in
evitable conclusion-the r~e-establish-
| ment OF peace Ia Cuba, peace with indie
p~endence. the policy announced In the
republican platform at st. Louis. The
first move was the sending OF Mr.. Cal
hour to Cuba; the second and more m
portant will be the nomination OF q
minister to Spain.
1t Is about settled that the Spanish
mission viii be raised 10 the dignity OF
an embassy, temporarily at least. The
gravity OF the occasion warrants ii,
though when the special mission is
brought TO a successful ending the OBJ
ject of the dignity Will also end.
II would be peculiarly fitting, however,
II the plan which 1t IL whispered is in
Oh. ..agflantt.. mind aha n he PnllnuvaH-
the Offering OF this important post to
former President Harrison. This would
be a singularly telling stroke, not only
at home, but with the Spanish people,
peculiarly susceptible 70 the eompli-
ment conveyed.
II not to Harrison, who may decline,
the mission IL sure to fall TO some states
man distinguished for his ability and
judicial mind-perhaps ex-senator Ed
munds or John A.. Kasson, who has held
the Austrian and Berlin missions, and
who was offered the Spanish mission by
Hayes.
80 sure IL the president that his course
Will be followed by success that he is
more than anxious that congress should
have patience and await executive ac.
tlon. But the president also realizes
N'o ~ '"N b'NIN 'H'
sign to Spain that the United states is
practically solid in support Of the adj
mInistratlon's policy viii be Of value.
With the desired representative at
Madrid the administration will move
ahead steadily toward the goal.
The settlemtn Of the Cuban war will
mark an epoch In American statecraft.
The incident Will become historic. Cen
eral Harrison, In this view OF the mat
ter, may, It Is thought, be persuaded to
accept the Enthusiastically To Spain and
lend his influence and talents toward
the re-establlshment OF peace.
The presence of Estrada Palma, pres!-
dent OF the Cuban Junta, In Washington,
is for the purpose of supplying the presi-
dent with facts concerning the provisional
governments position and its claim for
recognition.
Whren Mr.. Calhoun makes his written
report to the president to bring the evil
dence down to date, the president will
make known TO Spain his policy at great
length and in the most courteous and dip
lomatic language. yet firmly and unmis-
takably. lie will say, in substance:
The United States are thoroughly post
ed on the situation in Cuba. You cannot
%reconquer the island. In over two years
OF bloody ana destructive warfare you
have demonstrated that fact without
question. The instruction is as strong or
stronger than ever.
w nave remained passive witnesses OF
the terrible destruction Of lives and prop
erty, TO the almost irreparablc injury OF
American property and commercial inter-
ests, for which there can be no recon-
pense. We can wait no longer. The pro-
~vlsional government is willing to IA an
indemnity to be determined by direct
agreement and the United States stands
ready to guarantee the payment. This
gives you n chance TO retire with honor
and with fair recompense.
"The alternative forced upon the United
States by memorable events is direct and
forcible intervention, I'm which case but
one result can come-you will not only lose
Cuba but lose II without a dollar of in
demnity.