The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-11
A DISGRACE TO JOURNALISM.

We have learned to expect almost
anything in the line- of unfairness and
abusiveness from the sensational daily
press of the East, but there are weekly
Illustrated journals, making pretense
TO decency and fairness that have
transcribed all bounds in their per-
slstent and fragrant lying concerning
the position of this administration in
the Cuban affair." These offenders,
among which are recognized as chief
Judge and, we are sorry to say, the
Illustrated American, keep on publish
ing, week after week, cartoons repre-
senting Cuba and the Cubans as I'M
dergolng all sorts of torments, with
MI. Cleveland or Mr.. Olney stretching
them on the rack. It has been the cue
OF the partisan journal for some time
past to attack the administration for
not doing what it has no power to do
Tor Cuba. This is taken at it's worth
Tor one OF the common and disgraceful
dodges OF poItics-and may go at that
But these papers which have a certain
standing in the community appeal
weekly to the most evil passions. Their
misrepresentation in the name Of pa
trlot1sm deserves the severest rebuke
that can be administered.
The relation Of the administra-
ton to the Cuban question is
plain beyond the need of print
or picture. All that it has to do
is to execute the laws as it finds them.
Ihere are but two possible things for
this country to DO in the Cuban matter;
one or which, is to recognize either the
peIlgerency or the independence Of the
Cuban government, or both, and the
otner is to send our army and navy
doWn to the island to help win it's in
dependence. The former is the refuge
OF those jingoes who are also towards.
ana the latter few men in or out of
pubic life are bold enough to propose.
but' Whatever is to be done, congress
is IN session and must take the initi-
atlVe. 1t has been in session now since
the 1st Of December, with a heavy Re-
publican majority in the house. What
has it done for Cuba?
HAS even the senate passed
the ridiculous Don Cameron reso-
luton? Has the house put it.
sen on record? Has there been any
change In the constitution which would
authorize the president or the secretary
OF state to declare war? If there had
oeen real sympathy, real earnestness
ana an Intelligent purpose in congress
10 aid the cause Of Cuban liberty IL
might have done much before This Ru+
the whole thing Is a windy nretansa
0S Hepuoncans very we'll know. Either
we ought to tell Spain fatty that Cpha
must be free, or we ought To keon
hands off, The miserable driveling
creature who is known as the iinoo :,
100 much OF a coward to propose the
one and not enough Of an honest man
10 agree to the other He sits heel,
IN MS safe corner~and bowls about out
RACES Which he does nothing IN rro,,a,+
attempting to throw upon the officials
OF the government the responsibility
which cannot be placed there.
IN tWenty-four hours congress Gan
II 1t wishes, declare war AGAINST
Spain, or, what amounts to the sa,o
Inlhs' notify that government that
CUBA is henceforth under the military
protection of the United States TP
ooth houses shall pass such a resolu-
ton as that, the president must carry
1t INTO effect. In the absence Of anv
such action, the administration hoe
neither the power nor the right to ta1ro
the step. The caricaturists and tho
penhy-a-llners who have been barlkine
at the heels Of Mr., Cleveland because
ne dld not do something that he has
no constitutional right to do In the ab
sence Of congressional action Soma
thing that congress itself does NOT doro
10 do, and something that these c,,rs
would be the first to yelp at as an
ABUSE Of prerogatiVe and a us1,rna tio,,
OF power if it were done. are 2 disgrooo
to journalism. Dr.