The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-17
Mckinley and Cuba.

1t is understood that the administra-
tion's objection to the Morgan resolu-
tion now pending in the senate rests in
the first place upon the ground that
recognition of belligerency is essential
ly an executive function; and in the
second place, upon the belief that such
recognition at this time, by giving to
Spain the right of search, would be
likely soon TO involve this country in a
foreign war and thereby defeat the
general desire for a return Of
domestic prosperity. 1t is point
ed out by spokesmen for the
president that while his sympathies
for the Cuban insurgents in
their aspiration for lf-government
are as keen as anybody's, he is morally
committed by the highest dictates of
humanity to exhaust peaceful methods
FIRST before assuming an attitude to-
ward cuba directly or indirectly point
ing to war or its possibilities.
The executive message scheduled for
transmission to the senate today will,
1t is asserted, employ no words which
y
10 the Cuban war, but will treat wholly
OF the destitutiOn which the troubles in
Cuba have entailed upon considerable
number of Americans in that island, for
whose relief congress will be asked to
vote an appropriation. 1t is proposed
not only to enable our consular agents
in Cuba to supply the pressing needs
of Americans within their jurisdiction
but also to issue notice that all Ameri-
cans in Cuba who desire to leave that
island during the period of its troubles
will be removed by the United States
government free of cost. In this way
our direct interest in Cuba will be les
sened in a manner to which neither the
Spaniards nor the Cubans can take eX-
ception.
While the money to be voted by con-
gress for this purpose is to be restrict
ed in disbursements to American bene-
ficiaries any citizen or number of citi.
zens of the United States who may fee
so inclined can at any time collect G
private fund for use among the desti
tute paCifiCos who are not Americans
1t is said in a Washington dispatch
that the heartrending character of tht
situation in Cuba caused the state de-
partment to send for Miss Clara Bar
ton Of the Red Cross society few days
ago and seek her assistance in alleviat
ing the condition of the sufferers. Mis-!
Barton therCupon explained that Mr.
Olney, while secretary of state, had Sc
cured permission FOR her TO go to Cubi
for the purpose of distributing supplies
and that the Queen Of Spain had sen
her personal thanks, yet the people o
the United States had contributed m
money nor food to aid her in carrying
out her charitable desire. She an
nounces her Willingness to go to Cub;
as soon as the necessary funds shal
be raised.
In justice to President Mckinley W
shall assume that the foregoing pro
gramme does not represent his furthes
but rather his first step in the direction
of Cuban relief We shall accept a
accurate Senator Foraker's recent an
nouncement that the president Is gath
ering information TO aid in the formu
latiOn of a final policy touching tn
duty owed by the United States TO hu
manity in the matter of Spain's deyas
tation and depopulation of Cuba; an
that when that information shall b
collected and collated, there Will b
neither delay or indecsion with refer
ence to the putting of that policy int
operation.