The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-30
Undeseryed Criticism.


The principal speaker at a mass
meeting cf Cuban sympathiZers held
in Washington the other day was Sen
ator Daniel Of Virginia, and the great
er portion of his speech was devoted
to an arragnment of the Mckinley
administration for it's alleged tardi-
ness in moving to the relief of Cuba.
In the senator's impatience with the
Spain we can join, and we guess the
feeling is general in this country. But
is IL true that the administration has
been censurably recreant in this mat
ter? What are the facts?
Major Mckinley has been president
less than four months. During that
time he has made most of his import
ant selections for federal office; has
put congress to work upon tariff bin
calculated to rorlcnish the wasted rev.
enues ard contribute to a business re-
Vival; has got the various executive
departments down TO a working basis
under Republican direction; has chos-
en- a commission to negotiate for in
ternational bilnetsllism; has drafted a
treaty providing for the annexation Of
Hawaii and, Notwithstanding the time
which these achievements have taken
plus the tremendous strain put upon
him and upon his cabinet advisers by
seekers after office, has gone a good
ways towards solution of the Cuban
problem.
The first result of his accession to
the presidency so far as our relations
with Spain ere concerned. took the
form of a decided Increase Of Difference
on the part of the Spanish officials in
Cuba tc credentials of American citi-
zenship. General Lee had trouble be-
fore that time to get the Spaniards
to live up to the terms of our treaties
with them; afterward, he himself is
on record with the testimony that this
trouble largely venished. The second
consequence of McKinley's succession
was shown in his unhesitating prof
fer of support to Consul General Lee,
who, under the Cleveland regime, had
been upon the point of resigning.
Later on we had the presidents mes
sage calling upon congress for money
to relieve Americans in distress in
Cuba. Still later came the appoint
ment Of a special commissioner who
went to Cuba, studied the situation
there and has already returned. The
character of his report on the Ruiz
case is well known and presages Wig
orous action by our government. What
he reported on the broader aspects of
the rebellion in Cuba is yet a state
secret. but the fact that Immediately
atterward the president picked out a
peculiarly well equipped and trust
worthy man for minister to Spain in
dicates that it was of vital importance.
From sources worthy of trust it is
learned that in these four busy months.
with all the cares of office crowding
upon him rs they invariably crowd at
the outset of presidents term, Major
Mckinley has yet found time to ex-
anime the Cuban problem thoroughly
and has reached the conclusion that
it is the duty of the United States to
interfere in behalf of liberty and social
order. 1t is even said that the man.
ner of that interference has been de-
cided upon and will in due time be
made plain. What nonsense, then, to
accuse him of indifference. In what
way consistent with wish TO be right
and solicitous for the continuance of
peace could he have acted differently
He whose cause is Just does not need to
begin it's advocacy by buster; he can
await in patience the opportune time.