The sun., 1897-02-09

Of coordinate branch OF the Government
and needless of a just and reasonable
public demand. II this should be the case,
there would, indeed, be ground both for
Spanish solicitude and for Cuban hope. IL,
soon after Major MCKINLEY shall become
President, both houses OF Congress should
again adopt the belligerency resolution
which they adopted last year, or should
| adopt the independence resolution now be-
| fore the Senate, and should send one or
other OF these resolutions to the President.
there would at least be q possibility OF
| n change in this Governments relations
| toward the parties at war In Cuba. IL
President MCKINLEY should promptly ex-
press his agreement with Congress In the
matter, why, then, this Government would
take an attitude toward Spain and Cuba
more deserving Of respect than that which
1t has aintained ever since the outbreak Of
the revolution.
In a short time the one person, the Presi-
dent, who has strained his authority to the
disadvantage OF Cuba, will be out OF the way,
and another President, not likely to follow
his inauspicious example, but more regard
full OF his country's honor and interests, will
may be reason for Cuba's hope. The per-
sonal element in this Government the indi-
vidual will OF a President, often controls its
conduct and the man who has controlled
1t in the interest OF Spain will be powerless
in three weeks, as, indeed, It is already be-
yond his power to render Spain any fur
thsr service.
II has recently become manifest that the
Spanish Government suffers apprehension
for this reason. IL Is pacifying Cuba with
vengeance; 1t is getting up sham reforms
for Cuba to propitiate the United States; it
is seeking for truce in Cuba favorable toits
designs. 1t is preparing for the entrance OF
MCKINLEY. The most unfortunate thing
for Spain at this moment is that Cuba will
not wait for her to make advances, but re-
jects her terms at once and goes on with the
fight. In truth. Spain asks too much when
she asks the Cubans to seek for peace by
submitting to her hard and wicked rule.
Spain has forebodings as to what may fol-
low CLEvELAND's exit; Cuba experiences
satisfaction in thinking OF IL. Spain cannot
get any assurance that MCKINLEY will be
another CLEvELAND; Cuba is confident that
he will not Hence the state Of Spain's
mind, and the state of Cubas.
1t is largely personal matter. An OBJ
struction in the way Of Cuba will be re-
moved when CLEVELAND goes out; n hacker
up Of Spain will disappear from the field
when CLEVELAND starts for Princeton. 1t
is possible that n President who has
been unfriendly to Cuba will be sue
ceeded by one of whom that may not
be said. The head of this Government pos
sesses powers which often enable him to
direct its foreign policy. Were McKISLEY's
policy in the Spanish Cuban case to resem-
BILE CLEvELAND's, he could look for nothing
else from 1t than the failure which has over
taken CLEvELASD's. Spain. therefore, has
a right to her own thoughts, and so, also
has Cuba.
1t Is possible that another reason for Span
ish foreboding and for Cuban hope may be
found in the platform upon which Major
MCKINLEY was elected, and Of which he
has expressed his approval. 1t calls upon
this Government to exercise its influ-
ence to secure the independence Of Cuba.
That is a thing Of interest to the United.
States, as we'll as to Spain and Cuba 1t Is
thing OF exceeding Importance. Major
MCKINLEY Ia not the man to cast away
his platform when he becomes President.
He will be a President who stands for
Cuban independence. He would be un-
true to the platform which he upheld when
candidate II his policy in the case
Of Cuba should bear any resem-
blance to CLEvELASD's. He could not,
in honor, follow in CLEvELAND's foot
steps in this case. He will surely follow
his own Judgment, which, as we have q
good right to suppose, is that Of his party,
and of the country, and of Congress. BY
doing that he will do the best thing for
Spain, Cuba, and the United States, for
peace and freedom.
In the circumstance that President Nc
KINLEY is pledged to repudiate Cleveland
ism, so far MS 1t relates to the Spanish
Cuban question, there is reason why Cuba
may hope and why Spain should take the
time to think.