The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-18
MUST HAVE A DIVER SION.


dicative of another eruption Of the
Cuban volcano. There have been con-
fidential chats Of the foreign relations
committee of the senate with the presi-
dent, and the secret archives of the
state department have been opened to
let them have a peep at the contents.
There has been another spontaneous
meeting, with the usual appearance Of
preparedness, at which there were
echoes of Morgan's speeches and rever-
berations of Chandler's raucous yelp.
There have come intimations that the
administration was going to make up
it's mind to something and communi-
cate it to congress. A commissioner
paramount sailed last week to Cuba to
gather information. It is discovered
that there are large numbers of Amer
lean citizens, all with Spanish names,
who have been driven, as pacificados,
to the towns and are starving.
Now Walter Wellman-scribe for Mr..
Kohlsaat who is fidus Achates to Mr..
Herald, starter and subscriber to the
Mckinley insolvency fund, and chief Of
staff to Marcus AureliuS Hanna during
the campaign-Walter, we say, thus
commanding news pipe line to the
White house, says there is to be a mes
sage from the president to congress.
This is no scoop. It has been predict
ed and denied week ago. But Walter
says that there is matter of immense
significance between the lines of this
message. On the lines it will merely
refer to the suffering Americans
with Spanish Names descent and Cuban
residence-and ask for money to re-
lieve them; but between the lines may
be read by him Of keen eyes the policy
of this administration, which is nothing
less than the annexation of Cuba and
Hawaii. This is important, if true, and
there are features of the situation OF
the party whose safety is in Mr. NC
Kinley's keeping to make the state
ment highly probable.
Mr.. Mckinley finds himself confront
ed, as a result Of the twist taken by
the campaign last year, with two dis
agreeable facts. The tariff is a mus
tard plaster on the backs of friends
and foes alike. AS the Dingley bill
| passed the house it excited the ire of
one large section of his party, and as
| another. In either form it adds it's
| contribution to the irritation of those
who supported that party last
year, already near the fighting
| point because Of the cool Indifference
shown the issue that induced their sup
| port Back of all this there lowers the
free silver cloud, gaining volume from
the conditions thus created and al
ready so threatening as to make GER
tain the expulsion Of the Republican
majority in the house next year.
1t is elementary in party as we'll as
| in military tactics that, when the situ-
alton becomes embarrassing, there must
be made diversion of some kind to
draw off attention and center it some
where else, and Mr.. Mckinley is not
in the kindergarten stage Of tactical
| instruction. A policy of annexation Of
| either or of both these islands would
be one that would not only have the
support Of his party but of all the jim
goes in the country. Should it en-
broil this country In war with Spain
it would but make it more popular. be-
side affording work for the ironclads
Secretary Long is thinking Of putting
on the retired list. There might be un-
pleasant results, both immediate and
remote, but while it was going on
| there would be no general talk about
tariffs and currency, and next year the
voters would be appealed to to stand
by the administration IN the congress
sional elections, and not to swap horses
until that stream was crossed. We are
inclined to think that Mr.. Wellran
| speaks by the card.
HE rs RIGHT.
| To .ha Editor Of tho Globe.
| It seems to ne that there has been
| great GRal OF discussion and wrargiing over