The Press., 1897-05-20
IBpnngfeld Republicanl. The .FreSident, Cuba and the People.

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 When President Mckinley entered office 1t was plear that he would have to face difficult questions in foreign affairs without any option on the time for con- sidering them. While the struggle to enact a new tariff law is progressing and of government interference in industrial affairs, it would be great blessing to the country If the Cuban question could be kept in the background but the con- ferences at the white house during the past few days, and the sudden increase of interest in the insurrection displayed by bankers and merchants in New York the very center of business conservatism indicate that the administration may be compelled very soon to settle upon a def mite policy.
 It is gratifying that the president is handling the matter himself. The special commissioner to Cuba, MT. Calhoun, Is MT. McKinley's personal friend and his personal choice for the mission. We ob- serve, too, that the members of the senate committee on foreign relations consulted directly with the president recently with regard to the situation and that again last week the president was closeted over two hours with a Bos- tonian, an intimate friend of Secretary Long, who Is we'll versed i'll Cuban con- ditions at the present time. MT. Sher- manis seer etary of state, but the president is himself in immediate charge of our Spanish and Cuban relations. In this fact there is much to be thankful for, inas- much as MT. Mckinley, before coming president, never exploited himself as a jingo, and since entering office he has shown cautious spirit entirely irreproach- able. He bears the full burden of re- sponsibility, and may be counted on not to make any new departure without careful consideration.
 Action may be deferred some time, but, unless the situation in Cuba changes, the people must prepare for change of atti- tude by our government. Here is the National Review, the British conservative monthly, saying editorially in the May number:-
 There is incomparably more suffering in Cuba than in Crete, Spain has demon strated her incapacity to subdue the insur' rection, and has thereby forfeited all moral right to hold the island. The United States has had perfectly free hand to suppress a scandal at her very doors l which she declares that no other nation Ehas any right to interfere in. Moreover its continuance Is odious to the over lwhelming majority of her citizens. Bui Itheir government has never attempted to lintervene. America is the bes | judge of her own interests, and there is
 no want of profound humanity in the jAnerican peoples but, under the circum ] stances; onH would imagine that some charity should temper their comment or
 the ''infamy" of European policy on tho eastern question. At any rate, we sug gest that some American writer should be
 at pains to distinguish between the lease
 of the American Crete and the European Cuba.
 If that be an opinion held abroad, 1t is not impossible that some ground for in | reference exists. It Is the governments | duty to determine from the known facts
 what is required of it, and then to remain
 passive, or to take more definite stand
 In the mean time, the less congress med
 dies with the affair the better. Leave tho Cuban question to President Mckinley
 Give him time to formulate policy. Ane
 If he decides to intervene in the bslie
 that commerce and humanity demand 1t
 we fancy that the American people will be solidly at his back.