The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-02-06
THE CUBAN PROBLEM.

There can be no doubt about the
feeling of the people of the United
States with regard to Cuba. They are
practically all of one mind in that re-
spect. The insurgents have their
hearty sympathy, and they hope to
see the island gain its independence.
This prevailing sentiment was form
ally and distinctly expressed in the
platforms of all of the political parties
last summer. the republicans cited
the fact that s'from the hour of achiev-
ing their own independence the
people of this country ''haYe regarded
with sympathy the struggles of other
American people to free themselves
from European domination" asserted
a "deep and abiding interest in the
heroic battle the Cuban patriots
against cruelty and oppression" and
declared that the government of Spain
having lost contol of Cuba, and being
unable to protect the property or lives
of resident American citizens, or to
comply with its treaty obligations, 1--WE
believe that the government of the
United States should actively use its
influence and good offices to restore
peace and give independence to the is
land" A similar plank was inserted
in the democratic platform. I'VE ex-
end our sympathy" it said, "to the
people of Cuba in their heroic struggle
for liberty and independence. And
the populists declared, 1--WE tender to
the patriotic people of Cuba our deep
est sympathy in their heroic struggle
for political freedom aDd indepen-
dence, and we believe the time has
come when the United States, the
great republic of the world, should
recognize that Cuba is and of right
ought to be free and Independent
state"
These views were endorsed by all
citizens who voted either for Mr.. Nc
Kinley or Mr.. Bryan last November,
and nohing has occurerd since to
change their minds, or justify any
modification of the impressive demand
made by the people of America, though
their several platforms, that some
action be taken by this government to
terminate the war in Cuba and bring |
about the independence of the island. !
The platform On which Mr.. Mckinley |
was elected was the most emphatic of |
the three, it declaring that the UNITED
States should actively use its influence
to restore peace and give independ-
ence to the island" and since that
platform was endorsed by majority
of the voters of this country, it can be
viewed in no other light than demand
that the acts of the incoming admins
tration be guided thereby.
If Spain shall not subdue the insur-
gents before President Mckinley is
there. can be no other
course for him to pursue than to pro-
ceed as directed by the platform on
which he was elected. That plank is
certainly as imperative as any other in
the platform, just as binding as the
one declaring in favor Of the re-enact-
ment of high protective policy, or
the one demanding the continuance of
the present gold standard. Notwith-
the fact that Senator Sher-
man, who is to be secretary of state,
gives out that the policy of the new ad.
toward Cuba will be little
different from that pursued by the
present administration, it is not prob
lble Mr.. Mckinley will turn deaf ear
% the Instructions given him by a
majority, and in fact by ell the
roters of the land. If he heeds the
commands of the platform on which he
vas elected he cannot neglect TO
actively use his influence to give the
sland independence" and when this
5 done the Cuban problem will be
'olved. Spain will never resent the
lemand of this government that the
var in Cuba shall cease.