The times., 1897-02-05
LlEGACYTO M'KINLEY.
HeWill Have the Cuban Problem
to Face.
CLEVELAND HOPED TO SETTLE IT..
But 1t viii Go Over to the New Admin
istration, Which viii Have to Proceed
with Great Caution-That Spanish Bribe.
A Possible Contingency.


A Possible Contingency.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-lSpecial. What
will President Mckinley do with the Gu
ban question: is q great conundrum in
Washington. 1t Is generally conceded the
Cuban problem will be passed over to the
next administration. President Cleveland
has been very anxious to do something be-
fore Going out of office. He has hoped all
along to be able to close this troublesome
matter up, or at least to make some prog
ress toward termination of the war. His
favorite scheme has been a treaty between
the Spanish authorities and the insurgents
on the basis of home rule, or what Spain
would call home rule. But at the present
time there does not seem to be any prospect
that this plan can be carried out. Major
Mckinley will have to deal with the whole
matter.
An Embarrassing Question.
What President Mckinley will do no one
knows l am sure he will come into office
without clear determination on that
point. He wishes to study the matter for
himself, to take it up in careful and Sc
xious way and find what the facts are and
where the justice of the affair lies. But,
at the same time, think am in position
to lay down few general principles which
will contol President Mckinley in his ap-
proach to this embarrassing question.
In the first place, do not believe Mr..
Mckinley will ever consent to guarantee
Of the United States government being
given to any compact which maintains q
monarchy on American soil. If Spain and
the insurgents can come to terms, there
will be no objection from the president.
But from what l have been told am sure
tho idea of the majesty of the United States
being called in to guarantee monarchy is
repugnant to him. He would be willing,
there can be no doubt, to lend his assist
ance to plan which should secure indie
pendence, or a perfect measure of home
rule, corresponding to the autonomy which
Canada possesses, which is almost as good
as Independence itself. That there will be
found this radical difference between the
policies of Cleveland and Mckinley have
no doubt.
In the second place. / do not believe Pres
ident Mckinley or his secretary of state
will attempt to set the executive branch of
the government above the congress in deal
ing with these matters-that is to say, If
congress concludes that it wishes to recog-
nize the belligerency or the independence
Of Cuba it will not be like Mr.. Mckinley
his veto or the ipse dixit which Secretary
Olney presented when the senate talked of
extending recognition. President McKin-
ley in all probability will seek to cooperate
with congress in any policy toward Cuba
which 1t may choose to adopt
The Tariff First.
But there is every reason to believe the
new president will proceed in the Cuban
matter with great caution. 1t must be re-
membered that Major Mckinley comes to
che White House with a firm conviction
shat his first and greatest duty to his
country is to restore prosperity l know
he has been deeply touched by the suffer
fngs of his countrymen during the last
three years of industrial depression. He
hopes the policy of the government will
assist natural conditions to bring about u
speedy recovery from this low level of ac-
tiyity, and in the end to restore prosperity
ns we knew it five or six years ago. 1t is
10 this Major Mckinley is bending all his
energies at the present time. 1t is for this
no has arranged his administration policy,
caused a tariff bill to be prepared during
the winter and decided to call a special
session of congress to meet almost imme.
<aiately after his Inauguration.
But there must be limit to the patience
Sf this country and to thepatience of the
rTesident. If the war in Cuba goes on for
several months as it has gone on for the
past two years without either side gaining
much advantage and with terrible destruc-
tion of property and great loss of life
something will have to be done about 1t
The United States will have duty to per
form, and duty which cannot be neglect
cd. In this connection heard from q sem
Il ,taI
interesting, but which seems to me to be
too cold blooded to deserve credence.
One Way to Bring Prosperity.
President Mckinley will do his best to
avoid war with Spain for q year or two,"
said this senator. "Hc wants to put into
operation, first of all, his patent process for
restoring prosperity. He has been so wide
ly heralded as the advance agent of pros
perity that he must bring prosperity to the
country or he will be a failure. Now, let
us suppose that the country does get pros
perity under the new tariff law. Why, then
we shall not need war. But suppose, on
the other hand, that prosperity does not
come. Trade languishes, men are out of
employment, banks fail, the hard times
continue, despite all the efforts of the Nc
Kinley administration and the Republican
party to bring about better era. Why,
then we shall have &c have war. Then
the personal fortunes of the president and
the success of the Republican party will
need war in order to cover up the failure
10 restore prosperity to a sufferi 3 coun-
try"
1t is not necessary for me 80 add that
this suggestion was made b. q silver sena-
tor, by one who does not lelieve the Re-
publican party or any other party can bring
prosperity to this country as long as the
gold standard is maintained. ! do not in
dorse his suggc tion at all. / simply give
1t for what it is worth.
There is one thing am glad to be able
10 report, and t.rt is that the Spanish
scheme to bribe the United States into an
arrangement to Slnin's advantage has not
met with success. AS the Cuban tariff
now stands, many articles which we could
sell to tho people of the island are kept out
of the market because of high customs du'
sies imposed by Spain, while Spanish prod
ucts of the same sort are admitted at much
lower rates. The result Is that Spain takes
the market which in the natural order of
things belongs to this country. In order
to curry favor with this country and to
gain advantage in her dealings with the