Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-04
Talk to Hard about life in- surance. 2Ol7 First Avenue.
GEN. AL GER ON CUBA.
The New Secretary of War Examined by a. Newspaper Reporter-Hls
 Answers Guarded
Cincinnati Times.

Cincinnati Times.
 Gen Russell A Alger, who is to be secretary of war. has been examined on the Cuban question by newspaper re- porter. His answers were guarded, but still they had better been left unuttered They are not strong enough for an Amer ican who has been soldier. He says that in his judgment the United States does not want war with Spain or anybody else; that we not only do not want war, but WE want peace; that sensational threat enings of war only tend to disturb busi- ness; that he could hardly foresee any condition which should embroil our gov ernment in a war unless some of our citizens should be willfully and wantonly wronged by some other government. Then" says Gen. Alger, q should be in favor of seeking prompt and sufficient redress, if 1t took every fighting man we could raise to do it."
 This Is not enough It is only good so far as it goes. Of course, peace is de- sirable, and all want it. but sometimes the bsst of people cannot have it. The talk about the sensational threatenings" of war disturbing business has no body to it. Business would not be disturbed for the worse if actual hostilities with Spain should break out. An increase of business, and more employment for the people, would be more likely to be the result. Business considerations should not be permitted, though, to enter into the calculation one way or the other in the face -of our duty as the dominating government of the western hemisphere. What we owe to free institutions, and to near neghbors who are struggling for release from the same kind of thralldom that our revolutionary fathers fought against, should govern our action.
 Our policy toward the fight between Cuba and Spain has been disgraceful. Our interference has all been for Spain: nothing for Cuba. Our propositions to mediate have been on the basis of mak- ing the Cubans behave themselves. Our influence has been to keep the Cubans in bondage to the Spaniards. who have no patriotic interest in the island, but want it for the money 1t makes for them.
 There should be something radical in the way of reversal of this policy. There is a duty still beyond the protection of American citizens. This republic has got to be too big and too great to be selfish. It is our province to help other people in the new world to become republics. We cannot do this so long as we pursue a halting, almost cowartlly course. We need not issue bloody proclamatlcns and court war, but we should stand on our dignity and be ready for conflict if one becomes necessary to preserve our coun- try in an honorable attitude. We must not pander tc monarchical aggressor to avoid war. The seeming tinlidity of the present administration, and of what some people call the business interest, about offending Spain. encourages the Me drid government. There is not much probability that there would be serious war even If the United States should com mard Spain to withdraS from Cuba, and send ships to Havana to enforce the order. Spain wants no fight with the United States She is merely bluff ing" us because we allow her to.