Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-28
WHAT WILL THE END BE.

The Lee incident and the conditions
developing out Of ii continue TO be the
absorbing topics Of discussion in public
and in private circles, and with the press;
and the question of the hour is, what
will be the end of it all?' That is a
question It would be very rash to at
tempt to answer positively. We risk
nothing in the assumption that the clear
est-headed students of the problem, and
the most conservative statesmen, do not
believe that they see the end.
II is TO be hoped that the end will be
peace with honor-that is, that the new
crisis will be tided over without rup-
ture with Spain, and without any COM
promise of the dignity and prestige Of
the United States. 1t may be that. if
the horizon is allowed to clear, it will be
found that there is mo reason why this
should not be the case"
But it cannot be disguised that the
public mind is now more seriously and
dangerously excited over the Cuban ques-
ton than ii has been at any time since
the trouble on the island began. As we
said the other day, the excitement is the
expression Of something more significant
than mere jingoism- something deeper
than sympathy with the Cuban in
surgents. 1t is the expression Of feel
ing that Spanish contumacy has gone
to point that carries in it an insult to
the nation, and beyond which furthet
forbearance ceases to be virtue.
Whether this construction is justifiable
or not. the situation is pregnant with
indications that the horizon may not be
permitted to become clearer until it is
too late to avoid trouble.
The dying administration has given out
that there will be no change in its Cuban
policy. and Is laboring sedulously TO in
culcate the impression that the revival
of excitement is premature and not war
ranted by the real conditions. 1t is also
seeking to auay public resentment and
influence Congress to moderation by
arguing that the pardon N Sanguilly was
q concession and an atonement on
the part of Spain that ought to be ac-
cepted as a satisfactory adjustment Of
the whole matter now at issue. But the
Sanguilly case is only one Of series
Of cases that contributed to bring about
the crisis and eliminated i'm the friction
that exists between the State Depart
ment and our Consul-General at Habana,
and neither the public nor Congress
seems so far. disposed 10 take Mr..
Olney's view of the situation. Congress.
instead Of growing cooler, is growing
warmer. and daily the news from Habana
auuears to add fuel to the flame.
Not only would it appear that storm
has been raised that the present admin
istration may not be able to quell, but
the danger of the situation has been en-
phasized by the course of Mr.. Sherman,
McKinley's prospective Secretary Of
state In proof of this, it may be stated
that what is termed Shermans premature
and unnecessary declaration of the policy
he may be expected TO advocate touching
the Cuban question when he becomes the
keeper Of McKinleys conscience respect
ing foreign affairs, has caused de-
cided alarm at the North. This alarm
is especially manifested through the
papers closely allied with the money in
terests. Some OF these that have been
especially outspoken in condemning the
present administration for not sustain
ing onsul-General Lee. criticise Sher-
man in a manner that evidences that
they are very uneasy, and suggests forci-
bly, that orders have come from Wall
Street to haul off.