The Saint Paul globe., 1897-01-17
HAULING DOW THE FLAG.


Note-Barometer corrected for temperSture
and elevation. P. f. Lyons Observer.
-
HAULING DOWN THE FLAG.
OF all the insincere and criminal per-
formances of party politics. we find
nothing in late years to equal the Re
publican treatment of the Cuban ques-
ton. For months past the air has re-
verberated with the howls of Repub-
lican party leaders against this admin
istratiOn for what they are pleased 10
call its shameless Indifference tc he
wrongs Of Cuba. Before the adjourn
ment of the last session resolutions
We're passed practically censuring the
government for not doing Something"
whatever that might be, to assist the
Cubans in their struggle. Since this
session began the Cameron resolution
has been a subject of impassioned de-
bate, and the Republican senators and
representatives have put themselves
on record by sdgmatizing the policy Of
neutrality, which We have felt our
selves in honor bound 10 maintain. as
a crime against Cuba and national
dishonor. One hardly knows how far
this abuse and vilification has gone un-
less he has kept watch of the Eastern
newspapers. It has been their pet topic
for weeks and months. and Mr. Cleve
land and Mr. Olney have been carica-
tured by Hbelous lampoOns day after
day as helping Spain to carry out her
Infamous will against the defenseless
Cubans. This has not been confined
to the mere machine organs of Repub
hcanism. That distinctively Mckinley
advocate, the New York Sun, has de-
voted an average Of about two columns
day to the abuse Of the administra-
tion for not definitely coming to Cuba's
relief. Even a journal as reputable as
the Illustrated American has brought
pictorial art and letter press to load
upon this administration condemnation
and contempt, and to pray for the day
when the Republican party should
strike the fetters from the limbs of the
Queen of the Antilles.
Now, what have we? At the very
earliest possible moment, at the in
slant when the next secretary of state
is agreed upon, we have the official an
nouncement that the policy of the next
administration on the Cuban question
will not differ materially from that
which this one has pursued Senator
sherman &c
retary Sherman, says that the reform
which Senor Canovas proposes will
give the Cubans a practical autonomy.
and will, I hope, settle the question"
On the general issue, he uses this un-
equivOcal language: Il think the Unit
ed States government should not inter
fere with the Cuban war, either to aid
in its settlement or to do ANYTHING
which would make a peaceful govern
ment of the island a charge on this
country" These were the words of the
man who has just accepted the position
of secretary of state for the next four
years. These We're his words as he
came fresh from an interview with Mr.
mckinley, in which. beyond a doubt,
the foreign policy of the new
administration had been discussed
and determined, as far as any large
ISSUES now in sight are concerned. This
Is the declaration which he hastened
eagerly to give to the public. exhibit
ing the anxiety of Mr. Mckinley and
of himself to have it understood that
they did not propose to hurry this
country into foreign war. and to indi-
cate to the hot-headed Republican par
tisans in the two houses that the time
had come to haul down their flag.
We do not discuss here the general
question of our Cuban policy. The
q b e has never varied it's position
one iota. 1t believes the whole Cuban
debate to be a disgrace second only
to the actions of Gen. WeyIer himself.
1t believes that this government should
have kept silence, or have taken openly
TIE side of Cuba and supported if with
t. . full force of our army and navy.
For our own part, we should have been
forever proud of this nation. should
have felt that it was fulfilling it's des-
tiny and proving itself worthy of the
hope and faith of it's founders. if it
had taken the latter and heroic course
Not daring to do that, we can put it
no more mildly than to say that to
fill our public forums and our public
press for months with bombastic utter
ances, that carried with them no help
fulness, was the part of the boastful
coward and the liar
Such reproach as this has elected de-
scends now upon the lowered flag of
the Mckinley Republicans. Every word
with which they have pelted the listen
Ing public since the Cuban question
first entered congress comes back upon
themselves. Every picture that they
have drawn Of national indifference to
Cuban wrongs holds the mirror up to
their own administration. They are