The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-03
Mn. M,KrxLEr ON nnn1.
Hnteuse Pusiic Hntrrest in the Forthcouius
nnromrneRantiona b, The pre.,nnnt.

Az ana 'N rs y ubAAS I
expectation is on tiptoe 10 sec what the
President will say to Congress In his forthcoming
message upon the subject Of the war which has
become chronic In Cuba a war which has already
almost made a desert of ono OF tho faircst
islands in the sea. which has bccn carried on
with the most implacablo hatred on both sides.
and which. on one side, has boon accompanied
by horrors almost unprecedented; "A war which
was entered upon by n people simply because in
no othor way could they obtain tho right OF self.
government and the enjoyment Of tho products
OF their own labor. skill, and enterprise. Such q
war. in such q cause. carried on as this one has
been, has necessarily been watched by the
people Of this country with the greatest interest,
and the course which our Government will
pursue with reference TO II excites constant
anxiety.
The President has had q wide experience in
public affairs. and 1t is safe to say that he has
considered this p%erplexirg question quietly,
though anxiously, and with tho determination
to do his duty wholly and without prevarication
or fear. But he found the situation hampered
when he came to the head OF the Government,
and he has had many difficulties to contend
against. Many persons consider that these difi-
cultics were mere cobwebs which no could easily
brush away. In point Of fact they have boon
lions in his path which even now he may not
find It easy to drive away.
bob 10 iVok NJ u y VI tnom.
1t is said that he has rendered to Spain his
services as q mediator between the Crown and
the insurgents on tho island. Volunteered adj
vice in tho settlement of difficulties or assist
ance 10 seldom we'll received. rarely accepted,
and often increases the irritation which It is in
tended to allay. OF this tho Department of
State furnishes ample testimony.
When special ambassadors were sent to Peru
and Chilli to tender the services of our then
President In settling the questions upon
which these nations were at war. they were
laughed at. When the Same administration at
tho instance Of Guatemala, rendered its services
as q mediator between Mexico and Guatemala
to settle q boundary dispute between these
countries, which had brought them to the verge
Of war. all Mexico was infnmed. and the
project, In so far as these countries were con-
oerned, fell to pieces.
II we nro to believe what we see in the public
prints, President Mckinley Is not without per-
sonal experience Of the Same character. Tho
reply to his prefer to Spain. it is said. has been
received. 1t 10 polite. of course. But the only
practical answer in it is, II we may believe what
we sec published, that IL the United States had
enforced its own neutrality laws, Spain would
have suppressed the revolution in the island
long ago. To an unsophisticated mind this 10
simply telling the United States to confne itself
to attending to its own business, leaving Spain
to attend to hers. Suppose his mediation has
been or will be offered to Spain and has been or
will DO offered to Cuba and the offer is accepted
by Spain and Cuba refuses it, what theni Will
Cuba be told that she must henceforth look
TO herself for assistsncei That is just what
has been said to her for the past three years.
She has never received any assistance or even
countenance from our Government. On the
contrary. our coasts have been and are patrolled
at a vast expense by our armed vessels, whose
duty 1t was and is to intercept and capture any
supplies which wore intended for them.
Suppose the Queen Regent and the chief OF
the insurgents should agree on Mr.. Mckinley as
arbitrator. and Spain should afterward refuse
to accept his decree, would he send q fleet to
take the MORO and other castles. and troops to
assist in driving the Spanish soldiers away? II
the Cubans refused, would he advise that troops
be sent to assist ths Spaniards In putting them
down. reducing them again to slavery. or would
he advise q war against them bothf II not,
the result will be that he will have
been INDUCING in some very innocent
diplomacy. which has given nothing. taken
nothing. done nothing, and been laughed
at for his pains. For of what use is q decree
which cannot be enforced Is it anything more
potent than q "Pope's bull against a comet"i
1t has been suggested that he may express the
opinion that Spain should at once recognize the
independence of tho island pure and simple. and
that such would be his advice II he were asked
for it. Does any one believe that Spain would
for q moment listen to such advice, much lesi
take 1t I 1t has been suggested that he may advise
Spain to acknowledge tho independence of the
island upon the payment of 500, 600, 900
Why should these unfortunate people be made
> to pay any further sum- to Spain7 Have they
) not already paid her q sufficient number of bill
j.. lionsf Besides, where would they set the
/ money!
1t is suggested that the obligations OF the
island shall take the form Of bonds bearing
interest, their payment to be assured by thu
United States. Where In the Constitution is t.
be found any authority under which the United
. States could be bound under such a contract
, BY an act of Coneressi Congress has no power
0 beyond what is given to it by the Constitution
Q and the President may not be able to find any
. article In that instrument which authorizes
Congress to become security for the payment o
. a debt contracted by a foreign Government by
a treaty between Spain. Cuba, and the Unitet
States. But II the Senate should ratify n treaty
b between these parties with such an obligation
8 attached to it. and II there Is no authority in tn,
l Constitution for the making OF such a treaty, i
e would he declared worthless by tho Suprem,
Court at the instance of any citizen. VIII
would put his money in such a speculation
Will he find 1t In his conscience to
- ~N' 'ft'S NtN ~
. to their allegiance upon tho promise of Spain t.
Il accord to them "autonomy"l II they agreed
!, to this. where is the guarantee that Spain would
!, Keep her engagement Her past conductl Sh,
q has broken every promise she has ever made Il
these unfortunate people. Autonomy" ID
after all. only Legislation. 1t would DO but
!. very short time after tho autonomy was &C
copied and disarmament had taken place befor
= this legislation would be repealed or ignore,
and the people Of the island put back in thei
former condition Of poverty and degradation
d All they will have gained by tho heroic wa
which they have waged 30 successfully agnins
n enormous odds will be increased taxation adde
to their reimbursement.
" Meantime the insurgents arc still fighting or
% gaining advantages in the field and continual
II receiving supplies from abroad, while in Spai
n the whole country appears to be In an uproal
4. The rival statesmen are as bitterly opposed t
tho policy of the others ms they can he. None G
them is In favor of granting Independence I