The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-19
RIVER AT s A. NJ.
Cy-BA AND THE PARTIES.

The Chicago Times-Herald, by virtue
of past personal services of its
owner, stands to the administration in
the relation that the court journals Of
Europe stand to their governments-a
convenient mouthpiece for official and
semi-official announcements Of policy,
a tentacle to feel the pulse of popular
sentiment before any course is ventur-
cd on. So when, few weeks ago, Mr..
Wellman, the commissioner of that
journal at Washington, announced the
forthcoming of a presidential message
on the Cuban question and stated that
it must be read between the lines, where
a vigorous foreign policy might be dis
tinguished by those expert enough in
such reading, attention was agog and
curiosity was excited as to what was
between those cOncealing lines. 1t was
limited that Cuban independence and
possible annexation were hidden there
The message came, merely asking for
an appropriation to relieve starving
citizens Of the United States unfortu-
nateIy domiciled in Cuba
The response to the intimation Of
what was between the lines was evil
IDENTIFY satisfactory, and we now have,
from the same source, the assurance
that Minister Woodford-or is it ambas-
sadOr will go to demand Cuban in
dependence with annexation lowering
in the background We surmised that
the first message, with it's between-the
lines significance, indicated that the
administration was seeking a. diversion
that would draw attention from IFS al
lance with the tariffites and it's ina
bility 20 do anything for the currency.
and We find, in Mr.. WeIlman's present
assurance of the purpose of Wo0dford's
mission, confirmation Of our surmise.
Meantime, until the response comes
pack from the country assuring the adj
ministration Of the public sentiment. on
which it viii act or desist from octino.
1t is interesting to note the attitude
Of the two parties in the past when
Cuban annexation was a question IN
der consideration.
Il was in 1854 that the effort Of the
slave oliGarchy, that controlled tho
government then as the trust oIigarcbv
does now, followed the Lopez fljhustar-
ing expeditions with more dacidod
movements, and President Pierce in
structed our ministers, to England
buchanan; to France, John Y. Mason
and to Spain. Pierre souIe. to meet
and consider the question OF annexing
CUBA. The outcome was the Ostand
manifesto that created such E. STIR al
the time, report ii which they recon-
mended the purchase Of Cuba: b,1t if
Spain refused 70 SELL then annexation
ny force, 5ustifying it on the plea Of
self-DrotectiOn. Nothing was dora nv
the administration, but the young Re-
publican party, seeming the purnoso of
the scheme, put itself in opposition in
It's first national convention in 1895 ro-
solving that ''the highwayman's n1ea
that might makes right embodied in
the Ostend circular, was il ovarv 70
spect unworthy Of American diplomacy,
and would bring dishonor and shame
upon any government or people that
gave it tko:" sanction"
EvidcF+ly the popular feeling vas
with the Republicans, fer we fJrd the
democratic convention cautiously-and
somewhat ambiguously - declaring
't1&t The Democratic rarty will ex-
pect G: the next administration tbat
every proper effort be made to insure
our 2scenGcncy in the Calf of Mexico.
AID to maintain permanent protection
20 the great outlets through which arc
emptied into it's waters the products
raised ont CT the soil and the cclnmod-
;ti1s crea tee By the industry Of the
re ?Die of our Western valleys and the
Union at large" Behind the vel! of
this "crDiaSe can be plainly seen the
Ostsnd circular. By 1860, the Demo-
Graf had picked up courage to re-
stivc that "the Democratic party are
in 13vor If The acquisition OF the island
Ct Cuba On such terms as shall be hon
oc2nle to cur elyts and juct to Spalr,'
. plank ,hat, WITH the addition cf the
vc:Gs st the earliest practicable mo-
ncct was put i::t0 the platform Of