The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-22

Kinley has concluded that moment is
almost if not quite here, just as Cen
eral Grant reached the same conclusion
during the ten years war nearly
quarter of a century ago.
"The great policy which has been
framed by this administration is not
one of selfishness. 1t i not a policy of
greed or acquisition. No initiative
looking to the enlargement of our ma
tional domain is found in our govern
ment in the case Of Haw'ii or of Cuba.
In both instances the movement is
from without, is in the condition, the
necessities and the manifest destiny of
the islands themselves.
Though it is certain that Hawaii
and probably Cuba will be under
the stars and stripes before Nc
Kinley's fouryear's as president
have passed, it can never be said
that this country went forth to con-
quer or to gain 1t will be said, rather,
that a great Christian nation fOrbore
to use it's mighty power till humanity,
order, security, the progress of civ
ilization, demanded it's intervention.
Natural causes. lying deep in the blood
of peoples, in their aspirations, in their
geographical situation, lead these two
lands to the shelterins wing of the
great republic. History win write
that greed had no part in it.
THE RELIEF PLAN.
considered in the light Of diploma
tic precedent the determination to
send relief to suffering Americans in
Cuba is a most unusual procedure 1t
is in some measure justified by the con-
dition of about 200 real Americans and
thrice as many naturaliZed Ameri-
can citizens, who have been driven into
the cities and towns by General Wey-
ler's brutal order. Praiseworthy as is
the plan to feed, clOthe and succor sub
jects of the United States who are suf-
fering the rigors of war in a foreign
country, it is well understood this
move would never have been made for
itself alone A simple request to the
Spanish government that these Ameri-
cans he relieved would have been met
with prompt and effective action-not
because Spain loves Americans, but be-
cause she is eager to do everything
which his government asks her to do
in the hope of averting the inevitable
Intervention. But there is something
else to do besides affording relief to un-
fortunate Americans in the walled
cities of Cuba.
Every diplomatic in Washington is
surprised that Spain has consented to
this plan Of relief. Spain has con-
sented, but II was only making a virtue
or necessity. She did not dare refuse,
for she knew full we'll that refusal
would have been quickly followed by
dispatch OF ships of war bearing the
needed supplies. Spain consented DO
ntely' but all the while boiling within
For the statesmen of Spain, like the
diplomats of other nations understood
very well that this move Is but a. pre-
lude TO more vigorous action later on.
1t is In the first place blow to Spanish
pride, and when a national pride is to
be prepared for great fall II Is we'll
TO do 1t gradually. 1t is, in the second
place, sure to show to the world the
condition of affairs prevailing in Cuba.
when Spain consents to the admin
istration of relief by the American
government as a government and not
through the agency OF the Red Cross
or some other society, she officially
confesses her own failure for there Is
no stronger axiom among modern ma
tions than If nOncombatants are driy-
en- from their homes by a government
for military purposes the government
Is responsible for their maintenance
and we'll being. If Spain has fallen so
low she cannot care for the people
driven by her own edict from their
homes, the world will conclude that It
is high time her reign were brought
TO an end. No better condition prece-
dent to Intervention by the United
States could be desired than the state
OF affairs which this United States re-
lief expedition Is expected to disclose.
II Is the belief Of members Of the ad-