The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-06-03
The "War" at the End of rlay.

little, II any more progress had oeen Hlade
towards the invasion of Cuba than at the
declaration of war, and it is pretty gen
orally understood that no invasion is to
take place. There was talk of invading
Porto Rico first, but that was abandoned
and Cuba is not to be invaded by land
forces while the Spanish fleet remains in
West Indian waters ''uncrushed."
Whether the Spanish fleet was "bottled
up Jim Santiago harbor or somewhere else
Up to the end of last week and the close
of the month of May there was a doubt
that hung up, $50 TO speak, all army move
ments OIL the Atlantic side of the United
States. All things considered this Amer
ican- Cuban Spanish war has been one of
the most farcical wars in American his
tory. Alger appears to be the only man
i'll the Cabinet who has a desire to go
ahead and knock the Spanish out of Cuba.
For that object the war was begun. But
Secretary Alger has, apparently, the
whole administration against him. A
hundred excuses for delay have been
made, and the rainy season now OH will
stop all further advance on Cuba.
AS for President Mckinley, he appears
to be only cipher in the game. He in
tended to "totte up'' the whole navy and
army of the United States when he made
the modest request of Congress to place
everything in his hands and allow him to
manage matters as he pleased This
Congress refused to do, but it has
amounted to pretty much the same thing.
The Spanish were given both notice and
time to strengthen their Notifications in
Cuba and erect new batteries at every
vulnerable point, and now the talk in adj
ministration circles is that $4,000 to
$1,000 men will be required to face
Blanco's army. A little while ago it was
the general belief that the insurgents, il
the administration had permitted them to
procure arms and other necessary wal
material, were able to drive the Spanish
army from the island
But the meaning of all these contra.
dictory reports Of war measures and ION
the eve of starting" ETC., is for the pur'
pose of wearing out the patience OF the
country. The reports from the inner
circles are that the leading people oil
Spain see that it is hopeless case foi
them to fight the United States, and as
soon as they can let their people down
from the lofty eminence they boosted
them up to by senseless lying, advances
will be made for peace. There is nc
doubt this is what the administration is
waiting for and all the time making q
show of preparing for vigorous" war
A small detachment has been started
for Manila to reinforce Dewey but it will
require about six weeks to reach him, and
the return for the balance of the forces
thought to be sufficient to hold the Phil
ippines will use up the greater part o.
three months. Long before that time
negotiations for peace will be going on
Mr. Mckinley believes he is a fair par
agon at diplomacy and was anxious tc
continue, but Congress cut him off, which
makes him all the more anxious to get al
it again. But Mr. McKinley's diplomacy
is no better that his military tactics. Nc
timid man ever succeeded i'll either, and
Mr. Mckinley is the very embodiment Of
tinidity and vacillation.
The war against Spain was commenced
avowedly to free Cuba from the tyranny
and barbarism of Spain and to save the
innocent reconcentrados from the linger.
ing death of starvation, and 1t was the
hope and almost general belief that these
results could have been accomplished
almost Immediately, but no effort was
made to do this, naturally the first act Of
the war. And now these poor people are
all or nearly all dead, and nothing yet
done except to lombard a few fortified
tons. Judging from the course of events
there may be few sand batteries bonn,
barded to make headlines for the morn,
ing papers, but it looks very much like
there will be no more battles fought.
The most likely thing to occur is that
Spain will be negotiated out of Cuba
allowed to keep Porto Rico, and see what
can be done i'll the way of letting the
Philippines go. That is going to be a
more difficult matter. The President has
called for $4,000 more volunteers, but
what he is going to do with them is not
clear to any one. Behind all this wal
excitement, stands the shylock money
power, directing every move. What is
best for their interest is being studied and
planned. Spain will be forced to sue for
peace when that oligarchy believes the
favorable moment has come.
In the meantime every effort is being
put forth by that power through its agents
i'll Congress, to fix another issue of bonds
OIL the people of the United States and
fasten more firmly the gold standard on
the necks of the industrial classes.
Mckinley in their hands is as clay in the
hands of the potter. The gold oligarchy
is directing this war at the capital and has
its hand on every crowned head i'll
Europe. 1t fears a European war and is
arranging to save as much as possible OF
the fifteen hundred million dollars OF
Spanish national debt it holds, and at the
same time get more bonded debt placed