The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-28
TEN PAGES
MONDAY. MARCH 2s. 1898.
The Week Before Us.

ne an eNtntiuI anu ihpoItdnt
one in the history of the United
States. The patience that the coun-
try has displayed ever since the Maine
disaster has served it's purpose. and the
hope is general hat the government
will now take some decisive step that
will end the war in Cuba and save her
people from the horrors of starvation.
By common consent it is agreed that
the Maine question shall be. temporar-
lily at least. a secondary issue-the
safety and well being of the living is
Of larger consequence than any ques-
ton OF indemnity or r%etributive justice
for the dead.
According to this mornings WASH
ington dispatches. which, however. are
not borne out by those from
Madrid. Spain has adopted a
c~onciliatory tone and is willing to meet
this government halfway as regards
propositions looking to the cessation of
hostilities in Cuba. Mr.. Mckinley has
great hopes OF a peaceful solution OF
the problem. and congress and the
country are asked to give the admin
fstration additional time in which to
bring its plans to fulhlment. 1t would
seem as IL sufficient time already had
been above for this purpose. and that
IL nothing has been accomplished along
these ines so far. nothing can be ac-
complished along the same lines in the
future. The American people. realizing
the responsibilities devolving upon the
president. will be disposed to accept his
statement as made in good faith: only
they will a a positive assurance
that IL the president is to continue his
experiments. he will set a limit TO them
an indefinite continuation OF ''diplo-
macy simply means the extermina-
tion of the Cubans.
The Sagasta government was hand
somely endorsed at the Spanish polls
yesterday. and the Spanish premier may
feel warranted in going to greater
lengths than heretofore in a policy of
pacihcation. But the Standard con-
fesses II has little hope OF the ultimate
triumph of n policy that does not
rende Cuba absolutely free and indie
pendent Of Spain. We douh. very
much whether Spain will ever willing
ly grant that much. and we feel very
certain that the Cubans will not accept
Justly so. that the time for any com
promise is past. Tomas Estrada Pal
ma. delegate OF the Cuban republic al
Washington. denounces the frequent
press suggestions. made by malicious
or misinformed individuals. tina Cubs
would accept or be forced TO accept
autonomy or anything short of indie
~pendence." and declares that the Gu.
bans will continue to fight ever though
the United States should unite with
Spain to force autonomy upon the isl.
and.
According to the Washington dis
patches Of yesterday morning. Mr.. Nc
Kinley hopes to secure absolute indie.
pendence for Cuba on the basis of
ixed sum Of money annually TO b,
paid the mother country. Even IL suc'
. scheme were agreeable 20 the presen
day Inhabitants of the island. later OF
e would be sure of reputation an
another ugly wal would follow. 4
more feasible proposition. and one tha0
leading Cubans have themselves ad
mitted their willingness to consider. &
that Cuba shall pay Spain a lump sun
ON condition hat she get out Of the isl
and bag and baggage and stay out for
ever.
Mr.. Mckinley should understand tina
49, >>cc1o are fjred of d~iIly-dallyin,
and sbilly- shaIlyfng He must brin'
mn schemes to quick fruition or tn
pa6nnce Of the country viii be ex
haus6a; and as for his " pa
tienee which has been widely ant
t1gh1yj y04ended, Il vim to b
: IA l1ut o. an let congress
- ueg~ttpaee ~ iapprnpssa'
oGooyooo. Or Of even q larger sum
nonary. TO relieve the Immediate