The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-27
To Readers Of War News.

10 hSdOSfS OF war NS"St
In every point covered by newspapers
in excitement hike the present Cuban
matter. where any newspaper is repre-
sented. there also is represented the AS
societed Press The special correspond
ents do not duplicate the work OF the As
ISOLATED Press correspondent. and for this
reason Being recognized as a national
affair. the Associated Press correspond
ents are given all reliable news by those
in authority. This is as much as the spe-
cial correspondents can ordinarily obtain.
AS their papers demand specials. the
special correspondents. in order 10 permit
their papers 10 use both Associated Press
dispatches and specials compose as
their matter. opinions. rumors and guess
es, all Of which makes very original read
ing, but upon which no reliability can
be placed. These cores ondeats have
been sending 10 their papers accounts Of
the proceedings OF the secret court OF in
quiry. These reports they imagined.
One Of the curiosities OF the newspaper
world just now IS the matter OF holding
ammunition" Most OF the large papers
in the United States. outside Of New York,
which is as unreliable as Key West. have
not as yet used very large heads over
the Cuban crisis. The reason for this is
that the managing editors know that war
| is imminent. When the time comes TO
announce that war is certain. then and
not till then. viii the largest scare heads
be used. To use them on present rumor-.
would. in event of actual war. render
them weak and ineffective when there was
real use for them
Two New York papers. the Journal and
the World. are printing columns and col
umns of lies merely for the sake of sell
ing their papers and for the sordid pur-
pose of making money. They get out as
high as nineteen editions in a single day
all stuffed with bare-faced lies and doctor
ed dispatches
The proprietor of one OF the yellow jour
nails OF New York few days ago wired
his correspondent in Washington to send
the details Of a certain rumor that was
floating around.
There is no truth in the story" an
nounced the reporter.
D the truth; give US something that
will sell the paper" was the reply.
Two Washington correspondents are try
ing TO tell the truth. One Is W. L Curtis
of the Chicago Record and the other is
Walter WelIman Of the Chicago Times
Herald. Both have been SO careful that
now when they say that in all probability
the Maine disaster was not an accident
the people believe them. Wellman says
Neither President Mckinley nor Secre-
tary Long nor Consul General Lee enter
tains the slightest suspicion that If the
Maine was destroyed from without the
Spanish government had any cognIzance
of the crime. But Spain's general respon-
sibility is undoubted, and the administra-
ton Is determined there shall be no es-
cape from II. This government will stand
squarely and firmly by the verdict of the
court Of inquiry. and we have nothing
whatever TO do with SPANS investiga-
ton or the conclusions thereof. our de
mand for apology and indemnity and pun
ishment of the guilty, if guilty persons
there are, viii have TO be met, and be
met promptly. No unnecessary delay will
be tolerated. If our demands are not com
piled with in a reasonable time an unit
matum will be issued, and that failing
to produce the desired result the only
course left open TO us will be followed"
And now of war. The president has no
power TO initiate a war. but he is the
chief executive. and must obey the stat
utes passed by congress which alone can
raise and support armies and provide and
maintain a navy. When congress has
once declared war and provided the force
necessary to carry il on the president
as cOmmander-in-chief of the navy can
alone employ this force in making war
against the enemy. 1t is evident from this
therefore. that from now on the action
of the administration must be limited 20
preparations for the future. A report OF
the board of inquiry showing that the
Maine was blown up as the result Of a
hostile act would a once be submitted
by the president 10 congress, and with
this his responsibility would cease. for
congress has the undoubted power by a
mere formal declaration 10 create and
maintain a state Of war. II the Spanish
nation should admit tomorrow that II had
blown up the Maine. President Mckinley
would not be authorized 10 seize Havana
without previous action BY congress. The
president is therefore keeping carefully
within his constitutional powers. and is
seeking honestly to find out whether the
explosion Of the Maine is a sufficient cause
for war. and at the same time Is making
preparations in case that war should Doe
established. Recognition Of belligcrency
Of the Cuban insurgents probably belongs
exclusively TO the constitutional privf-
leges Of the president. but there IS no pos
sible question that the power TO declare
war rests with congress alone