The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-24

Looking backward.
For over a year The Times has been
printing reports from its correspon-
dents in Cuba-gentlemen in whose
accuracy and veracity it has had
complete faith-detaiIing the sicken
ing atrocities which have been com
mitted from week to week by the
Spanish authorities in the island with
the fun knowledge and approval Of the
government in Madrid. During the
same period we have continually de-
clared and charged that the State De-
partment was in complete possession
of the same facts, furnished by our cor
respondents. and was deliberately sup
pressing them. lest their publication
should lead directly to Congressional
action inimical to the interests Of GER
tain persons and corporations in con-
troll Of the Administration.
Yet no attention was paid to the hor-
rible disclosures made by The Times.
either by Mr.. Cleveland or his sue
cessor, As TO the former we were not
surprised We never for a moment
supposed that any appeal to him. bas-
ed upon public duty, patriotism or the
rescue of outraged and butchered
women and children would be needed.
But we thought better things of William
Mckinley.
Not only once but a hundred times,
we have begged him in the name of
outraged womanhood, and helpless
murdered childhood, to speak the one
honest American word that should put
an end to these horrors. All we earn
ed by it at the time was denunciation
by the representatives Of Spain in the
Senate and House Of Representatives
Finally it appears TO have become
necessary for leading senators to go to
Cuba and view the situation for them
selves, and for the enlightenment of
their colleagues. What has becI the
result? Senator Proctor has described
the scenes Witnessed by him in Cuba,
and detailed the facts ascertained by
him while there, in such a convincing
way that even the Administration is
| compelled to change front and to
range itself with the American people
1 in demanding a cessation of the fiend-
1 lsh work Of Spain Yesterday, Senator
/ GaIIinger added his experience to the
! sum Of senatorial knowledge Today,
! Senator Thurston viii contribute his
testimony. The consequence viii be
! that neither Congress nor the people
can be longer held in check nor com
mitted TO disgrace and inhumanity for
/ the benefit of certain so-called bust
/ ness interests" which are campaign
! creditors of the present Administra-
/ ton.
The whole nation is ablaze with
wrath and remorse for the sins of the
I past year. 1t sees at last that if the
Government on one hand had not
| sought to cast discredit upon the
truthful reports OF a gallant corps OF
! intrepid American newspaper CORE
/ spondents and, on the other, had not
/ violently suppressed and concealed the
reports of its own consuls, the present
state of affairs could not exist, be-
cause Congress, backed by the whole
people would have interviewed and
swept administrative opposition into
the sea.
A year ago, if Mr.. Mckinley hat
needed our exposition Of the truth, oil
had listened 10 the daily warning o.
the consuls, the od-curdIing story Of
the Weyler RECOMMENDATION" and tn,
| narrowing tales Of outrage and butch
/ cry with which our columns have beer
continually full, would never have beer
told. And the massacred crew of tn
Maine would have been alive and OF
duty today.
Thus looking backward, we read anC
the nation reads a lesson in the awful
record We cannot restore to life tn
hundreds Of thousands who have gon
down TO death because of American
caHousness and indifference to the die
tates Of duty and humanity. But w
can say that all this outrage tortur
and butchery shall stop; that we vii
no longer be bound TO the chariot vince
Of the Spanish demon!
That is the message Of the America,
people to the Hon. William Mckinley
II would be well for him to copy an
Incorporate it in his forthcoming mes
sage to Congress. We believe that h
) will do so. If he does. he viii not fin
in ali America a heartier hacker tina
! The Times.