Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-04-15
M,KrrLEY AND CUBA.

Z0S American lndtiuSS ahu SihOCio VI
the navy is the Banquo's ghost that
will cot down; 1t will drive McKin-
ley's cabinet out Of Office.
When they pulled down the Ameri-
can flag of the wreck OF the Maine
they abandoned all rights to respect,
il not to full compensation and ade-
quste reparation, and showed to the
world that there was not man Of
first.class spirit in the cabinet,
The least Mckinley and his cabinet
could have done would haYe been to
rush the flying squadron into Havana
harbor and notify the Cubans and
the world that crime of the first
magnitude had been committed
against the government OF our coun.
try.
We should have laid the ground
for complete reparation and adequate
compensation, and should have taken
advantage OF the occasion to haye got
the moral and patriotic support of our
whole country, to say nothing Of gain
ing the respect of the whole civilized
world.
uThe blow that he might haYe struck
was not delivered. His hand was
paralyzed by Mark Hanna, Wall
Street, the syndicates operating in
Spanish securities, or the world only
knows what. He missed the oppor-
tunity to take that vigorous action
which alone could save his reputation
as man OF action, as president with
firmness OF purpose and the dignity
and ability to assert the commonest
rights of American citizens. He
failed TO realize that foul stain had
been put upon the naval arm of the
government by the blowing up Of
the Maine.
Let us suppose a regiment of the
regular army had been landed toprotect
the American consulate at Havana.
While on duty, a subterranean mine
had beed exploded, killing 2jS soldiers
and officers. Would that have been
any less a crime against our army
than was the blowing up of the
Maine?
Now President Mckinley declares
he Will veto any action of congress
looking to recognition OF the inde-
pendence of Cuba by our government.
This is the same autocratic policy
pursued by Grover Cleyeland when he
suppressed the resolution of congress
adopted April 6, 1896, granting the
Cubans belllgerent rights, and de-
manding that the President use his
offices to secure their independence.
Mckinley displays all the dicatatorial
disposition OF his predecessor without
possessing tithe of his ability or
energy Of action on independent lines.
Cleveland would have struck blow
at tSpaln before this that would have
put at his broad back the entire
American people, just as he did in the
Venezuela boundary controversy.
When.he got ready and saw his oppor-
tunity TO rally the country, he fired a
message at England that aroused the
entire American spirit and made
England come to hasty conclusion to
arbitrate instead OF seizing more ter
ritory 10 South America. Had Nc
Kinley struck a blow as he should
have done within "a hours OF the sink
Ing Of the Maine, he would today be
tue hero OF both hemispheres instead |
OF being desplsed at home.
His latest utterance, that he will
interdict any effort at recognition Of
the Independence of Cuba, is as en-
tirely Ia keeping with his other ac-
tions as II is un-American in spirit or
conception Of the real situation.
A blow struck for justice, struck
promptly aud effectively at the right
time, would have secured the support
of the nation for the administration
10 all its future actions.
A veto Of such a resolution OF con-
gress would simply result In passing
the measure over his lead. His prop
position TO opacity the island"
by policy Of neutrality, would ac-
complish as little as message yetoing
the patriotic Impulses OF an Ameri-
can congress. IL would 20 oyer his
head like a cyclone and would lay the
foundations for impeachment OF his
political methods II not for removal
from ONCE. A policy OF delay until
Gomez and his Cubans drive Blanco
and his Spaaiards OF the island with
Out our help win never satisfy the
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