The Topeka state journal., 1898-02-21

cans to hold anybody guilty until his
guilt has been proved--Mllwaukee
Sentinel.
The time has gone by when temporiz-
ing tactics can longer prevail. With IT
has gone the call for the delicate and
ladylike regard for appearances when
has thus far characterized if it has not
diSgraced the present administration.
The president must move. He has
backed and filed and dilly-dallied as
long as the patience of the people Will
stand it.-Denver Post.
The unpleasant relations existing be-
tween this country and Spain, the
known sympathy of this people with
the Cuban insurgents in their struggle,
will tend to make suspicion rife and
should be a warning to the government
against further delays, the consequence
of which may be even more disastrous
than the loss of one battle ship and 250
or more men.-Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Herald.
Spain's guilt, Of course. is suspected on
all hands, but something more tangible
than mere surmise will have to be OBJ
tanned before the government can act
st. Louis GlObe-DenOcrat.
No doubt it is an unfortunate coinci-
dence that an American war ship has
been destroyed in the harbOr OF HaVa-
ma, but we cannot for a moment suS-
pect that the Spanish government is in
any way to blame.-Boston Herald.
The fearful disaster will at once bring
to the mind of the American people the
question as to the safety of our navy.
It shakes confidence in the value of a
navy as an arm of national defense to
have war ships blow themselves up
without assistance from the enemy
Utica IN. " Observer.
The American people have a right to
know promptly by what means an i'm
pOrtant Warship carrying their flag was
destroyed while at anchor in the shell
tered arbOr of a nation with whom the
United States are at peace.-Philadel-
phia Bulletin
There are scores of nOSSihIa axOIaOa-
tions,- each of which would seem more
reasonable than the base insinuations
against the nation whose hospitality
our naval representatives were enjoy
ing, and whose seamen hastened to the
rescue of their American comrades in
arms. ms.-Philadelphia Record.
If we find that the explosion was ac-
cidental there is nothing to do but to
care for the dead and the survivors and
to take what steps that may be possi-
bic to remedy the defects of our remain
ing vessels. If we find that it was due
to Spanish malignity our action will be
clear, prompt and ample.-LouisviiIe
COurier-JOurnal.
The incident will be worth the cost if
it teaches US humility and abates our
thirst for war. If peace is so perilous
to our battleships when there is real
powder in their magazines, what would
war be- We would better practice with
dummies for a time longer before we
set out to conquer the WOrld.-New
York Observation-Disclosures
America blood has been freely spilled
in the harbOr of Havana under circum-
stances not yet clearly developed. But
the truth will come out, and 20, ,OOO, 900
other Americans will see that the rep
aration, if required, be just and ample.
st. Louis GlObe-Democrat.
If we have no modern war, if war is
as some pretend to believe. an impossi-
bility among the highly civilized ma
tions of the earth, few such accidents
as the Names destruction will teach
the world the folly of the prevailing
system of international anarchy, which
is the only excuse for the maintenance
of the worlds great fighting facilities
Louisville Dispatch.
The investigation concerning the loss
of the Maine should proceed with thor
oughness and with an open mind, just
as if the vessel had gone aground on
reef, or been lost in a hurricane. No
precOnceiVed theories, no prejudiceS
should be allowed to exist. There need