The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-20

STAND BY THE PRESIDENT.
A Washington dispatch says it is believed
there that the real object of the Spanish
| haggling over the Cuban debt is to delay
the peace negotiations until after the No
vember elections. in the hope of obtaining
better terms. "A Democratic victory .
says the dispatch. would be construed by
the Spaniards and Europeans generally as a
public or popular verdict of disapproval of
the war. and they are hoping to put off ac-
ton until they can have this leverage in
their power" Under the theory of consti-
tutional government that prevails in Eu-
rope the defeat Of the government in an
election of members of the national legis-
| lature is followed by change of Ministry
and of policy The Spaniards probably
think that something of the kind would
happen in this country if the congressional
elections should go against the President,
or at least that an adverse popular vote
would compel him to change his policy.
They know enough Of American politics to
know that the Democratic party is making
its present campaign OH the basis of oppo-
siton to the war policy of the administra-
ton. and, therefore, they conclude that
Democratic success in the November cleo
tions would inure to their benefit. For this
reason it is believed they are prolonging the
peace negotiations by preposterous claims
regarding the Cuban debt and by quibbling
over the shades of meaning of one or two
words in the protocol which really admit of
no doubt. 1t is by no means unlikely that
if the American commissioners insist on
putting an end to this haggling and quib-
tend to have exhausted their instructions
and will withdraw. thus breaking off the
negotiations until after the election.
1t is evident that in this plan Spain has
the support of the French press. and to a
large extent the sympathy of the French
people. 1t is not known whether this local
influence was taken into account when
Paris was agreed upon as the place for the
commission to meet but it is no inconsid-
cradle factor in the case. If the commits
sion were meeting in London the local infiu-
ence would be in our favor. but in Paris it
is against us. The main reason of this is
that the Cuban debt is principally held in
France so that in supporting the conten-
ton of Spain in regard to the debt the
of Frenchmen. 1t is quite possible that the
Paris papers are fully in the secret of the
Spanish scheme to proong the negotiations
until after our election.
But the main factor in the case is the
Democratic press in the United States. or,
as it might fifty be called. the Spanish
American press. Undoubtedly it was the
campaign of Islander against the adminis-
tration and the conduct of the war. begun
this country, that first suggested to the
Spanish government the idea of protracting
the peace negotiations till after the elec-
ton. When the protocol was signed Spain
was Inundated and humble because she
was whipped. There is no suggestion of
delay in the protocol. 1t looks to speedy
action. Cuba and Porto Rico were to be
evacuated Immediately" and the peace
commissioners were to meet in Paris ION
Oct. /, at the latest, to proceed to negotia-
lions and to the conclusion of treaty of
peace There is not a word in the proto-
col suggestive of delay If the Spanish
commissioners had acted in good faith the
peace negotiations ought to have been con-
cluded by this time That they are not is
due TO the fact that the war against the
administration mas inspired the Spanish
with fresh hopes and led them to believe
they can get some material advantage by
prolonging the negotiations till after the
election.
In this situation there is but one course
for patriotic Americans to pursue. They
must stand by President Mckinley and hold
UP his hands by electing members of Con-
gress who will support and defend his war
policy and it's logical sequences. The Span
ish war was not McKinley's war; it was
the peoples war; The President avoided 1t
as long as he could honofably. but when
the people demanded that he lead them he
put himself at the head of the Nation and
led it to glorious victory. The people cried
Remember the Maine, and he helped
them to remember and avenge it. The war
having ended gloriously for the American
people, the President. still representing the
Nation at large, is DESTROYS of harvesting
all the fruits of victory. The Spaniards.
aided by the French press and the Spanish
American press in the United States, are
trying to rob us of a part of the fruits of
victory, and are hoping to be strengthened
in their position by a Democratic victory in
November There is but one course for pa
triotic Americans to pursue and that is to
stand by the President and make the next
Congress as strongly Republican as the
present one is
THE INACCURATE BAILEY.
In that sneech which eon Railev did MT