The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
BETTER THAN WAR.
DiplOmacy and COrnmeaI VIII Help
Cubans More than Battle Ships.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Some Of the sermons of Indianapolis min
listers reported in Mondays Journal afford
discouraging evidence of the vicious infiu-
ence of the war spirit. We surely have a
| right to expect from the pulpit an earnest
protest against war as a horror to be JUS
titled only when every resource of diplo-
macy and Christian forbearance has been
exhausted. Yet while the President was
believed to be hard pressed by lingo con-
gressmen to abandon diplomacy for the
barbarous arbitrament of battle. these pro-
fessed ambassadors of the Prince of Peace
talked of war and national honor very
much in the style of the average yellow
editor. There were honorable exceptions;
but even those who remembered the Good
Samaritan in this crisis apparently forgot
to impress upon their hearers that instead
of beating drum and organizing grand
hunt for the thieves, the Good Samaritan
just did the best he could to help the man
who needed his help and then went about
his own business. Quite unlike the deliver
ances of some of these ministers were the
views reported to have been urged upon
President Mckinley by DIR. Klopsch, whose
opinions were formed from accurate per-
sonal knowledge of the situation He is
said to have protested strongly against war
certain to leave the reconcentrados to
starve while we were getting ready to fight
for them Perhaps, partly for the same
reason. that it would defeat our humane
intentions, he is said to have opposed rec
ognition of Cuban indepe ndence. There are
indications that even the Cuban Junto and
General Gomez appear dist-ustfuI of our
armed intervention. Perhals hey and the
Cubans generally begin to apprehensive
that annexation might be tn, final outcome
of our armed occupation Of thcr island;
them to shrink. The Spanish-American
breads too intimate CONTACT with the more
aggressive and energetic : 4 9-Saxon. He
naturally prefers to govern. his own coun-
try, even if he msgoveras it. as he GER
tainly will, rather than have a handful of
Americans take from the natives the bust
ness and government Of the island, as they
would be pretty sure to do in the event of
annexation. Even without the assistance
of the Indianapolis ministers, a sentiment
in favor of treating the Cuban situation
nationally and humanely and not as lingo
opportunity for buster, appears to be grow
ing. The country feels in advance of his
message that President Mckinley will go
far as he thinks 1t possible tG resist the
war clamor in pursuance of a wise and tenn
perate policy that will exhaust every re-
source of diplomacy and every advance of
delay before resorting to forcible interview
tlcn. only few days ago the cry for inn
mediate evacuation OF Cuba or war seemed
well nigh unanimous. No man can say
what Congress may do within the next few
days. but delay and debate is now prom
ised, which means that the conservative
common sense OF the American people may
have time TO assert itself. Spain has also
the most potent reasons for avoiding war
with the United States by almost any con-
cession that the national pride of her peo-
pie will permit the government to make.
The Cuban war Is already costing her $l0,-
100000 a month, while her total available
revenue, exclusive of interest on the public
debt, is less than $50, 100000 year. She has
no credit abroad, and only raise money
for current expenses by increasingly dam.
gerouS credit devices Like shifty Jack
| FalStaff, she can get no remedy against
this consumption of the purse Borrowing
only fingers and fingers It out" Under
such conditions. war with superior an
antagonist as the United States would
mean hopeless defeat. the loss of Cuba,
pines. and national bankruptcy. 1t is incon-
ceivable that statesman like Sagasta
would not make every sacrifice in his pow
Ell to avoid the inevitable catastrophes of
such Il war Besides having nothing to gain
by war but the relief of a neighboring coun-
try, our government can also make good
use OF time for reflection. Weak as Spain
Is, we know from our experience of the
Southern Confederacy how long and stub
b0rnly a gallant people may fight without
either credit or apparent resources. We
Know that TO send an army into Cuba at
the beginning or the rainy season would be
to invite truly tropical harvest of death.
while to delay invasion would mean the de-
feat of the only purpose of the war, the re-
lief Of the starving inhabitants. Time is
great peacemaker, a diplOmatist. whose ap-
pealS cannot be swept away with gust of
passion. If time is given for the exercise
of sound discretion on both sides. for the
development of all the national and interna-
tional forces that now operate to prevent
fruitless strife, war will certainly be avert
ed, because some more rational solution of
the problems involved will be found.
Kingston Ind April &