The times., 1898-04-12
The People Agree on the Duty
of the Hour.
A NATIONAL BUNCO GAME
Americans Mt Home and Gen. Lee in
Havana Were Tricketi-Thc Cabi-
net Probably Materially Modified
the Original Message-WnII Street
and the Stock Ticker Respond.
The People United.


such a unanimity of sentiment. There is
but one opinion as to the President s
message.
Before night there will be another unan-
imOus sentiment For a little while peo-
pie are dazed but there will be a great re-
solve soon in everybodys heart that
atonement must be made as far as poss-
BILE for the thing that has come, and
there will be protest. The matter
President has done much to make the
task of Congress difficult. He has thrown
great obstacles in the way. Even it is
said that the Administration is still doing
everything that it can to avert action.
But the path is very simple nevertheless.
1t is believed that Congress will act.
This belief is to be heard everywhere.
| among all classes.
The suggestions and comments on the
message are many.
The utmost that the President has
asked of Spain at any time has now
all been granted by Spain. There was
given out by Administration representa-
| tives a week ago an explicit statement
| that an ultimatum had been sent. On
the first page of every paper in the coun-
| try was the word in large type Ultima
| tum" This was on the authority OF
the Administration. There was in this
a deliberate deception. The Times Sc
cured it's information as to this ultima
tum from three Administration senators
who stated that they had the direct as
surance from the President himself that
| a forty-eight- uItimatum had been
| sent.
The representation made by the Ad-
ministration at that time was that inde-
pendence for Cuba had been demanded
Spain was to answer within two days
| Failing that negotiations were to cease,
and the message was TO go to Congress
from the President asking for immediate
armed Intervention.
The dispatches from Madrid, when they
| contained no such word as ultimatum,
were thought to have been censored. 1t
was believed by the people that Spain
! had given out false information TO keep
her people from rebellion. The simple
| fact was that the Admins ration in this
| country was the one that told the I'M
| truth and resorted to the Spanish trick.
A great many people in this country on
the morning that the information here
and that from Madrid differed so widely
| pitied the Spanish population that it had
such rulers, such Spanish rulers.
Mckinley "a Suppiicant.
The proposition that Mr.. Mckinley
made to Spain was that an armistice be
arranged looking to a peaceful settle
ment of the war in Cuba. He asked that
the reconcentrados be allowed to go back
to their homes. He suggested that Spain
| allow the United States to distribute food
| and tools to them. Spain has issued an
| edict that the reconcentradOs be allowed
| their liberty. She has decreed a cessa-
ton of hostilites looking to a peaceful
settlement of the war in Cuba" She
has even done more than Mr.. Mckinley
asked for. She has sent money and tools
herself to the reconcentrados.
Mr.. Mckinley does not want the inde-
pendence of Cuba He has never asked
for it. independence as something that
would be good for Cuba is never mention
| ed in his message. He does say plainly
| that it would be mistake.
Ruse to Gain Time.
The very plain inference from this is
that when independence" was spoken of
on this side it was ruse to gain time
simply Translated into Spanish it meant
'manana
The proposition of this country now is
that there be intervention. Spain has
| done everything that is asked for The
| Intervention that Mr. Mckinley asks is
for the purpose of putting an end to the
war in Cuba. The logical result of this
move on the part of this country would
be intervention against the Cuban patri-
OTIS. At this moment if an army of Unit
ed States soldiers invaded Cuba who
could it fight but Cubans? This. OF
course according to the official status OF
affairs, as Mr. Mckinley recognizes it.
In an Awkward Position.
The message suggests that intervention
against both the Cubans and the Spanish
would be necessary to accomplish the
pacifcation of Cuba. Spain has ceased
hostilities If now in his desire to pre-
vent more war, Mr.. Mckinley decides tc
act Spain has only to say, THE Cuban
| insurgents persist in attacking US al
though we can strike no blows; disperse
! them" There is no answer to make to
this except that the Spaniards are lying
But this Mr. Mckinley viii not believe
! apparently.
The message and the armistice proposi-
ton discloses, too, the mockery of the
pretense that Mr.. Mckinley was afraid
for the life of Cen Lee if he sent in in
| his communication last Wednesday.
| There is but one opinion now as to this
matter. Very plainly the President eX-
pected the Intervention of the powers
and the armistice proposition. Interven-
| ton before the arTistice would have
been simple Last Wednesday the mess
age without it's rider would have caused
immediate action on the part of Con
gress, and the sailing of the fleet at Key
! West, and the bombardment OF Havana
The armistice was coming, however
and Mr.. Mckinley knew it. Even the
preposterous pretense that this message
would cause the Spaniards to riot was
grasped to gain the little time that was
necessary. There was no reason to with
hold the message longer yesterday or il
would have been withheld undoubtedly
Gen. Lee FricI>ed.
The story of the ruse that was played
on Gen. Lee to get him TO say he would
| not be responsible for the lives of the
Americans in Havana if the message was