The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-13
M'KINLEY'S BACKBONE.
In the Right Place and Firm as
Solid Steel.
AMPLE EXCUSE FOR HEsITANCY.
Party Politics Have Dropped Out OF Sight
In Washington-Public Men Have Had
n Trying Experience - Need of Canal
Across the Panama Isthmus.

WASHINGTON, April IA Special. j
During all this Spanish excitement there
has been a great deal of curiosity In Wash
ington as to the identity of the man upon
whom President Mckinley has placed
greatest reliance as an adviser. 1 had
heard so much speculation upon this sub
ject that asked member of the cabinet
who was thoroughly familiar with the in
ner workings of the presidents official
family TO give me au idea of the proper
answer TO the conundrum.
"You want Co know upon whom the
president relies In such important matters
as this Spanish affair?' said the cabinet
man. swell, l have no objections to tell
ing you. 1t is himself"
The member of the cabinet then went
on TO say what l have already informed
you in these dispatches-to wit, that the
president is famous for asking every ones
advice and then following his own logic
and instincts. Even the men who do not
like the president and who have often
sneered at him in the past admit that dur
ing the long and arduous Spanish crisis
he has shown himself to be possessed of
good deal of backbone. There were times,
it is true, when the president appeared To
be suffering INDIGESTION and faint hearted
ness, but when he had made up his mind
and come out with strong policy IL was
the almost universal opinion that he had
confronted difficulties which outsiders did
not understand and that there was ample
excuse for his hesitancy.
All Parties United.
One phase of the Cuban agitation has
pleased every one, and that is the manner
In which for the most part politics has
been dropped and men of all parties have
stood together in support of the American
policy. 1t is an old saying that in this
country politics is a thing unknown when
we pass beyond the waters edge and go
out to the sea, and with some small excep-
tions this has proved to be the case during
the long and trying episode which we
have just passed through at this capital.
Whether this man or that man has gained
in the popular esteem is small question
beside the greater one of the increased re-
speot which the people may have for their
public men of all grades and ranks and
parties as a result of the ordeal which led
up TO the present state of things.
The past two months have been most
trying to the patience of public men in
Washington. just as the Cuban situation
was beginning TO assume a serious aspect
Senior Dupuy de Lone the former Span
ish minister, was caught as the author of
an insulting letter about the president of
the United States. No sooner was this
quieted down than the Maine was destroy
ed in Havana harbor, and following that
catastrophe came a series of incidents,
each, If possible, moro irritating and eX-
citing than its predecessor. Such were
the intination made by Spain that it
would be pleased with the recall of Consul
General Lee, the suggestion that we should
remove our fleets farther from Cuba the
dispatch of the torpedo flotilla toward this
side the ocean, the rumor of Intervention
by various European powers followed by
a friendly expression of neutrality, the
efforts of Spain TO buy warships and the
long series of steps so rapidly taken by the
United States government TO place its
naval and military establishments in
readiness for war.
Strain at the Capital.
For two months or more Washington
has been under strain. The feeling has
been most intense, and the worst of it all
for a long time was the uncertainty as to
the outcome. Yet there has been little
evidence of excitement. Men have con-
tanned themselves remarkably well So far
as surface indications were concerned, but
the deep feeling underneath the anxiety,
the grim determination, have been all the
more significant From the day the
Maine was destroyed in Havana the tide
has run all one way. Instead of growing
weaker as time passed, as many predicted
it would, it has run deeper and stronger
1t finally became torrent which nothing
could stop save giving the people either
their hearts desire or the promise of 1t in
the near future.
In the last so or 80 days we have done
wonders in the way of making ready for
war, but we have learned few lessons
too. It is safe TO say this is the last time
the United States will ever be caught
without coast Notifications, with a navy
short of powder, without torpedo boats,
without men to man our modern guns.
Nothing is more certain than that the
United States has, perhaps against its will,
entered upon an era In which the old time
tradition of isolation and the uselessness
of a military establishment is gone for
ever. Henceforth we shall have to BIO
ready for war.
The Nicaragua Canal.
Another lesson learned during the last
few months is the need which exists from
the national and military standpoint for
completing the Nicaragua canal. We have
ships of war now on their way from the
Pacific ocean to the shores Of Cuba. 1t Is
a voyage Of something like $4,000 miles.
Two months are required to steam from
San Francisco round Cape Horn and up
TO Key West, allowing for detentions. If
the Nicaragua canal were open, this voy-
age would be only one-sixth as long.
With that waterway constructed and In
working order the efficiency Of the Ameri-
can navy would be increased many per
cent. Considering the fact that from this
time forward the United States may rea-
sonably be expected to play an Important
part in the politics of the world and that
it is impossible for any one to know
whether trouble is going to break out In
the Pacific or upon the Atlantic or In
both together, many public men say build
ing the Nicaragua canal is national duty.
1t Is now safe to predict that before the
expiration of bis term President Mckinley
will carry out his original intention OF
asking congress in special message to
make provision for piercing the isthmus
with a ship canal as a great national en-
ternrisa promptpd by our commercial