New Ulm review., 1898-04-13
Mckinley,
The Trifler.
The President Engaged in the Pusillani-
nous Policy of Pooling Nation.
His Promised Message to Congress STAYED
Off From Day to Day.
Patronage and Partisan Politics, It Is
Claimed, Will Enable Him to
Hold Congress in Line. -

On Wednesday President Mckinley
played with congress-, deceived his ad-
1nirels, land fooled nation for the fourth
or fifth time.
Just how long the members of the
former body will continue to put up
with his promises and failure to keep
them nobody knows. He seems, how
ever, to have them we'll in line.
In fact, the "peace at any price, poll
cy appears to be gaining ground.
1t is now weeks since the Maine and
her gallant crew were blown up in Ha-
vana harbor through the instrumentality
of Weylerian treachery and Spanish
mines.
1t is weeks, too, since the report of
our court of inquiry regarding that ter
rible disaster was laid before Sagasta,
and official answer returned to the ef-
feet that Spain was unwilling to admit
it's conclusions.
The ultlmatum of the president anent
Cuban independence has been met and
repelled with characteristic Spanish di-
plomacy.
The war of determination and starva-
ton in devastated Cuba goes steadily on.
Congress is burning to act, but the
president delays.
His policy is that of temporizer.
He knows the sentiment of the country,
but he is afraid to satisfy it.
Meyer before has such insplssated
craftsmanship been openly displayed by
an American president.
National honor has been lost sight of,
except only as it affects the gold dollar.
Mark Hanna keeps tab on his actions
and warns congress into line by threats
or promises of patronage.
Prominent business and financial con-
Germs in all parts of the country are
urged to have their congressman uphold
the presidents peace policy at all events,
and Tom Reed exercises his wonderful
influence against giving the democrats
any political advantage.
Thus it is that the Cuban plank IN the
last Republican platform is redeemed.
Last week the public was informed
that Mckinley was prepared to act
that his message, advising armed inter.
ventlon, would surely be placed before
congress on Wednesday,,
Wednesday came, but without the
message. At noen it was promised TO,
two o'clock, but at two o'clock, the
president had once more changed his
mind.
McKinley's reason for Wednes&ay's
delay was based OF an alleged message
from Consul General Lee, saying tha
more tine was needed in order to gel
the Americans safely out of Havana.
Congress submitted, and. James Gray
the Minneapolis Times correspondent
says it was Lee, and not Mckinley, who
secured postponement. Gray adds:
Congress has lost faith in Mckinley,
but It's respect for Lee amounts to en-.
thusiasm. i;
IF tho 11op+ o,,l fo,r1,,. $500
said wait, congress would! wait, but if
Mckinley, the doubling Thomas, had
asked for ''more time" congress would
have slapped war resolution in his
very face. f. - -
Lees reasons for asking for more de-
lay are that he must get Americans out
before news of the message gets in.
1t was said he was particularly solici-
tous about Consul Barker, who is at
Lagua.
Barker has been active and is hated.
Whatever the reasons were, congress
IS waiting again, and meanwhile going
through the forms OF attending to other
business.
The routine proceedings are farce in
the face of great anxiety about Cuba.
Mckinley is calm.
He felt SO good when he found he did
not have to serd in his message that he
took a pleasure ride through Washington,
while congress chafed and tried in vain
to work.
Congress was quieted by the latest de-
yelopments. Immediately upon the an
nouncement that the message would not
come, the members of the house met and
agreed to put the situation in such shape
that they could handle it.