The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-11
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9allD - Eagle
Nj. NJ. MURDOCH. Editor.
THIS MORNING.


Spain driven to a corner and standing
at bay, resorts to her instructive IN
triging. She was never known to do
anything openly and fairly. Her peo-
pie are born conspirators and their en-
tire history on this continent is but
series of chapters of perfidy and assas-
sinations. The rulers of her colonies
and Of the governments succeeding, in
South and Central America, have been
regularly assassinated. Her own pre-
nier but a few weeks since was assas-
sinated. The inquisition would have
been impossible in any other country.
To plot and to conspire and then TO
knife is their idea Of combining wisdom
with bravery. To destroy the Maine by
the explosion of a secreted mine, the
while protesting their innocence Of the
crime. and their friendship for its crew,
was a more commendable act, in Span
jsh ewes. than to have met the vessel
and sunk her in open battle. And so
the United States, this morning Is not
confronted by Spain with an open dec
Iaration Of war, but by a pretense IN
der cover of which the sympathy Of
other European powers is sought. The
arnistice so ostentatiously granted to
the belligerents is but a double deal.
It offers nothing to Cuba, means moth
ing TO its patriots. It neither promises
freedom to the insurgents or a release
Of SPANS sovereignty. The United
States and her interests are not so
much as recognized, except inferential-
ly The patriots of Cuba are not asking
for an armistice, nor will they have
anything to do with such a subterfuge.
Assuming that this country has no in
terest in the matter, and proceeding up
on the presumption that interference
upon our part is unwarranted, Spain
ostentatiously announces that after a
conference with Europe and at the
earnest solicitation Of the Roman prel-
ate, it has granted an armistice, by
which act she herself recognizes the !
belligerent rights of the Cubans. but !
through which she hopes to secure the |
active support of the European powers |
and 10 further delay the transmission |
of President McKinley's message
Every member of the United States |
congress will be in his seat at high |
noon today There will not be a vacant
chair. and every member will be on the |
qui vive, with eyes directed toward the
presiding officer. and, however out
wardly calm. full of solicitude If this
Monday-ApriI II. 189S-does not prove
q historical day the majority judgment
Of the country is at fault. Spain's pro-
posed armistice, although purporting to
come from the combined powers, will
meet with no consideration. A clear
and concise official declaration of the
situation, with all the details leading
up to it, will be submitted by the head
of the nation, and in the absence of
unexpected Intervention in the way of
complete backdown by Spain, that
which has been expected as the inev-
itdilC " III ht upon Us III IibAiidNlC SUI
terfuges are at an end. Spain has play
Cd her last conventional card, Consul
General Lee has been recalled and there
remains only the alternative, the ex-
pected and the unexpected. Without
or turning, this govern
ment has moved steadily forward in
its purpose of carrying out the resolve
Of the people that Cuba must be freed
from Spanish rule; nor insult, nor in
trigue, nor the destruction of the
Maine have altered the direction of
that purpose or the insistency of that
resolve. The day. the hour has come. is
here. and, congress having heard. the
country expects it to act, not only
prom nj lV. hut SDpadiIv