New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-08
&c WAR WITH SPAIN JUsTIFIED7
GRAVE o,-rsrIo<s At ISSUE ARE ~ COMPETENT
HANDS FOR DECISION

HANDS i'N M -'
r, tho Editor q Tho Tribune
So I. may he assumptions not - say 'ahbc' .
,,s - one reputation. to say a word I'D '"Vor o'
,,.. =, this sth6A or tho Disagreement h't"''"
e,,,r and the United States. SOW th"t 'o"-
s.,f-ccrcral Lee q ~lsc and competent man "''
hon recalled and provision made ior the S''e anu
sp,edy return to American shores ~ an A'n'''V'''
who's, personal safety makes fu'h r''"'" w
..r,ilc an armed confic' seems 50 imminent anu
t ,,.,,nc,ftor >o- y 90 positive that D" - deemed
an nnvl-e rnaa aAo sill say word IN faVor %
peace t,o
A, the risk q, being called peace any-pflce
man" A "pusillAuimous.' 'no-ncropnt ci'iHch' !
venture 20 send The Tribune Jew "oris III sup
nor, of The sublime efforts made by The Admins
49,. ~ .o,,,. fhi, difficulty without declaration
az war some people. not many. are disposed 20
cri,,rise President Mckinley for what they are
pleased 90 call his weak knccd' treatment o. inc
subject accuse him ot maniiesilng u""N'S
poll.v'' and u backing down" mglor!ously from
tho po.i'ion De once assumed now. DO n'i sup
nose tina. Mr. Mckinley cares At all what private
individual Ike the writer % thls article may THINK
OF his course nor a. to said writer's opinion OF mo
main question. but that same writer's opinion does
have some weight with me and IL Il TINS. Inc cry
o. "y4r, War" for the deycraucc u tho oppressed
FOR Al enforced aion"mcni Tor the 5rN,i sIAiE',',
81 thousands ~ innocent women ana rhidr"i ""i
as "A rrtalaiory act for the terrible destruction Or
ih" Main" aui her company r""t." lr'f va" ' ' ''
meets q quick response IN hi"d rom my "'"
s
qulrkuc-s and zcal elicits our approval, hut th't"
t. something else FOR rs to do hrsi. and that IS TO
When he tine comes FOR us TO night boys can
nght 80 fear of that, But has tAat time come
! cannot decide that question. am glad cannot
But II is IN good hands safe competent hands our
President is statesman; a man of cool Judgment
who can an! Will carefully consider 80 important
a que-iiDn before committing himself 10 policy
from which. II adopted, there Is mo- retreat, ana
whose consequences he knows much better than
some OF the shcgtcrs. He knows. too. mat th'r"
IS 4 law ~ nations before which all nations must
bow II they would retain IN" respect or tA"lr SIS
ter rpy,rum"uts. To violate this international law
is To- lose that respect ana run into danger. lie
understands the scope and force 81 that .aw. and
who rad the daily papers and fumr and fret n
Their htc.dcs. And hc knows. and his cabinet
knows and Congress f. allowing Itself To consider
for its members q lite competent to do so
whether and when there IL danger or our coming
In opposing contact win that law by interfering
with TN" affairs Of another country.
Humanity, on. yes. realize that FOR human
rs * sake there should be some Influence oxericd
cruel tyrannical control OF it's subjects by a nS|
ton chsus bch? cuba ought to Dee free. they
say. Yes 30 think. But IA the United States
o serious question. And II Executive and Leg
isatvc departments ar" NIL taking n little time 10
find fault with them? The old motto First see
that you are night. then 90 ahead" IL as forccful
hnvo no fear thai a peace without honor will be
concluded nor recommended. nor even considered.
Nor that there viii be any hesitation I'm making
q declaration OF war; nor vigorously prosecuting II
II humanity. National honor and "A wise respect for
the law Of nations can be best conserved By do
We are all anxiously waiting for tho first boil.
stroke that shall announce IN" decision Shall II
be- "A stroke for war or stroke for the opening OF
righteousness ~ It's basis looking to freedom az It's
end and National honor IA It's Inspiring and ever
attendant characteristic? God grant that It may
Montclar. ~ j.. April 6 1898