Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-04-12
The Message.

the whole country knew the nature Oh
this important document. The mes
SAGE has been awaited for several
and its coming has been heralded .ls
the climax Of the crisis, the crossing of
the Rub.con. Now it has come and the
whole matter of peace or war is in tbs
hands OF Congress. When the reading
of the message was concluded at l2.50
p NJ. There was but little demonstra-
ton in the crowded halls of the Senate
and House, The seriousness and the
responsibility of the occasion made it.
self felt. and without a word Of debate
the message was referred to the appTo-
pirate committee in both branches.
The message is given in full in this
issue. and should be read by every per
son. II is long but it is a great docu-
n,ent, and its plain, straightforward
style makes it easy reading. In opening
President Mckinley referred to the
long SpflpS OF SltuSSltS VI tIlt u''eti4 >
against their Spanish masters. For al
most a certury they have fought for
deserved liberty. These wars have
caused the United States great effort
and expense 10 maintain its neutrality
laws Great loss to American trade ana
commerce. irritation. annoyance ard
disturbance to our citizens, and by the
cruel, barbarous and unciViliZed prac-
ices of warfare have shocked the seA-
sihilities of our people. The cor
YespCndcacC and diplomatic ne@otla-
items between this country and Spain =.
late are explained in full. The course
Of Spain in Cuba is denounced in the
strongest terms. 1t is not civilized
President. Our attitude toward Spain
and Cuba in the past is dWelt upon, and
our course toward Mexico in the matter
Of Texas is brought up as a safe pre-
cedent for action now. After the his
torical part of the message comes the
point of il all. the recommendations for
the present need. In brief, President
Mckinley urges intervention in Cuba,
asks discretionary authority for him
salf in this matter, and opposes recogni-
ton of the present Cuban government.
The message with these three recon-
l,t l>,r, 1e. ntf
foreign relations committee. How
long it will stay there and what action
will be taken can only be matters of
surmise. Congress has been eager for
action. =; row has its opportunity.
The desire of the President is no longer
a matter of conjecture. He has taken
a firm stand and asks the support Of
Congress, which should be given him.
He is determined that hostiltes shall
cease in Cuba, that Spain shall give It
up and that it shall be free. Whether
Congress will agree with him in the
matter of intervention before recogni
ton. is very uncertain. Also it IS
doubtful if the temper of Congress will
allow she matter of intervention to be
left to the President with full discre-
tionary powers in his hands. There
may be debate of several days before
definite congressional action can be de
termined upon, so that the issue Of
peace or immediate war is by no means
settled by the sending of the messag2.
Those who We're eager for immediatea ag
gressive action may be disappointed by
the tone of the recommendations made:
while the prudent. conservative, pa
triotic element that has upheld the
President during AL these weeks of
mastery document of wisest states
manship, and urge that if the Presi--
dent is followed peace with honor is yet
possible and that the great victory can
be won of driving Spain from Cuba and
witnessing the establishment of an in
dependent republic there without a re-
| SOIJ TO the grim ltlelllUuS bI
| 1t must be admitted, however, that war
/ looks more than ever like the inevitable
necessity of the occasion.
There is no half way business in the
| President s stand for intervention. In
vigorous terms he names the cause of
| Humanity, the protection of our citi-
zens in Cuba. the injury to our trade,
and the menace to our peace, as illus
trated in the destruction of the Maine,
as reasons why We should intervene
Spain will cringe and the civilized
world applaud at this portion of the
message. Congress and the general
public. except the scattering, peace-at-
any-prce element. are in thorough har-
| mCny with the President upon our
right and duty to intervene to end the
present insufferable conditions in Cuba
The wanton destruction of the Maine is
referred to in this connection in the
| strongest terms as a reason for inter
VentiOn. The President announces that
| he has made no rpply ia Spajn'S pJo