Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-30
Observation-Disclosures 80, 1898
TIE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The jlngoistic outburst in the United
States Senate yesterday is to be re-
GREETED. but there is no reason why the
public should be surprised at IT. In fact,
there is every reason why the public
should have expected IL. considering the
records Of some Of the men who were
prominent in the exhibition. The occa-
sion presented to Foraker the first OPP
portunity he had had for long time for
ringing a fire alarm, and naturally he
could not resist the temptation Mason
has a way Of doing inopportune things
for notorioty. as was proved by his pro-
posing several weeks ago, and at a most
critical time, Cuban belligerency resolu-
tions. In that instance he got the bene-
fit OF double advertising-ad ac-
cruing from the act itself and from the
rebuke Mr. Morgan administered to him.
Jingoism. as is well known, is largely
developed in Frye, and if the other two
leading performers amount to great
deal. knowledge of that fact is confined
10 themselves.
In view of all this. and of the fact that
The several warlike resolutions intro
duced by different members of the coterie
are now in committee, the outburst is in
itself not at all significant Of any change
in the situation. 1t can only derive I'M
portance from whatever Of sympathy
there may be with it in Congress and
among the people. 1t was clearly an
assault upon the administrations Cuban
Motley. and the question is how far it is
hacked by the other senators. the House,
and the masses. Adverting to the dis
watches sent out from Washington on
Monday, and which assumed to give the
feeling i'm congressional circles, we find
the statement that the Presidents mes
sage transmitting the report Of the
Maine Board of Inquiry TO Congress
caused a great deal of disappointment
among Republicans, We also find the
statement in effect that the message was
regarded by leading Republican members
of the House as too pacific to help the
Republican party-or, not to make too
fine a point of it, too pacific to help the
yeelSing reelection next fall The infer
4nce TO be drawn from these statements
WAS that the Republicans were organizing
40 force the President to recede from his
nresent attitude. and adopt in the inter-
oct of his party. a more vigorous policy.
but although two war resolutions were
also introduced in the House yesterday,
II cannot be said that the proceedings
and temper of that body sustained the
inference in any marked degree, and we
would fain hope that the House incident
has no more significance than has the
Senate incident. when taken by itself
we would faln hope that such first blush
disposition TO antagonize conservatism
as may have obtained in both houses viii
nuiet down under the influence of sober
second thought.
But aside from the considerations in
yolved in this phase Of the question, we
look upon the situation as encouraging
Mr.. Mckinley has asserted and iterated
that he would rather wreck his party
than have an unnoly war, and 1t is given
out officially that the administration be-
iieves that the people will stand behind
its policy. That policy. as now summed
up. is to secure indemnity for the Maine
stop the suffering in Cuba, give the
island pacihcation and practical indie
pendence, and avert war, II 1t can bt
averted with honor; and it should be sus
tanned by all patriotic men, irrespective
of party. According TO adyices from
Madrid. the prospect for the administra
tion's carrying out its programme /
brighter than 1t has been for weeks, anC
IL the public will give the President thei
support-if they will make it unmistak
ably manifest that his policy has the
endorsement--there need be no fear tina
Congress will provoke war. The same i'm
unacceptable sentiment-that it wa
intimated would cause the Republican,
IA Congress TO organize against th'
President, would in the event of marke,
public conservatism's asserting itseli
cause them 10 uphold his hands II
short. the situation, as we see II, Is tina
II the President Is firm enough 10 resis
the Influences OF the men in his part,
public will do their duty TO themselves
all may yet DO wen. AS the case nov
stands. the President can maintain hi
position and the public can encoufag
him in so doing, without In the slghtes
placing the nation in the light Of takln
any backward step or compromising IT
dignity. prestige, or honor.
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The Grand Old Man, William Z. Glad