The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-01
PRESIDENTS TROUBLES.
Situation One Full Of Difficulties
to Him.
UNFORTUNATE IN TRYING TOI
PLACATE WAR ELEMENT.

Has Undoubtedly Labored Hard for Peace
Sending of Maine to Havana was a
Mistake and Senator Proetor's Speech
Embarrassed Him Greatly.
Washington, March 3l-The situation
in Washington with regard to our rela-
lions with Spain at present seems to be
rather unfortunate. There is no doubt
that the relations of the President with
the larger portion of his party are at pres
emit rather strained. He has not met their
expectations, and they are expressing
their disappointment very vigorously. All
this may and probably will pass away at
an early date; but there is the danger
that it may continue long enough to have
a disastrous effect on the party in the
coming elections in the west and middle
states, where the war feeling is most in
| tense.
There seems to be no doubt that the
President honestly desires peace, and that
he has labored to secure it. But unfor-
|
ored to placate the aggressive war ele-
ments by holding out to them expecta-
lions that he would soon take effective
action. The sending of the Maine to
Havana seems to have been the act which
has entailed the most disastrous results
upon the peace policy. 1t now appears
from the evidence of the Maine inquiry
that Consul General Lee did not ask for
the vessel. Indeed there seems to be reas-
on to believe that she was sent without
his approval. 1t hardly seems that she
was needed, since the situation is much
| more strained now than then. and yet we
are getting along without any war vessel
at Havana now. The sending of the
Maine was undoubtedly a concession to
the lingo sentiment which seemed harm
less at the time, but which carried with
! it the possibilities of infinite mischief.
| The mission of Senator Proctor was
another unfortunate event for the Presi-
DENTS peace policy. 1t was hailed far
| ana wide as personal mission sent on
| the President own account. 1t is now
we'll understood in Washington that it
was nothing of the sort. 1t seems to be
| true that Senator Proctor spoke of going
to Cuba some time before the accident to
the Maine. and that the President did not
! disapprove. After the disaster to the
Maine the Senator does not seem to have
said anything to the Presidents about it,
but one day he quietly slipped away to
Cuba. When he returned he went to see
the President and told him what he had
seen. There was nothing particularly
new about it, as the American people had
| long been in possession of the facts, and
| Miss CLARA Barton had already gone to
| distribute the relief collected in the cities
Of the country for the starving. But the
President appreciated the effect of such
material delivered in The Senate by a
Senator who was known to be on such
to Proctor, ''You are not going to make
a speech on this in the SenateT'
and then added, eff you
are you had better take declaration Of
war In your other hand" Proctor did
not make definite reply, and the Presi-
dent was somewhat alarmed when he left,
SO much so that he is said to have sum-
moned several senators in order to get
them to persuade Proctor not to speak.
| The first senator who responded brought
the news that Proctor had begun to speak
before he left the Capitol. This seems to
have brought the President to realiza-
| tion of the homely old adage that dog
which will bring bone will carry one.
| In its way the speech of Senator Proctor
was as disastrous to the Presidents peace
policy as was the disaster to the Maine
| Perhaps peace could NOS have been pre-
served anyway, bnt the task hos been
made thousandfold moro difficult by
thoss two Incidents. by sending the
Maine Mr.. Mckinley gave the country to
think that he meditatsd forward policy.
| And when Senator Proctor went the pub
lilo assumed that this was another step IN
the same line. Therefore expectations
were raised to higher pitch. As RS.
suit storm has been raised which at
present refuses to be Gained. The send
| ing of the Maine may ha, g been an indis-
Greet yielding to the lingo sentiment; but
| for the mission of Senator Proctor the
President does not seem to have been at
all responsible. He has simply expert
enoed the misfortune-nn experience in
which he is by no means alone-of having
| Vermont senator.
| In spite of these unfortunate ciroum-
| stances peace may be preserved if Spain
makes prompt, ample and satisfactory
reparation for the disaster to the Maine.
Unfortunately her attitude up to the pres
ent time does not give promise of such
/ reparation.
In the alternative that war is necessary,
and many think that this alternative is
already upon US, it is safe. to say that the
war will be declared and made by an
united Republican party, executive and
Senators and Representatives working in
harmony. 1t will not be commenced in
over haste. before the country is ready,
and it will be closed only with honor and
a lasting peace.