The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The presidents long expected mes
sage on the Cuban question has been
transmitted to congress and been read
by the whole american people. When
one has carefully read it the first ques-
ton to suggest itself viii be. What is
there in the message that necessitated
the Withholding of it for so long a
time after. it was first promised2 It
in no way tends to precipitate a
crisis When more delay in its trans
mission was asked the general i'm
preston was that the president had
taken such a stand shat war would
be precipitated almost forthwith, and
that the president realized this Did
/ the president anticipate that his mes
sage would be such a disappointment
to congress that that body would take
matters into its own hands? Evidently
such was his view. for in the last
paragraph but one he says the issue
is now with congress.
To some the message viii be highly
satisfactory: to the great majority of
the people it viii be disappointing. 1t
is a rather exhaustive review of con-
ditions in Cuba, which are intolerable
by the Presidents own showing. The
president would have this intolerable
condition cease and asks to be en-
powered to intervene and put a stop
to it at his discretion. For this pur-
pose he wants the army and navy
placed at his disposal to use them as
he may deem best. Congress will
scarcely comply with the request, for
to comply with it would be to enable
him to turn the forces of the United
States against the Cubans who are
struggling for independence. 1t is this
fact which predisposes the people OF
this country in their favor and would
justify the president, in their minds,
in stretching any point in their favor.
The president says that the ''one"
end for which we labor, is the instant
pacification of Cuba, and the cessa-
ton Of the misery that ahlicts the
island" He is averse to the recognition
of Cuban independence, though he
does not say so IN terms, for the reason
that ito commit this country now to
the recognition of any particular gov
eminent in Cuba might subject US to
embarrassing conditions of interna-
tional obligation so recognized" But
suppose congress were to authorize
and empower the president TO take
measures to secure a full termination
of hostilities between the government
of Spain and the people of Cuba and to
secure in the island the establishment
of stable government capable of
maintaining order and observing its
international Obligations, cnsuring
peace and tranquility and the security
of its citizens as well as our own, and
use the military and naval forces of
the United States as may be neces-
sary for these purposes, and in the in
terest of humanity, and to aid in pre-
serving the lives of the starving peo-
pie of the island, and the stable gov
eminent were established and the lives
of the starving people saved, what
government would it be, our own.
SPANS or the Cubans? And when
we decided to quit the island, what
government would the United States
recognize? Would not the same diff
fcuities about embarrassing condi-
tons of international obligation" con-
front the government at the termina-
ton of Intervention that the president
now sees?
The president, in our opinion, does
not lay anything like the stress upon
the Maine affair that the Importance
of the matter demands. In the minds
of the American people that affair
stands out first and foremost in this
whole Cuban business. They firmly
believe that she was destroyed through
Spanish treachery. and that Spain
should be held accountable for her
destruction. Herein the presidents
message is very disappointing.
He saws the whole matter is now in
the hands of congress. What will con- |
gress do? It is certain that for several |
days nothing at all will be done, be-
cause the message itself will cause
much debate and will have a tendency I
to divide those who have heretofore |
favored aggressive action in this mat
ter. If the president has his way. and |
it is not impossible he may, he would |
probably pursue a vigorous policy of /
What the people want |
is Intervention in behalf of Cuban in
The message complexities !
rather than simplifies the situation.