The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-08
The Crisis Past.


concerned the crisis is past. Spain
has turned the corner. We shall
have our own way hereafter, with
out serious friction, unless the ig-
norant and inhammable portion
of the populace at Madrid or in
Havana shall break through the
lines of official restraint and by
some desperate act make neces-
sary summary chastisemert 1t is
not the Spanish government but
the Spanish mob which now men-
aces peace. The actions of mob
are not predictable. Hence it is
that the United States, while hop
ing for the best, prepare; for the
worst.
The tentative request for General
Lees recall was obviously Sagas.
ta's shrewd "feeler," to ascertain
whether he could make further
jugglery with American patience
or whether he was finally at the
end of his tether. The presidents
prompt and energetic reply must
have confirmed SagaStas suspic-
ion that the jugglery jig was up.
The Spanish premier's instant as
sent to General Lees retention af-
ter that reply had reached ma II
dicates the mood of the gambler
who, with his last haIdld gone,
candidly and with a truce 70 all
artifce, faces the long anticipated
inevitable. We had an illustration
of this mood in the frankncss with
which Senor Dupuy de Lone ac-
knowledged to Judge Day the att
thenticity of the Canalejas letter.
1t was the acknowledgment of de-
feat divested suddenly OF all diSsim-
ulation; the springing forwar Of
TIE man, so long held subsidiary
to the diplomat. bD: where the lie
LONE confession was largely per-
sonal, the Sagasta confession is in
ternational in its import. 1t is
Spain's notice to the United States
that Spain in Cuba is at our mercy.
Otherwise, the issue concerning
Lee would have been pushed to
finality, with the understanding
at Madrid that the quick blow
would have been the only blow
dangerous to us.
Barring accidents, the pathway
to Cuban liberation without war
now lies unobstructed before us.
The president cleared it of all SER
ious hindrances by his one act of
tirmness. The fitting word at the
proper time describes to a nicely
the secret OF this magical transfor-
nation. Having won obedience at
the critical moment, the rest will
be comparatively easy. And in
proportion as we maintain this firm
and peremptory tone and abandon
hereafter that excess of conSidera-
tion for a nation inherently un-
worthy of 1t just i'll that proportion
will peaceful and satisfactory SOL
ution Of the problem be facilitated.
What a queer ambition young Hearst
had when he bought the New York
journal. Worth a dozen millions in
his own name and heir to twice as
many more, he had no need of profits
and could have made his paper the
model newspaper in the business. To
have capitalized such an enterprise and
guided it through successfully would
have been an honorable undertaking
which would have made civilization
his debtor. But to run simply a huge
muck-mill that eats up his millions
and leaves nobody the better for its
existence-what a curious ambition IL
is, and when all is said, how barren!
-
General Wade Hampton, who some
tine ago wanted the South to stay at
home and let the North do the fighting
against Spain. has repented. He now
offers to head n regiment We sus-
pected that Wade's original remark
was merely q symptom OF indigestion.
-
The great British salt trust has beer
disastrous failure. The promoters OF
the scheme have discovered that there
is more salt In the earth than they had
| dreamed of. 1t is useless for any trust
to attempt to corner the earth.
German officials who want to ex,
clude Yankee pupils from German uni.
versities need to bear in mind that
they can't do this without at the same
time excluding those greatly coveted
Yankee dollars.
William T.. Curtis says Secretary AL.
| ger is the lingo OF the cabinet. The
| man who has been reared amid tn,
odors of the pines is likely to have rec
blood in his veins
The New Yorl, Journal has had an in.
terval OF sanity at last From now.'
1t says, until the conclusion OF an