The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-04-28
WASHINGTON,
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 22, 1898.

cropped from McklnleyS eyes /;
Americans are to have an opportunity
to avenge the Maine, and Spain is to
be whipped out of Cuba. This was
made certain when MIR. Mckinley
signed the joint resolution adopted by
Congress authorizing the use of the
U. S. army and navy and the militia
of the several states TO drive Spain
out of Cuba, and forwarded an ultima
tum to Spain demanding the lmmedi-
ate evacuation of Cuba, and giving
notice that unless satisfactory ans
wer was received by Saturday he
should proceed to carry out the pro-
visions of the resolution. The nature of
the answer was made known in advance
by the Spanish minister's demanding
his passports and leaving Washington,
after notifying the Department of
State that the French Ambassador
and Austrian Minister had been
authorized to act jointly in looking
after Spanish interests in the U. S.
So that no matter when or where the
first gun may be fired the U. S. and
Spain will be considered by them
selves and the rest of the world as at
war with each other on and after
Sunday.
This is not the time to exploit
partisan politics, but it is only matter
of justice to the democrats and popu-
lists in Congress to keep the record
straight, by calling attention to the
fact that the position occupied by Mr..
Mckinley and his administration and
party today has been that of the demo-
Gratis and populists in Congress since
the announcement of the blowing up
of the Maine. The latter are not ask
ing any special credit for their
thoroughbred Amerlcanism, which
has helped the people of the country
to force the administration into a
fighting humor. Like the brave
marine who reported to Capt. Sigsbee
that his ship had been blown up, and
like Capt. Sigsbee and Fitz Lee, they
have only done their duty; but on
the other hand, they should not be
deprived of the credit due them, by
those who allowed themselves to be
bamboozled by the trickery Of Span.
ish diplomacy into believing that a
peaceful settlement of the account
between the U. S. and Spain could
be arrived at, until an indignant and
aroused public sentiment opened their
eyes to the real situation, and who
now claim that the present situation
has been brought about by their policy,
when 1t exists i'll spite of their policy.
Getting himself in fighting humor
IS not the only way in which Mr.. Nc
Kinley has followed the democrats.
Although he opposed the recognition
of the independence Of the present
government of Cuba with so much
vehemence that he succeeded in
having it struck out of the resolution
after it had been adopted by the
Senate, he has since practically, if not
officially, recognized the Cuban re.
public by treating with its officials,
through Gen. Miles.
Owing 10 the late day in which Mr..
Mckinley abandoned hopes of peace.
and the delay in ordering the troops
of the regular army south, and in
issuing the call for volunteers, the
most that this government can do
until it has succeeded in getting an
invading army ready for embarkation
at ports adjacent to Cuba is to block
ade Cuba, with our warships, and to
wait for the army to be got ready. 1t
is too late to find fault now, but the
facts are stated in order that it may
be understood why Cuba is not at
once taken. 1t will be but waste
of ammunition for our ships to batter
down the forts of Havana, until we
have an army on shore to see that the
Spaniards do not get away to the
interior of the island. No half way
business is wanted. 1t is expected
that the orders to blockade Cuba will
be issued not later than Sunday, and
that the fleets in Hampton Roads
and at Key Paest will move at once
and begin the work. Meanwhile, the
troops are being massed in the South
as fast as possible.
The old gold bond scheme cropped
up again this week. Those behind it
thought it possible to take advantage
of the enthused patriotism of Congress
to rush through bill authorizing an
issue of gold bonds, but at the first
hin. OF the scheme they discovered
their error. The democrats would
not go so far as to support the resolu-
ton offered by Senator Allen, abso-
lutely prohibiting any further increase
in the bonded Indebtedness of the
country, but they will never allow a
b IL providing for an issue of gold