The age-herald., 1898-03-31
COUNTRY WAITED BUT
 TO BE DISAPPOINTED
From the New York Journal:

l From the New York Journals: l For forty-one days the country waited in stern self-repression for the official verdict upon the destruction of it's great battle ship and the extinction of 26s gallant lives ''Be patient" urged the spokesman of the administration. Suspend judgment. It is better to know than to think. Perhaps the Maine was destroyed by accident. If it shall prove that she was wrecked by de- | sign the president can be depended upon to take such action as will satisfy the most exacting American spirit. Retribution will be meted out in full measure and running over. Only have faith"
 The nation had faith and waited in pent- up wrath through six weary, heart-break- ing weeks-for this:
 T have directed that the finding of the court of inquiry and the views of this gov ernment thereon be communicated to the government of her majesty, the queen of Spain, and do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate course of action sug- gested by honor and the friedly relations of the two governments.
 It will be the duty of the executive to advise the congress of the result, and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked"
 That Is absolutely all the comment the president has to make upon an act of mur-
 
 ern history. He has less to say about the destruction of an American battleship and the murder of 266 American sailors than he would say about proposition to fill the Potomac flats. He humbly holds out his nat to Spain and trusts that she will drop into. 1t something satisfactory to us. or at least. to herself.
 And this is what we have been arming for 50 ostentatiously in sight of an admir- ing world. It is for this that we have beef, a aorIra af. and painting our warships greenish gray This Is the object for which congress ap- propriated $5O.0O0 ,OO0-ss 900 per line for six lines of platitudes-the most expensive dishwater in the history of literature.
 No, there Is something more. What of Cuba-free Cuba, whose sufferings have wrung the American heart and stirred even hardened politicians to emotion? Cuban in- dependence was promised up to yesterday morning Whatever might be done about the Maine, we were told, the liberty for which the patriots had struggled for three years was assured. The mighty Republic or the North was about to stretch it's pro- tecting wing over them, and the shadow or spanish tyranny was to disappear. But now Cuba Hbre seems to be forgotten at the white House. The administration has a plan, 1t Is said, to feed the reconcentrados whom Spain has been starving, to secure an armistice under Spanish rule until Oc- tober, and meanwhile to obtain by negotfar tions the practical independence" of thS island-a "just-as-good" imitation which will be as satisfactory as a substitute for real independence as a counterfeit bill is as substitute for a genuine one. Of this precious scheme the Cuban Junta speaks with biting contempt that wili make Americans who feel pride in their country hang their heads "The United States" says the Cuban represenatives, may be willing to forgive the blowing up of the Maine and a al nf c 266 officers and men. But our business is to fight and we will keep at It." For three years we have fought Spain as we'll as America I mean we have fought America to get our arms and supplies landed -,,Ai
 We are in better condition now than we have ever been.
 We will have no armistice unless the United States forces us into 1t.
 Our consent has not been asked and 1t will never be given.
 The action of the Junta kills in advance the alleged presidential scheme for keep ing the flag that represents wholesale mur- der still flying over Cuba If the insurgents refuse to accept the terms proposed, as they do refuse. what can MT. Mckinley dof Will he spend the remainder of his $50 000,- 900 defence fund In helping Blanco to sup. press the patriots, or will he allow anarchy and rapine to continue in Cuba indefinitely? The American people will not permit either course. They demand the immediate set clement of the Cuban question, on the basis of the absolute independence of the island. They will accept nothing less, and the sooner MT. Mckinley recognizes that fact and accommodates himself. to it, the better chance his administration will have of end- ing its term with some shreds of reputa- ton left If the president entertains the suicidal plan attributed to him-and we say '9f" not because we seriously doubt it, but in the hope that a regard for the honor of the nation may yet lead him to better councils-he is standing on the edge of a precipice.