Kansas City journal., 1898-02-20
DEPLoR.BLE sEys,TIoNALIsM.


winds.
DEPLORABLE SENSATIONALISM.
Next to the loss of life incident to the
destruction of the Maine. the most serious
effect of The disaster has been the feverish
excitement into which the people of two
great nations have been thrown. In Spain,
where the popular temper is much more
easily aroused than in our own country.
the representations and Misrepresentation
following the Havana catastrophe have
caused the most violent outbursts of public
feeling. In the United States. where con-
eervatism Is distinct national character
istic. there has been, in spite of the general
aspects of calmness the most intense feei
ing and the most serious apprehension.
While our business interests have. appar-
emily, suffered no shock. the Spanish-Amer-
ican situation has been the great topic of
discussion, and the possibility of war has
impressed everyone who has the faintest
appreciation of its gravity.
Between the two nations, which have
been none too friendly for some time past
there have been engendered. through the
suspicious and accusations of treachery in
connection with the destruction of our bat
tleshp. feelings and passions that cannot
be allayed for some time to come and which
will initiate against the candor and free
dom Of our future Intercourse with Spain,
especially such intercourse as may be
necessary to make an equitable adjustment
of the loss at Havana.
The greatest cause of this public feeling
is not the blowing up of the Maine and
the loss of so many lives. but the hasty,
unofficial and sensational theories as to the
cause of the disaster. The Associated Press
has covered the field of fact and rumor
very fully. but has been conservative in its
conclusions. The unnecessary alarm has
been caused by the recognized yellow
Journals and by other newspapers inspired
by opposition to the national administra-
tion. The special correspondents of these
sensational papers have We'd with one an
other in spreading the most incendiary re-
ports. They have fatty charged the Span
fish government with treachery, backing up
their statements with alleged facts and tes.
timony that never existed, and have openly
charged the administration with having
been Indifferent to forewarnings of the i'm
pending disaster. They have reiterated the
statement that Captain Sigsbee had sent a
warning message to Washington, although
the secretary of the navy has plainly de.
clared that no such premonition was given
or. under the circumstances. could have
been given. They have charged the state
department with suppressing important
news. in spite of the fact that the presi
dent gave instructions that all official In.
formation concerning the loss of the Maine
should be given the public. and the repeat.
ed assurances that his instructions hat
been followed.
Such deliberate exaggeration of facts, ir
themselves serious enough to arouse tn.
people, and such gross misrepresentation
of the conduct and motives of the presiden
and his advisers, pass beyond the bounds
of all legitimate newspaper enterprise, ar,
contrary to all political ethics and violat,
the instincts of true patriotism. They talk
advantage of the receptivity of the popuIa
mind to play upon the passions of the peo
pie.
The degree of calm that has been re
stored has already cleared the atmospher
very perceptibly and has shown the falsit,
of most of the alarming rumors of fey
days ago.
1t is now seen that behind the public ex
element of two nations there has been a.
official intelligence. grave energy and
noble purpose so superior to sensationa
clamor that petty and untimely criticism
works out its own defeat. Suppose that in
stead of President Mckinley We shoul
have had an Unbalanced jingo in the eS
ecutive office, or that instead of Premie
Sagasta Spain should have had a man c
the Weyler temperament, what would hav
been the result? We should have been eve
now in active warfare, with all its horror
in spite of the fact that the cause of tn
Maines destruction is not yet proven.
AS Senator Wolcott declared. war is
grim decision" 1t must be remembers,
,n spite of the belligerent tone OF the ag
tators. that the vast majority of the poop
pray for deliverance from armed confic
The sensationalists seem TO be eagerly seel
ing some justification for the declaration
war. The president and his advisers. wit
full appreciation of its gravity. have tris
10 avoid and will continue 10 avoid, so fl
Us national right and honor Will permi
every contingency that might make sue
q declaration necessary.