The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-29
Inside White House History.

reference 10 the troublesome question was
contained in the following short para
graph upon our foreign relations:
1T has been the policy Of the United
States since the foundation of the govern
ment TO cultivate relations OF peace and
amity with al the nations of the world,
and this accorGs with my conception OF
our duty now. We have cherished the
lpolicy OF non-interference with the af-
fairs of foreign governments. wisely in
Iaugurated by Washington, keeping our
selves free from ENHANCEMENT. either as
allies or foes, content to leave uDdisturbed
| with them the settlement of their own DO
nestle concerns. 1t will be our aim 10 pur-
sue firm and dignifed foreign policy,
| which shall be just, impartial, ever watch
full OF our national honor, and always in
sisting upon the enforcement Of the law
full rights OF American citizens every
| where. We want no wars OF conquest;
We must avoid the temptation of territorial
aggression War should never be entered
upon until every agency of peace has fall
ed: peace is preferable 10 war in almost
every contingency"
The GOODNESS with which the Cuban CUES
ton was thus treated by the new president
was at the time a bitter disappointment
to the war party. 1t is of interest today,
however, as one OF the many indications
that the present administration when 1t
came into power had no thought of war.
To be sure, the Cuban question had been
dragging through the Cleveland admins
! tration, but there was always such an air
| Of insincerity about the action of the most
pronounced friends Of the suffering isle"
/ that Mr. Mckinley may well have reason
ed that while the subject was vexatious
one, there was nothing in 1t to make
resort to war probable. Buth terms of the
Grant administration had lived through
the Cuban trouble and the "Virginius"
affair was calculated at the time. almost
as much as the destruction Of the Maine,
10 arouse the intensest feeling against
| Spanish rule in Cuba.
! But a stronger evidence than the inau-
| gural address itself of the peace intentions
and expectations of the new administra-
ton is found in the makeup OF the cab
met. 1t was plainly not on war footing.
! The department " hich treats with our for
eign relations, and in time of war becomes
the one of pre- eminent Importance, was
used to make a vacancy in the senate for
Mr. Hanna, the campaign manager. and
one OF the presidents fellowtownsmen
and intimate friends was selected 10 help
Mr. Sherman out. But this could have
been done upon no other suppositton than
that our foreign relations for the COM
ing four years would not be unusually inn
prtaut The otner members OF the cabi-
net plainly did not accept their offices in
the expectation of becoming war ministers
so soon. Mr.. aGge came TO Washington
as a currency reformer; he possessed the
commendable ambition TO straighten out
the somewhat disordereI condition Of the
hut rIy IN his call
culation to undertake the laporious duties
of war ffnanciering. Governor Long OF
Massachusetts had always been An eernest
advocate of peace, and of the settlement
of disputes between nations by arbltra-
ton. He began by introducing many
wholesome economies into the department,
and would doubtless have been more con-
seryatiye than any OF his recent predeces-
sors in the matter of recommending new
War-ships and an increase OF the naval
establishment He did not think that he
would so soon be al the head of a great
naval war, and that for the first time IN
its history the new American navy would
have a chance to show what 1t was good
for.
The reorganization of the cabinet, now
seemingly under way. is but the putting
of that body upon a war basis. The oc-
casion for doing this so soon shows how
little war was expected fourteen months
ago. The ambition of the new president
was to improve business conditions; he
had rather gloriied in the title, The Ad-
vance Agent of Prosperity" and had great
faith that the remedy for industrial dis
tress with which his name had become
well identified would prove effective
And as an aid to reviving prosperity, he
n
selection of General Woodford for the post
of minister at Madrid was in line with this
peace policy; for Mr.. Woodford's strong
point was believed to be his calmness and
forbearance 1t thus appears that on all
sides Mr. Mckinley prepared for peace
and hoped for peace, and fully expected
that 1t would not be disturbed during his
term of office.
But the symptoms of an incurable dis
ease were present. The end has merely
come much sooner than was expected.
Spanish sovereignty on the island was one
thing, and apparently almost the only
thing that the ministry and dynasty at
Madrid could not surrender upon any con- |
dition. 1t soon became evident that such |
surrender was the one thing which the |
American people has come to regard as alb |
solutely essential to any permanent settle |
ment of the long-standing difficulties. The |
Republican platform, adopted in June. |
1896 had given voice to that notion in these |
words:
1.-The government of Spain, having lost /
control of Cuba and being unable to pro- |
tect the property or lives of resident Amer
lean citizens, or to comply with its treaty
we believe that the govern
nent of the United States should actively |
store peace and give independence to the
sand"
The point Of the whole controversy is
in these last four words:-inde-
oendence for the island" After the e1pIo
sion of the Maine, IT became doubly evi
lent that the American people. according
20 the sentiments reflected by their repre-
sentatives in congress, were in no temper
% accept anything less than Cuban indie |
1endence: and there was doubtless good /
ground for believing. in the light of past /
experience. that nothing less than that
would end the difficulties OF the long
pending question. independence win
doubtless bring its crop OF perplexities for
Is, but they will have the advantage Of
'eing a different set from those which
ave characterized Spanish rule. The gen.
raj Cuban situation has then for many
weeks poined squarely towards war. The
wo nations. The United States and Spain.
we're In a radical disagreement os 10 the
overeignty OF the island Of Cuba That
uestion. so far as Spain is concerned. is
.oW In process of settlement The ne1t :
HAPPIER Of the history will be devoted 70 |
he question whether Cuba shall remain ,
eifgoverning or be annexed 10 the Unit !
4 States. IN spite OF the Teller reyoiu- ,
lon, three men out Of every four In Wash
lgton believe il only question OF time ,
efore that island viii become a part OF
his republic.