Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-08-03
REVIEW OF THE WAR MATTER.
DeN eiopments of the Last six Month.
Reflect Credtt Upon Rcpub-
ltcan Judgment.

One of the first questions which con-
fronted President Mckinley when he
came into Office was the unsasisfac-
tory condition of affairs in Cuba. TN
ike MIR. Cleveland, Mai. Mckinley de-
clared a policy at an early day. which
was TO give the Spanish government.
under change of administration in
Cuba, an opportunity to end the revo-
ution by giving the Cubans local self
government. IL was intimatcd. at the
same time. that IL this were not done
within reasonable period the United
States would interfere The BRYAN
party was looking for an issue. and the
position of the president afforded it,
The leaders could not wait. but az once
resolutions recognizing the insur-
gents as belligerents and recognizing
the republic of Cuba were pushed upon
country. In season and out OF season
these resolutions were urged. the
president was assailed, the sufferings
of the Cubans were presented. the
patriotism and Valor of the insurgents
were printed in glaring colors. and
Spanish rule was denounced \ reso-
hutton recognizing the insurgents as
belligerents was passed by the senate.
out the republicans in the house de
clined TO act. Threats and denuncia-
ton did not avail; the republicans in
the house stood by the president. The
yellow newspapers came into the con-
test; their Cuban correspondents. sit
ting in the editorial rooms in New
York. made demigods OF the Cuban in
surgents. Many well-meaning news
papers the country over were led TO
repeat the falsehoods OF the yellow pa
pers until the people of the country.
regardless of party. were demanding
the recognition OF the republic OF
Cuba. The Bryan leaders saw in the
situation new issue which would ena-
BILE them TO drag sixteen TO one out OF
the mire. Blatant demagogues like
Allen. Cannon. Pettigrew. Teller and
rurpie daily charged that the presi-
dent was under the control of Wall
street, which was in league with Spain.
In the house Bailey. De Almond.
Champ Clark and Lewis broke into the
debates over appropriation bills with
Cuban pauegyrics and denunciations
of the cowardice and duplicity OF
those influenced 10y the dealers in
Cuban bonds.
AT last the hour came TO act. After
short debate the republicans i'm the
house, rejecting a substitute to recog-
nize the republic OF Cuba. adopted n
resolution committing the United
States TO n policy of driving the Span
IA MT nf al. 10, e..
ment of a stable. popular government.
To the amazement of the country n
majority in the senate, after long
debate. adopted resolution involv-
ing the recognition of the republic OF
Cuba as the purpose of the war. The
senate sent its resolution to the house.
but the republicans. TO man. stand
ing by the president. reatiirmed its
policy. Days and nights were spent in
conference. until the few republicans
In the senate who stayed away yielded
and the house principle was estab-
iished. During these days the country
was told what noble men the Cubans
are and how well qualified they are to
establish an ideal government.
War was declared. but from that
time little was heard of the armies of
insurgents which we were told would.
when furnished arms and rations.
drive the Spanish out of Cuba with very
little assistance. Finally. when the ex-
petition was about 10 sail to Santiago.
Gen. Garcia, with a small force. was
reported 10 be waiting its arrival. The
United States officers and troops had
been led TO believe the current re-
PORTS prepared by agents Of the iunta
and sensational correspondents set
ting forth the intelligence and the
valor of the Cuban soldiers The senti-
ment was all in their favor. Officers.
men and correspondents gave them n
chance to demonstrate their valor and
indicate their ability to set up gov
eminent in Cuba. After three weeks.
officers. men and correspondents are
agreed upon one thing. namely. that
the Cuban soldier is worthless. He will
not fight. he viii not work and gener-
ally he is vagabond. He has pro
claimed his capacity for establishing
an ideal popular government by in
sisting upon looting the town of San
tiago.
The foregoing is brief resume of
the effort put forth 20 commit the
United States 10 war to establish the
so-called republic Of Cuba. Now that
we have seen how incapable Of any
good service the Cuban insurpent is.
all men of cundor must admit that
the wisdom and the courage OF Presi-
dent Mckinley. Senators Davis. Ali
son. Hoar and Fairbanks and Repre-
sentafives Reed Hit, Dinglev. Hen.
ocrson and Cannon saved the country
from a terrible blunder. They must
admit That. with few notable excep-
tions. the democrats in congress blind
~ did their utmost 10 commit the
country 90 q policy which would have
made IL impossible 10 have established
stable government IN Cuba.
These democrats and populists who
demanded the recognition Of the re-
public Of Cuba day after day should
have seen as quickly as did the re.
publicaus that the ignorance and vim
dicfivcness Of the Cuban insirpents
oisqualify them for he establishment
81 % good government Either because
they could not or would not see the
Cnhans as they are. they pursued n
reckless course.