The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-04
FAITH IN DIPLOMACY.
The Secret of the Presidents
Cuban Policy.
A REVIEW OF HIS PROGRAMME,


Bioodiess Victory Could Bs Secured In
Time and Has stssdfAstly Adhered to
His Policy.
WASHINGTON. April a.-TSpecial. Now
that the Cuban crisis ID 30 acute, IL Is
worth while to review the exciting events
of the past few months, especially with
reference to the policy pursued by the
United States government. In this oulmi-
nation of forces Ii should be borne In mind
that for more than six months President
Mckinley has had definite Cuban policy,
for 1t Is only In the light Of knowledge of
that policy one Is now able correctly to
Judge current developments. On account
of the careful and at times seemingly vac
illating movements of the administration
during the excitement Of the last few
weeks some people have jumped to the
conclusion that the administration had no
Cuban policy, but was simply drifting
along with events, playing a hand at
what the foreign writers call emporium
ISM"
Distinct Policy.
This not correct. When the full history
of this great international episode is writ
ten, as it will be some day, it will be found
that President Mckinley has had dis
tinct and definite Cuban policy ever since
last July. 1t was formed just before Gen
eral Woodford was chosen to represent this
government at Madrid. The sending of
Mr.. Calhoun Of Illinois, now Interstate
commerce commissioner, to Cuba on a spe-
cial mission was a part of the general
scheme. can well remember the great
anxiety of the president to secure the serv-
ices of just the right man at Madrid. He
wanted a man who could win the conf
dence of the leaders of the Spanish govern
ment, who could get upon the most friend
ly personal terms with them and secure a
hearing for whatever he had to say. At
the same time the president wanted man
who had in him the stern qualities which
should enable him to turn ut the right
moment and enforce vigorous policy
upon the government to which he was ac-
credited.
All this indicated the nature of the pol
icy which the president had decided upon
when he set to casting about for tit man
to serve as minister to Madrid. And what
was this policy? In few words it was, If
possible, to secure the Independence, or
practically the Independence, of Cuba
without war. Having adopted this policy
and laid out his plan of campaign, Presi-
dent Mckinley adhered to it through all
vicissitudes. When others abandoned hope
of peace, he still adhered to his plans. 1t
seemed impossible to shake his belief in
their final SUCCESS.
Independence without War.
His confidence in an ultimate triumph
of the policy of freeing Cuba without war
was largely a matter of temperament with
the president. He is essentially a diplo-
mat. Everything he does shows this He
has made his success in life through pos
session of an abnormal tact and shrewd-
ness. He was always peacemaker, rare
ly u warmaker. 1t was perfectly natural
for him to look the Cuban situation all
over, to reflect upon the difficulties of
SPANS position, the impossibility of Cuba
being worth anything to the kingdom,
the vast financial interests involved, the
hopelessness of her plan of making the
colony contented and prosperous, and to
reach conclusion that by skillful diplo-
macy he could induce Spain to make con-
cessions, one after another, which should
ultimately lead to the manumission of the
island from SPANS control.
An essential feature of the presidents
programme was time. In the nature of
things it would take years for the situa-
ton to develop to that stage in which it
would be ripe for final action. The presi-
dents plan was to move step by step, to
crowd Spain a little further and little
further, to accustom her people and her
ruling men gradually to the idea of Amer
lean interference in their affairs. In the
end there were to be threats of war and
preparations for war and alarm through
out the world but no actual hostilities.
Spain was to weaken at the last moment
because we were to show her that we were
her friend and to point out the way to her
how she could drop Cuba without loss of
dignity or too great sacrifice of material
interests.
Playing to Spain the part of a strong,
masterful friend who was able to win her
confidence, give her help, get her out of
the trouble in which her rebellious colony
had plunged her, the president never for
a moment doubted that he would succeed
in the end. His favorite idea was to con-
vince Spain Cuba was q bankrupt estate
upon which the owner was powerless to
restore order and prosperity and that
therefore the best thing to do was to sur
render it upon terms of dignity and honor
for just equity.
An Unseen Force.
But all this time great silent, unseen
force was entering as factor into the sit
uation. Public opinion was rising like a
great cloud among the American people.
1t rose slowly, very slowly, in the west
At first 1t was not portentous, but 1t gath
cred volume as the days and months passed
by. 1t darkened and became more and
more ominous, but 1t did not break.
Then came deafening crash. A stroke
Of lightning In Havana harbor startled the
world. All the people looked about them,
and many who had not before perceived
the storm now saw 1t and realized its por-
tent. Blacker and blacker it grew until
the heavens were obscured by IL. From
the moment the thunderbolt smashed the
Maine into atoms 1t grew with amaz-
ing rapidity. For some weeks IL has been
only question of how long time would
elapse before it would break in all its
fury. Events had proved stronger than
the carefully laid plans of man as skill
full and powerful as the president of the