The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-15
NEARING An outbreak.
Correct Review of Late Events
at Washington.

President's Efforts to Avert War and
and BIoodshed-W hat Has Been Secured
Recommendations Well Sustained by
Congress Mistake. of the Cuban Junta-
House Votes for Armed Intervention
Senate Yet to Act-spanish- Cuban Bonds
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
| WASHINGTON, April 14.-War with
Spain is now the one absorbing question
in the presence of which all others have
become relatively insignificant. Presi-
dent Mckinley exhausted diplomacy in
his efforts to bring to Cuba peace and
freedom from Spanish rule. He aimed
to avert war if it could be done with
honor, while SO conducting this coun-
try's part in the negotiations that if war
came justice and right would be on our
side. The failure to avert war lies at the
door of Spain, The Spanish are stiff
necked and perverse people. Calamties
have rained upon their country, but in
their pride and stubborness, their ignor-
ance and egotism, they have refused to
learn even in the bitter school of expert
ence. The loss of Mexico, Central
America and all of South America, over
which thier flag foated and which COM
prised the whole of that great con-
tinent except Brazil and the Guianas,
taught the Spanish people and their Gov
ernment nothing. The misrule that led
Spain's continental colonies to revolt led
to the same result in her island colony of
Cuba, once SO loyal to the. Spanish crown
as to be designated the Ever Faithful
Isle" President Mckinley found the
Cuban revolt two yeare old when he as
sumed his high Office. He at once began
efforts to restore peace to the distracted
island. He accomplished much by di-
plomacy. American prisoners in Cuba
were set free. Captain-General Weyler
was recalled.
A project of autonomy for the govern
ment of the island was set on foot. The
new Captain General adopted a more
humane policy Of conducting the war
against the insurgents. The United
States was permitted to extend aid to the
suffering, starving reconcentrados, vic
Tins of uselessly cruel method of con-
ducting the war. Finally the order con-
centrating the inhabitants of the agri-
cultural districts in the fortified cities
and towns was rescinded as 10 certain
provinces and the Spanish Government
assumed the duty of feeding and caring
for the sufferers until such time as they
could take care Of themselves. 1t was
even offered through the autonomist
government to enter into an armistice
with the insurgents for the purpose of
finding whether or not the Spanish and
the Cubaus could not come to terms.
~
These concessions came too late, Au-
tonomy or home rule for the Cubans un-
der the nominal sovereignty of Spain
was rejected by the insurgents and in
consequence proved an utter failure.
The other concessions simply tended to
abate the horrors of the war which had
devastated the island and DESTROYED its
prosperity and not to bring about peace,
even though they were made in good
faith and were carried out in honest
earnest, of which there has been and is
grave doubt. The situation in Cuba be-
came intolerable. The people of the
United States protested in no uncertain
terms against the continued maintenance
of a human abattoir almost within eye
shot of their shores. The continuance of
Spain's policy was rapidly turning one
of the fairest isles Of the sea into charm
al na 7ol -
their desires by submitting to the Span
ish Government demands which had
they been acceded to would have given
freedom and restored peace to Cuba and
averted war between this country and
Spain and have been honorable alike to
both countries. The igorant pride and
egotistical stubbornness of Spain caused
their rejection. Then the President pre-
pared his message to Congress recon-
mending armed Intervention for the res
toration of peace and the establishment
of a stable government in the island,
neither of which now exists there.
*x*
In his recommendations as to the poll
cy to pursue as to Cuba the President
has united party back of him as shown
| by the vote in the House. Not grumb-
ling. discontented, undisciplined mob of
followers, but cheerful, determined,
disciplined political army. When it was
first announced that the President in his
message would advise armed interven-
ton but not the recognition of the indie
pendence Of the existing insurgent gov
ernment in Cuba there was some dissent
/ e. l. r ~ IL
Republican party. The explanations of
the President have converted these to his
views. In fact they were made easy
converts by the rabid outbreak Of the
members of the Cuban Junta in this
country. The members of this junta or
committee declared in the newspapers
that if the United State intervened in
Cuba without first recognizing the inde-
pendence of the insurgent government
the insurgents would fight the United
States. This wild talk had very differ