The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
FRIDAY, MARCH Is, 1898.
The Important Question.

The performances Of the Administra-
ton for the last month might be COM
pared TO the patient mans clock. The
man said Of that clock that when the
hour hand was at and the minute
hand at 3 it was pretty sure to strike 6.
and then he knew it was 1876 A. Nj
Ever since the Maine disaster the sig
nails from the White House have been
pointing every way except at the Maine
With all the preparations for war and
the secrecy, and the conflicting reports
from Havana, and the call Of Sir Julian
PauncefCte at the White House, and
the behavior Of the Spanish newspa-
pers, people in general know that if
they want TO md out whether there is
to be peace or war they must watch
the stock market.
II is very good plan, in military op-
eraucns, TO draw of the strength of
the enemy by creating a diversion. The
people who are conducting our interna-
tional affairs at present have grasped
this idea, and they have been using 1t
for all it is worth for the last year.
They have endeavored to draw the at
tention Of the public to other matters
Than The state Of things in Cuba; they
have talked about what the President
was going 10 do, and what he has done.
and what would happen if he did this,
that and the other thing; they have
used up a great deal Of rhetoric on the
subject Of the Jingcism Of their oppo-
neuJs; they have called attention 10 the
"a M Of
wrong it would be to that nation to in
terfeTe with any Of her doings; they
have, in short, created all the diver
sions they could possibly think Of.
Since the Maine disaster these efforts
have been redoubled. A great deal has
been said about the character Of the
American people, and the necessity Of
coast defense, and the glory OF this
country's calm and conservative atti-
tUde, and the way in which the Admin
istration could be trusted TO uphold the
honor Of the flag, but in spite Of all di-
versions the American people persist in
returning TO the question:
Bhot 3 0 b. done about the Maiae?
That disaster is not a thing which
can b paid for. The lives Of American
sailors are not to be bought and sold.
The honor Of the flag has never been
considered marketable commodity. 1t
is true, as Mr.. Hanna said, that the
people who are agitating this question
Of the country's honor have not a dollar
at stake. But they have other things
at stake. They viii be ready to give
their dollars when the time comes, but
at present they are not doing any spec
ulating- They are concerned with the
question Of the national honor. There
was a story once Of a man who wished
TO hire an Office boy. He wanted to get
an especially intelligent boy. Each ap-
plicant for the place was told a story
about a man who went one day TO shoot
q squirrel Before he could take aim
his barn burned down, and a number
Of other things happened. When the
tale had been told 10 q number Of boys.
who We're all quite excited over it, one
bog inquired eagerly, Did the squirrel
get away"
He had refused to be diverted from
the real point Of the story He wanted
the principal question cleared up. That
is the way with the American public.
Diversions are all very well, and they
have had diversions and been more or
less diverted for long time Now they
want 70 know what is to be done about
the Maine.