Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-04-22

congress reversed the president, in de-.
manding that Spanish sovereignty
our Cuba cease and that the Cubans
be given independence by intervention
of American arms. Mckinley argued
in his message in a nebulous manner
against independence and recognition.
The attempt of little coterie Of
local partisans to make political CAPT
tai out of the criticisms of the prasi-
dents weak and vacillating attitude
on the Cucan question will fail. They
talk about resenting with violence
such criticism, and of suppressing all
criticism of his policy is nOnsenical in
our free country. The simple fact is
Mckinley handled the subject in bis
message In such an awkward and un-
American manner, that an American
congress had to turn him down or turn
down the American people. 1t turned
down the president.
The Philadelphia American express
ses the idea exactly:
"In questions involving our re.
lations with foreign pON -, in ma
tional disputes and quarrels no true
American recognizes party lines, all
stand behind the president as the
chosen representative of the nation
juit as If all were the same party. And
so far as such questions are con-
cerned all Americans are of one party,
belong not. to a Republican
party or Democratic OF Populist party,
but to an American party, one and
all. Americans look upon the pres
ident as their chosen leader in such
affairs whether they favored or op'
posed his election. They feel humili-
ated when he does not stand to their
idea of what the national interests
and honor demand just as members
of his own party would feel humlli-
ated if he should make grievous
blunders in the carrying out of some
domestic policy to which he is
pledged. AS display of weakness in
domestic policy is felt by partisans so
is display of weakness in foreign
policy keenly felt by all Americans,
for in national quarrels we all are
partisans of the President, wishing
him well as the defender of the ma
tioual honor and interests
The truth is the policy President
Mckinley has pursued of one of faint
hearteduess and indecislon that has
given Spain an advantage over us by
making it possible for her TO go to the
European courts with the plea that
we are the aggressors, and unjust ag-
gressors upon her rights, that we are
bent on forcing was as shown by our
refusal to be satisfied by the conces-
sions made by Spain even when those
concessions are all that we asked, by
our disposition to demand new con-
cessions just as Spain grants the con-
cessions first asked. President Nc
Kinley, by his indecision, his hesita-
tion to asked that which the Ameri-
can people haye with great unani-
nifty demanded for months, and that
which alone can bring peace, has
given good ground for Spain to rest
this plea. Before the eyes of mon
archical Europe, sympathizing natur-
ally with Spain, we have been made
to appear In the wrong, whereas they
should have been obliged to recognize
the disinteIesJedness OF our motives
and the justice Of our position.
We are no less in the right in now
insisting upon the recognition OF free
Cuba as the only basis for the settle
ment of our differences with Spain
than we would have been il Mr.. Nc
Kinley had plainly and early made
known to Spain CHS demand and had
not fallen into bungling by his in
decision aud hesitation TO ask OF
Spain that single concession that
could alone prevent war in the fear
that such demand would precipitate
war.
1t was left for congress TO make
known to Spain what the president
failed TO make known, namely. that
only one concession bg Spain can avert
war, and that is the surrender OF
her sovereignty over Cuba. 1t be-
hooyes US as a self-respecting people to
demand what we expect, what we are
resolved on attaining peacefully II we
can, but forcibly if We must, the in
dependence OF Cuba, and cease to trifie
with the question. With nothing
short OF this will the American people
be satisfied, and if spain will not
weld this without war she must Yield
It after war.