Middletown transcript., 1898-04-09
PEACE OR WAR.

forcea stand upon the Drlnk ready IOr
I The plunge. The Presidential message to
Congress upon Cuban affairs was delay
ed Do Wednesday ,asfully explained else-
where in Ibis issue. at request of Con-
sui General Lee. On Thursday six of
the leading powers of Europe called
upon the President in the interest of
peace. 1t is said to be the first act Of
its kind, ''the most extraordinary scene
ever witnessed in the world" Their
address with the Presidents reply fol-
low.
"The undersigned representatives of
Germany, Austria Hungary, France, Great
Britain, Italy and Russia, duly authorized
in that behalf, address in the names of their
respective Governments a pressing appeal
to the feelings of humanity and moderation
of the President and Of the American peo-
pie in their existing differences with Spain.
@They earnestly hope that further nego-
tiations will lead to an agreement which,
while securing the maintenance of peace,
will afford all necessary guarantees tor the
re-establishment of order in Cuba.
"The Powers do not doubt that the hui
manitarian and purely disinterested charac-
ter of this representation will be fully re-
cognized and appreciated by the American
nation"
The President replied as follows:
"The Government of the United States
recognizes the good will which has promp-
ted the friendly COMMUNICATION of the rep
resentative of Germany, Austria Hungry,
France, Great Britain. Italy and Russia, as
set forth in the address of your Excellen-
cies, and shares the hope therein expressed
that the out come of the situation in Cuba
may be the maintenance of peace between
the United States and Spain by affording
the necessary guarantees for the -estab-
lishment of order in the island. so terminal
ing the chronic condition of disturbance
there which so deeply Injuries the interests
and menaces the tranquility of the Ameri-
can nation bv the character and couse-
our doors, besides shocking its senti ment t
Of humanity.
1.-THE Government of the United States
appreciates the humanitarian and disin-
terested character of the communication
now made on behalf of the Powers named,
and for its part is confident that equal ap-
probation will be shown for its earnest and
unselfsh endeavors to fulfill duty to hu-
manity by ending situation the indefinite
prolongation of which has become insuf-
ferable."
The answer shows that Presiden
Mckinley is firm in his decision to de-
mand the independence of Cuba. .Spain's
reply to similar appeal at Madrid
is that no further concessions will be
made to the United States. If Spain
in sists upon this then war must fol-
low. Consul Lee and all other repre-
sentatives of the United States are ex-
pected to retire from Spanish territory
to-day. 1t looks like war.
How much or how little the extre-
mists and yellow journals have
Influenced matters is difficult to deter
mine. As an examale we have the
reported speeches of Senator Kenney
and Representative Handy at the"house
warming'' of the Wilmington Demo-
cratic League on Thursday evening.
The best element of the Democratic
Party does not endorse the radicalism
of these gentlemen, the jingoism of
demagogney, Mr.. Kenney intimated
"Wall street" influenced the Admins
tration in delaying the question. He
referred sneeringly to the appeal of the
foreign powers for peace. Mr.. Handy
was more radical claiming that the
holders of. stocks, friends of Mckinley,
have held back the ADMINISTRATION. He
"believed that the Presid ent had asked
Senator Poctor not to deliver his speech
in Congress, and more such jingo
talk.
But the worst yet is the ''New York
Journalp which used the head lines
"McKinley deceives Again. - "Control
Of White House by Wall Street,"
.'Scandal at Washington" ''Reed is in
the Conspiracy" and more of such ex-
citing talk. 1t influences the unthink-
ing; it may influence few patriots,
but the masses of the great American
people have faith in the honesty and
ability of William Mckinley. Let it
be peace or war the people will stand
by the President.