The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-01-08
WHY THIS DELAY.

President Mckinley Is now appeal
ing to the kindhearted people OF
America for aid for the suffering
Cubans, food and clothing which no
doubt is needed, but it is not all the
Cubans want nor is it what the masses
of Americans are willing to give them.
This appeal, while it will be met with
open hands, will deceive no enc re-
garding the intention of the admins
tration, nor will it obscure the real
power that is back of it to prevent a
more vigorous policy. Having dis
appointed all with the stand he took in
his message regarding Cuba, the presi-
dent must now seek to reinstate him-
self in the confidence OF the people, but
his subterfuge will avail but little.
What the people of this nation want to
see is United States man OF war in
front of Havana, with its bristeling
cannon announcing that the war
against tie Cubans either cease or be
conducted on lines of civilized warfare.
And what the people of Cuba most
crave is not provender but recog-
milton as belligerents by the United
States.
When Grover Cleveland was presi-
dent and William Mckinley private
citizen, the masses could not find
language severe enough to apply to
Cleveland because of his inactivity in
Cuban affairs. They demanded
Fighter" at the head OF the govern.
ment and not a man who sent sub
stitute to the war when his nation was
threatened with disruption. In due
course of time they got their Fighter"
soldier who had proven himself VAL
orous and brave, and he was provided
with platform to stand on that spoke
in unmistakable terms regarding the
attitude of the country toward Cuba.
which was in short absolute indepen-
dence Of that country
But almost year has rolled round
since their Fighter" was put in the sad.
die, a year of bloodshed, murder and
cruelty on the part of Spain and year
of sacrifice, and suffering, and patience
on the part of Cubans, still our valient
president insists that Spain must be
given longer time in which to pursue
its hellish course of snnihilation, for
he is not quite sure that state OF war
exists in Cuba. All he offers Is sug
gestion that we feed the Cubans SO
that the Spaniards may kill instead of
starve them. His appeal is mockery
and disgrace to humanity. The
Cubans have shown their valor and
are entitled to our sympathy; yes,
more. to our aid in declaring them a
free and independent people.
Unquestionably President McKln-
ley's synpathies are with the Cubans.
He is too great a lover of indedend-
ence and too true an American to en-
dorse the action of Spain in dealing
with her colonists, and not have q
sympathy for those oppressed people;
but the same influence is brought to
bear on him that prevented Cleveland
from acting. There are few brokers
and capitalists on Wall street whose
property would be endangered by the
of war with Spair, which
might follow should this government |
declare for Cuban independence. These
brokers had Cleveland in their power.
and they have as firm grasp upon
Mckinley. So long as they retain
their grasp upon the executive, mer-
cenary motives will prevent the pres
ident from exercising the will of the
people and using his influence to stop
the butchery that has gone on for
years in Cuba.