The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-10

tion OF 1upa = independence, ON the
theory that. from the presidents
point OF view. IL the b republic
was not entitled to recognition prior to
the destruction of the Maine IL is not
now entitled to it," that the right plan
is ito drive Spain out of Cuba first. on
the ground Of spain's inhuman and un-
successful warfare n to settle the
question Of the islands sovereignty
later on"
These expressions are carefully quot
ed from that has been said within FIVE
days by men at Washington who are
closest to the president. Essentially.
therefore. the plan of the president has
been for intervention. on the ground
that barbarities on the island must
cease. The armistice estops that plan;
in the eyes of the diplomatic world
Spain starts. to comply with the presi-
dents demands. 1t may be said that
this action at Madrid makes no differ
ence. because the Cubans will not ac-
cepi an armistice. Yet II does make a
great deal of difference, because. no
matter nov IT anne about. or whether,
for present purposes. 1t is sincere or
not. Spain stops. n thus meets the
demands which the president of the
United States proposed to enforce
through Intervention.
One after another. the bulletins re-
ceived last night confirmed the arm
istice reported; Madrid takes pains to
say that 1t is granted not at the demand
OF the United States but at the request
Of the powers. Meanwhile. the tidings
from Washington are to the effect that,
just the same, the president will send
In the message he has SO long been
clinging TO. 1t is not well to reach
hasty conclusions; there may be more
to come. But II is impossible to see
how the president can prosecute his
ease unless he amends his complaint,
and how he can amend II now. so as to
make ii Mt the new conditions, Is not
clear.
II Independence for Cuba Is what the
president was after. he never limited as
much to Madrid-he tried to mother an
expression in favor of independence on
the part of congress. II the end of hos
tilities was what he wanted, everything
without congress-; the armistice Is good
evidence that he can persist in going ii
alone. But the president has very seri-
ously complicated the situation. assum-
ing that the purpose of congress was to
free Cuba; congress will not have near
ly so good a hold as 1t had a week ago
that the armistice will reveal more bad
faith on SPANS part. And even at that.
the powers tina forced the armistice
will be very exacting in demanding tho
proofs of bad faith.
Perhaps the Standard ought to break
forth into Easter joy because the arm
istice announced this morning is a har-
binger of peace. From one standpoint.
there is cause for gratitude. But We
had been thinking all along that the
proposition was to free Cuba. We may
be wrong. but, apparently. the course
things have taken makes action in con-
eress. contemplating independence for
Cuba, many fold more embarrassing
than II has been al any time since the
Maine went down.
That happens because. all this time.
the president has wanted one thing and
the people-as clearly represented in the
majority In congress-have wanted a
radically different thing. All Europe
has proceeded on the assumption that
the president was speaking by the card.
All Europe urged Spain to take a bold
start. at least. in meeting the presi-
dents demands. Spain has Zone 1t.
Now. IL ngress announces that what
the president asked is not what the
United States wanted, the situation will
be awkward. In short. those of the
people in this country who were con-
templating freedom for Cubs are not
left in a good place; the president stuck
Of long enough to confuse their plans.
That's the way il looks this morning.
IL may be. as insisted in this morn
ing's dispatches. hat the armistice will
make no change in the Washington
programme. Indeed. IL the armistice
is a conditional AFFAIR. involving the
transfer of our ships. IL nay not come
to very much. Still. delay has greatly
complicated the situation. For In
stance. a week ago. when the president
ought TO have sent his message TO con-
gress, the powers were Indifferent. h
morning the powers are. TO a degree. in
association with Spain. Madrid has