The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-08
TUESDAY. MARCH s. 1895.
NOT NECESSARILY WAR.

That our relations with Spain have be-
come severely strained goes without say
ing. That We must necessarily have
war by no means follows. Spain has an
undoubiod right TO ask General Lees re-
call The simple fact that he is not an
agreeable person 20 her is enough by it.
self to Justify her Is asking his recall
When MIR. Cleveland appointed Mr.. Kelley
our minister TO Austria. that country OBJ
jected to him purely on personal and to
us unjustihable. grounds. The objection
was most unreasonable-it was silly.
Nevertheless Austria had a right TO de-
clare who was and who was not agree
able to her and we had TO send one of
those who were agreeable TO her or re-
main without a representative there. This
is as clear In the rules prevailing amongst
nations as the sun is at noon.
But President Mckinley has the perfect
right, as he has done, to refuse TO recall
General Lee. TO do so would be an i'm
Piled acqulescence in General Lee having
done something that he should not nave
UOU.s Miltltaa Ait MNAAN @AAA+rA+~ftAt -
pie approve Of every one Of his acts
since he has been Consul-General in Ha-
vana and the President certifes that
he has borne himself through
out this crisis with judgment fidelity and
courage. and to the Presidents entire
satisfaction" His recall is not to be
thought OF therefore, though the Span
iards may send him away If they choose
and 1t will be no cause Of offence TO us,
as they have O right to refuse TO accept
any envoy for any reason that suits them
so they may send away any one they
have received whenever the whim
strikes them to do It. This also is as
clear as the sun at noon. As far as
General Lees part Of the incident goes
therefore. we are IN the right absolute
ly, though the Spaniards are not yet in
the wrong and there is no occasion
whatever for war in that part of the in
cident.
But Is it equally clear that we were
in the right as regards sending supplies
to Cuba In a war vessel? We fear the
President made a mistake there, We
sent the supplies by SPANS permission
only. As she grants the permission 50
II would seem, she should have the right
TO name the terms upon which they are
TO be sent. II IS true she did not pro-
vide when giving US tine permission that
they should not be sent In war vessels.
But that seems TO us a matter Of no i'm
portance She did not pledge herself
when conserving 10 our sending supplies
that we might keep Sc up forever II
was a consent that she might withdraw
when she pleased II she may withdraw
the consent to our sending any supplies,
she surely may modify that consent
while It stands so as to provide that they
shall not so In armed vessels.
Some fifteen years ago We raised large
contributions in this country for tho
Irish who were starving on account Of
the failure Of ths potato crop. We sent
them 10 Ireland by consent OF Great
Britain only and could We have object
Cd n England had said 10 as we must
not send them in the vessels Of our
navyg or II she had consented in the
first place to this being done could we
have objected If she had subsequently
withdrawn that part Of the consent? We
think. therefore. the President made q
mistake IN sending the supplies in war
vessel and we are sincerely glad to learn
he has receded from that part of his
position. Better take step backwards
than go forward In the wrong. i; we
must have war over this Spanish busi-
ness. lei US be sure we are right and
then the consequences can take care OF
themselves. But II We 80 Into the quar-
rel With wrong upon our side, then success
IN whatever measure, viii be but poor
consolation TO us.
Nevertheless. whenever the President
takes his stand. u Il involves Us In war,
then the people Of the whole country
must back him as one man. II win be
case Of "the country, whether right
or wrong, tbs country"
And the nation may turn SIS eyes with