New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-06

created by Mr.. Mckinley II was a situation
created on the one hand by John Quincy Adams.
erning statesmen from 1923 TO this time. and on
the other hand by the Spanish authorities In
Cuba, who went steadily from bad to worse In
spite OF our appeals and the remonstrances and
revolts ~ their people.
The President most DESTROYS Of avoiding
war, and eager 10 believe every assurance from
Spain that order would soon he restored Mean
while all Information from the island showed
that the disorders continued. and the inhuman-
ity and suffering increased. Then came the De
LONE incident which showed the Minister Spain
had accredited TO US schemng privately TO mis-
lead and blind us by pretended negotiations TO
restore the ruined commerce. and. in the same
breath. uttering offensive ISLANDERS upon our
Chief Magistrate
Of che OF our great warships at the buoy in the
harbor If Havana. where the Spanish authori-
ties had moored her. and the loss Of two hun
dred and fifty lives OF her crew The circum-
stances left in the minds Of the great majority
Of our people the moral conviction that the eX-
plosion was the work Of Spanish agents. who.
whether with or without official authority or
even knowledge. did use explosives too ella Dorate
and powerful 10 have been other than public
property
From that moment it was beyond the power
Of any President Cabinet Congress to re-
strain the American people from war Promises
to do better II more time given. belate1
efforts at organizing an autonomous Cuban
Government, proposals to listen to the Pope
and suspend hostilities, diplomatic fence and
parry were all as useless as the idle wind
against the stern resolve Of a nation occupying
continent and numbering seventy five millions
Of souls to make an end Of this to be trihed
with no longer. and 10 exrel from the Western
Hemisphere the flag under which such deeds
were possible.
There not then the remotest thought In II
OF taking Cuba for ourselves In fact. the acqui-
sition Of Cuba was considered misfortune. to
be carefully Stunned. On that point the Ameri-
can people have undergone great change since
the Civil War. They wanted no more territory
and they wanted no more war. They were the
least anxious for territorial extension and the
most resoutey peaceful Of all the civilized ma
lions OF the globe. Even in declaring war Con
gress avowed the purpose TO leave Cuba. after
freeing IT, 10 its own devices.
But the sweep OF Is like that Of the whirl-
wind:-no man can tell whore it may reach We
ment and therefore stand morally respon-
sble to the civilized world for the character OF
its government. The present insurgents may
be able 10 establish one that we can AFFORD 10
be responsible for: but II not, our responsibility
continues.
Meantime since war Is serious business and
not a mere dress parade. we must strike ana
cripple Spain wherever we can. We nave a.
ready struck her in the Philippines. and what
we seize we shall certainly hold 81 long as II
serves our purpose and so far the response
billy incurred in destroying the existing Gov
eminent may carry us. We nave also struck
her In Porto Rico. and the war will not end TIL
We complete that conquest.
II all this threatens other interests or ais
tuYb. our European friends. the only possible
answer is that regret IL as deeply az any
body can but that We did not seek the war ana
Il IL not TO US that appeals should now be ad-
dressed to stop It. The only rational ihterler o
ence for European nations is an interference
with their feeble neighbor In its nhnd nght
against Fate The sooner Spain is stopped the
less she will be damaged.