The times., 1898-03-05

announced itself. The President and his
advisers. i'm and out OF the Cabinet are
as firmly bound 10 the peace-at-any-price
policy as ever. They viii not fight under
any conceivable circumstances except by
a direct and terrible mandate Of the peo-
pie. The lag Of the nation that WAS in
suited. and the American sailors that
NVere murdered when the Maine went
down by the hand Of Spain, are not 10
be avenged. No blow is TO be struck.
In all this there is no change from the
terrible mockeTy o. diplomacy that the
Administration has named dignity and
conservatism, outlined on last Tuesday
morning in The Times But the McHin-
ley policy has been announced Cuba is
10 be freed. Peace al any price has not
YET been Acknowledged: but the freeing
Of Cuba has. and the method TO be used
although mol officially announced, may be
outlined with absolute, line-for-line iidel-
fly.
There is a brave showing OF martial
preparations now. for an emergency,
Spain. also, Is buying vessels and talking
buoyantly Of way II necessary 10 defend
her honor. These are mockeries. and the
fnanciers who rule this game Of dishonor
FOR the TWO nations know it, and might
laugh over it together II they wished.
The Emitted States viii intervene be-
tween Spain and Cuba. There viii he
an uliimatum TO the effect that war must
cease. The ultima1um viii contain an
other feature Spain viii be compelled
10 seil the island 20 its rightful owners.
1t is quite probable that there may have
been arranged a little flourish of Spanish
trumpets at this point to pacify the pride
and keep down The ardor Of the Spanish
people, but il win mean nothing. The
Rev. DR.. Hugh Johnston, the Presidents
spiritual adviser, and the Secre-
tary OF the Navy. who belongs TO the
Peace Society, may cease from the shud-
dering contemplation of the horrors OF
war The horrors that this nation is to
face are those Of peace.
The Administration papers are an
nouncing this policy with war-like tales
OF the determination OF the President to
end the bloody struggle in Cuba by grim
war ii there is the slightest tendency on
the part Of Spain TO bubble Some of
them. perhaps. know-the farce Of it all.
lt is pretty campaign. and all the
moves have been arranged. The only
unknown factor is The public and its rep
resentatives in Congress. The Admins
tration papers tell the solemn truth with
out any gliding OF diplomacy when they
say that the unfortunate Maine disaster
is complication that may hamper the
President. This policy Of Intervention is
thing Of months of preparation. Tn
doubtediy it could have been carried
through before the wrecling Of the
Maine. The indications are strong now
that il VIII prove Impossible.
canvass Of Congress that has been
thorough direct and indirect makes the
fact clear and unavoidable that the
peace-at-any-pric policy is on exceeding
ly dangerous ground.
Before the supreme moment comes the
President may find himself absolutely at
sea. il war comes despite Mr. Hanna.
The only thing that viii be left for that
gentleman VIII be the contemplation of
. husiness-like ending Of it that might
still save the Cuban debt
The playing Of this game for peace at
any price has forced the Adminis;ratio ton
to peculiar moves.
The Times announced that the Admins
tration had received word that The acct
dent theory could not 5e entertained some
Gays ago. This was the absolute truth
Every day after that until yesterday
there was The positive statement that no
news had been received that had not been
given 10 The public. II was even an
nouEced, AT least unoficiaIly, that there
pant in The wrecking OF the Maine. and
that there was reason TO consider ii an
accident. These opinions were given to
the public despite the fact that the Ad-
ministration had also announced that
judgment should be suspended II was q
question between Spain and Capt. Sigs-
bee. and the Administration advised sus-
pension Of judgment against Spain and
judged itself against Sigsbee, while know
ing the facts that absolutely exonerated
him
Yesterday when the accident theory
could be held no longer the Administra-
ton papers announced that news had
been received from Gen. Lee The in
Epircrs Of these articles undoubtedly could
have given particulars as the letters from
Gen. Lee are well known in the State De
partment and have been seen by several
people.
There are reasons that may and may
not lie good for supposing that certain
members of the Cabinet are acting inno-
Gently. or. rather. not acting IN any way
g. ali this heartrending business. The
man who desires peace as long as lac
may have IL with honor may be pardoncd
s. he believes the people around him are
also honest. and does not see for "A time
that the line where honor ceases has been
Obiiterated. The members Of the Cabinet
fre al miliouaires. and some Of them
slay be conservative business men. using
ihe phrase without Mr.. Hanna : meaning
Al The general Cabinet meetings there
are strong reasons Tor supp5sing that only
the peace policy Is pushed forward with.
out the ugly intrusion OF its entire sig.
niicance. There are reasons also FOR be
Heving that The war preparations b.. TIA.
War Department. FOR instance, are mad,
in good faith by Gen. Alger.
After the meeting yesterday one of ia.
members OF the Cabinet told reporter
Of The Times 81 he were 4 reporter h,
would have 40 news 10 give his paper
This statement was apparently mad.
with perfect franllncss. The real and ths
significant meeting Of the Cabinet wa.
held on the day before and was not fuIls
attended Intervention" was talked Owe,
al this meeting
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