The Irish standard., 1898-04-09
NO EAGLE YET SCREAMS.


The United States has not proclaimed
war against Spain, and neither will 1t do
so If the little Napoleon in the White
House can influence congress in favor of
peace. The message of the president
which was promised last Tuesday will
not reach congress till next Monday, and
perhaps not then. The country is In
suspense in the meantime while war
preparations are going on. Various and
conflicting rumors are afoat. Republic
can organs explain that Mckinley has
been dilatory In assuming an aggressive
attitude because he is waiting for pow
der from abroad, there being not enough
in this country to last three days in bat
tle Another explanation for delay is
that he will give Consul General Lee and
American residents In Havana a chance
to get away from the excited Spaniards
before the tocsin of war is sounded.
The real cause for postponing war Is the
influence being eXerted by the plutocracy
In the interest of an armistice between
Spain and the Cubans. The bondhold-
ers arc for peace first, last and all the
time. Congress- however, may take some
action next week to redeem the national
character from obloquy. Spain has al
ready struck the first blow in the wanton
destruction of the Maine and It's gallant
crew. Since the day that this terrible
crime occurred, Spain has sought to
make no rcparaton to the United States,
not even an apology. Instead Of ex-
pressing regret for the calamity and
promising to punish the miscreants gull
ty Of the dastardly act, it Immediately
denied that the explosion occurred from
without and still adheres to that theory
in contradiction of the conclusions of the
American court of inquiry. Disputes
between nations may be arbitrated, but
an outrage like that perpetrated at Ha-
vana must be left to the arbitrament Of
bloody war, If the aggrieved nation has
not lost its traditional sense Of honor and
bravery.
The Republican platform adopted at
st. Louis led the American people to sup
pose that the Mckinley administration
would not Illustrate the Cubans from
achieving their independence, but during
its existence the same administration
has cast its influence on the side Of their
oppressors. 1t is now ready to make
any compromise with Spain to avoid
hostilities without caring for the conse-
quences to the heroic rebels. The trag-
edy In Havana harbor was the work Of
the Spanish authorities in control of that
city. Everybody believes that to be
fact. Congress will be derelict in it's
duty if it does not resent the injury. It,
and not the president, has sole power to
declare war. 1t is reported that the
jelly-fsh in the chair once occupied by
Andrew Jackson desired congress to
delegate to him the power of declaring
war, if Mark Hanna in his superior wis
dom advised him to let loose the Ameri-
can dogs of war on sea and land. The
attorney general, however, Is enough Of
a lawyer to know that congress cannot
transfer to the president the power con-
ferred on that body by the constitution,
and he so informed his excellency. Con-
grcss alono can declare war, and it will
certainly exercise it's constitutional pre-
rogative The destruction of the Maine
was a deliberate act Of war against this
country and Spain must answer for 1t.