Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-04-14
THr pREsrDENr AND CONGRESS

~ur PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
The c,ueress OF the United States,
after forty minutes debate, detected
the weak spot in McKinley's mes
s.oe On Cuba and by an almost unani-
,.,s,s vote directed the administration
go intervene at once in Cuba, to re-
.,o,s peace. and secure TO THE
propIE OF THE ISLAND A
crABLE. INDEPENDENT GOV
rRNMENT OF THEIR OWN"
This action Of congress meets the
.,eu.tion in the right spirit Of justice
.na humanity. II rises to the dignity
.nd natriotic spirit Of the American
people and now If the eovvrnment OF
opy country will act promptly and
v,Oorously-less talk. and more action
cut.a will be free and there will be
no war. Spain will see that the
Americans mean business and that
they are positively aud are everlasting
10 against Spain in her policy to keep
Cubans iu bondage.
The weakness Of the Mckinley
message grew out of the terrible
facts recited against the Spanish
oovornme,t. 10 its inhumau mode OF
warfare. its cruelty and incapacity,
and then in the presidents propo-
sr,ion 10 secure Enforced Pacih-
ca,ion Of the island" He did not say
that he considered it the duty Of our
rountry to do this enforcing against
she SnauIsh murderers oragalnst theiT
Cubau victims. He did not propose
70 take sides, but declared that the
situation .'inYolves, however, hostile
constraint UPON BOTH PARTIES
IN the contest as well as to enforce
truce as to guide the eventual settle
meat." There was no consideration
whatever that ahy moral or patriotic
duty deyolved upon US as Americans
To extend a helping hand to the
Cubans 10 their heroic struggle Tor
freedom. The house has, on the other
hand. ordered the President to inter-
yepe on behalf OF the people OF Cuba.
The message quotes utterances OF
President Jackson and President
Grant in opposition TO the recognition
OF The Cuban's as belligerents, and
his v hole message treats The idea Oi
granting the Cubans independence
with cold indifference IL not real
hustlli,y. Mckinley fails utterly to
make clear to the American people
whether he would pacify the Span
iards OF the Island of Cuba, OF pacify
the Cubans out of existence.
We should. however, not conclude
that the war policy OF the admins
tration will be as weak, indecisive
and forceless as the war message. Let
us give IL credit with patriotic inten-
tlons. The closing words Of the Nc
Klnley message were:
sThe issue is now with congress.
1t is solemn responsibility. i have
exhausted every effort to relieve the
intolerable condition OF affairs which
IS at our doors. Prepared TO execute
every obligation imposed upon me by
the constitution and the law, await
your action"
Congress has met the issue. We
believe the administration, which Is
more than the president,w Ill act with
that the energy and spirit becoming
Americans.
TO do justice to the presidents
message it is well TO read again his
closing appeal TO congress:
'.In the naIne Of humanity, in the
name Of civilization, in the behalf oi
endangered American interests which
give Us the right and the duty TO
speak and TO act. the war In CUBA
must stop.
sIn view Of these facts and these
considerations, ask the congress TO
authorize and empower the president
TO take measures 10 secure a full ter
niinatiOn OF h0stililies between the
government Of Spain and the people
Of Cuba and 10 secure 10
the island the establishment
OF a stable government, capable
q maintaining order aud observing
its International obligations, insuring
peace aud tranquility, aad the secur'
ity 0f lis citizens as we'll as our own,
aad 70 use The military aud navai
forces Of the United States as may be
necessary for these purposes And' 10
the Interest ~ humanity and TO ala
In preserving The lives of the starving
people Of the Island, / recommended
tia: TIE Distribution of food aud sup
plies be continued and that an appro-
prlatlOn be made out OF the public
treasury 70 supplement- the charity OF
our citlzens.r
II thai means anything IL Is
ME. n, ARMED interven.iou ON behalf