The Portland daily press., 1898-03-07

Rehabilitation Dy some 10 Indicate the
Presidents Policy.
Chicago, March 5.-The Times Herald,
which has been the strongest western
exponent of the peace at any price policy,
startled it's readers yesterday morning
with double-leaded editorial, calling on
President Mckinley to put an end to the
war in Cuba at once.
Subscribers could scarcely believe what
the cold type presented to their eyes. just
"a hours before, the paper had assured its
readers that there would be no war. 1t
had reiterated this assurance since the
destruction of the Maine.
FL. II. Kohlsaat. proprietor of the
Times-Iierald, is one of the President
most intimate friends. 1t is known that
Mr.. Kohlsaat sometimes holds long
distance telephone communication with
the White House. The Times Herald is
believed to reflect the Presidents policy.
therefore the flop" Of the paper aroused
interest, on the theory that it reflected
White House sentiments.
The editorial, stripped of portion of
It's attack on "Bryanism,' which, he
declares, is sure to sweep this country
like a cyclone at the election this fall, 'in
case Cuba is not set free. is as follows:
EVERY Intelligent student of political
and popular sentiment in the United
States must acknowledge a consciousness
that the hour for American Intervention
in Cuba has almost arrived. The tale OF
Spanish oppression and impotence is com
plete. The reign of misery, famine and
desolation that has prevailed in the
island siLcesFebruary, 1895, has run its
course of horror and defamation. Inc
civilized world today looks to the United
States to put an end to struggle at
our gates which has cost over 25O, OOO
lives in three years and reduced an average
annual trade with US from sS3, OUO, uuO
to less than SIC, 00O,0 900.
ssLet the reader fix these figures in his
mind as measuring in blood our duty to
humanity, and in cold Cash the smallest
half of our commerce 81 duty to ourselves.
The loss of trade with Cuba would give
US no just cause to intervene in the death
struggle between Cubans and their Span
ish oppressors. But the spectacle of a
war of determination waged with re-
morseless barbarity and cruelty under
our very eyes has aroused such varying
sentiments of sympathy and horror in
American minds that it has become I'M
"We cannot read tales of butchery and
brutality, of tyranny and cruelty, OF
patriotic devotion and misery, right
across our borders and sit forever waiting
for Spain or determination to end the
slaughter.
"The war in Cuba has become a
domestic affair of the United States,
which it cannot longer put beyond the
sphere of it's national duty.
Therefore it is that President McKin-
ley only waits the conclusion of the labors
of the court of inquiry to approach Spain
with the offer of the good offices of the
United States to put an end to the con-
Spain, desolating and depopulating Cuba
and filling the United States with I'M
easiness and indignation Tint threaten
its domestic peace with agitation for war.
''The time for Intervention anticipated
in his first regular message to Congress
has arrived when the people of the United
States and the sentiment of the civilized
worla will approve a demand for the ces-
sation of the war in Cuba. The disaster
to the Maine has not precipitated this
demand. Rather it has delayed it. But
1T has served to arouse and concentrate
the American mind on all that our nation
has lost and endures by reason of the
wanton conflict at its DOORS
LAS to the Maine disaster, the people of
the United States realize that interven
ton between Spain and revolving Cubans
cannot restore to life single sailor lost
in that terrible disaster. II it should be
found O have been the result Of Spanish
design it would justify chastisement and
the action of punitive indemnity. But
the duty before President Mckinley goes
beyond chastisement, however terrible.
or indemnity, however onerous. 1t re-
ouires the relinguishment for all time of
Spanish authority in Cuba. There can
be no guaranty Of peace on the island or
on this continent while Cuba is subject
to Spain and recurring revolts against
Spanish oppression.
1.-THE autonomy offered by Spain to
Cuba is a fiat failure-if it was ever even
designed as an honest experiment. indie
pendence is the only remedy for the ills
that, in crushing Cuba, irritate the
United States.
LAS to the means for its consumma-
ton, they must be the subject of negotia-
ton between theUnited States and Spain.
Exactly what form the proposals of the
President may take has not transpired.
That they Will be such as Spain can ao-
cept with the least loss of dignity we can
not doubt. But that they will be formu-
lated without passion or room for fear or
regret we may be sure. That they will
be made with full realization that they
may arouse Spain to an expiring effort to
retain her American dominions all who
know President Mckinley are clearly
aware.
iDo what we may, we cannot avoid
the possibility of war over Cuba. And in
view of that last resort, the American
people wishing and praying for peace
must make every preparation for war.
Even though the United States should
offer to assist Cuba TO buy her independ
ence by guaranteeing the payment Of the
purchase price, administering the reve
nues of the island to secure itself, there
IS no means of knowing that Spain would
accept the proposition.
Intervention in Cuba, peacefully If we
can, forcibly if we must, is Immediately
inevitable. Our own internal political
conditions will not permit its postpone.
ment Who that has marked the signs of
the times does not see that war for Cuban
liberty looms before us as the only rally
ing standard of the legions Of our own
national discomfort?
"No, the United States cannot afford to
let the settlement of the Cuban question
wait single day after the court OF
inquiry has made it's report to the Presl-
dent. The possibilities of further delay
are too momentous to justify further CON
sideration of the riphts of SpdlQ. Our