The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-05
THE PRESS FOR FREE CUBA.

take no backward step III REGARD u
Cuba. The island must be free. If
the President can peacefully gain the
Independence Of Cuba he will win the
gratitude OF our own people and of the
Cubans and the world. We can put ZIP
with 30 arrangement that would give
Spain the right Of an overload to MAIN
tain a war fleet i'll the waters of the de
pendent State The Times would favor
some compensation to Spain.
The Washington Star says nothing is
palmer than that this government can
not afford to permit the present war
To 90 Oh indefinitely. Spain is response
bic for the peace of Cuba. But is peace
possible with her flag flying over the
island: Peace for Cuba is the great
end i'll view. Spain has made the island,
with lis almost matchlesS possibilities
for happiness and prosperity, Il waste
and Il plague spot, and not while IL yes
tige Of her authority remains will peace
be possible. The only proper ending for
this war is the ending of Spain's power
in Cuba"
lie Wilmington Star docs not believe
that Congress will uphold 'thc Prcsi-
dent i'll such II .cowardly surrender to
those who proclaim that Il righteous
war would disturb yalueS.'' 1t declares
that the "tcmporizing policy of the Pres
ident must be ahandoned.' and that no
settlement Of this question must be en-
tertained that does not include the indie
pendcnce of Cuba
The Washington Post cengratulatcs
Congress upon lis "heroic spirit of self
restraint and says. the facts justify
awaiting with composure the result Of
further deliteration, and adds:
1T is comforting and reassuring 10
know. orsat least to believe, that if war
should come. us the result Of all these
complications it Will come without the
faint of passion and recklessness-with-
ont involving an imputation on our honor
and huffanits-asv a people
The Columbia State, is severe in crit
Ching the Presidents policy and con
cludcs:
The sum of the situation is this:
4 toiNi IL 4 " 'N-o NiitIi
may be political, or financial, or even
honestly foolish, proposes to abandon
the casus belli we already have and let
Spain fix a casus bclli for US at her
OWL convenience and to her own taste
and this will take the whole matter
out of the control of the representatives
of the American people and turn it over
10 the Spanish cabinet. 1t is rs if u
criminal were left to choose the
grounds. the time and the manner of his
prosecution. We hope Congress will not
bl:ndly accede to this astonishing poll
cy.'
The Norfolk Pilot says:
The president, members Of his cab!-
net and others, still express the hope
for peace. while others. restrained by no
official obligations. and yet possessing
special means Of information. declare
positively that there will be no war. The
Pilot has expressed great confidence
that there will be peace 'at any price"
because the money power, which desires
peace, if not able to dictate it. is able
10 pay any price for it. But The Pilot
has never ceased to insist. from Ion"
before the Name was blown up. that the
situation from any point of national hon
or. duty and interest demands interview
ton by the United States. and since the
Maine incident. and the finding of the
Court of Inquiry. this demand is all the
stronger, and if there be no intervention
it Will be sooner, or later disclosed that
the money-poWer and its money and in
tluence will have furnished the 'consid-
Grafton that shall nave prevented it."
The New York World says:
"EOrty-onc days ago the battlcship
Maine was blown up and destroyed III
Havana hanbor while peacefully an
chored at Il mooring selected by the
Spanish authorities.
The destruction of the Maine i'm the
manner and the circumstances of her
taking off was an insult without precc-
dent, an outrage without parallel. a
crime without comparison.
IF President Mckinley docs not feel
THIS to the depths Of his soul the out
burst of Indignation in Congress and
the country will instruct him.
There is a patience that is pusillani-
NOUS. There are delays that are not
only dangerous but weak.
There is no disposition among the
people to hasten the government unduly
III its action. Blu there are ummistaka-
bic signs that neither Congress nor the
country will view with patience any fur
ther delay i'll taking the right position.
This IS a government whore the will of
the people Is lnc law OF the land. And
the will Of the people unmistakabIy is
that Spain shall be required to make
the only reparation adequate for the de
struction of the Maine. and to give the
only sure guarantee of peace now and
Overwhelmingly. Freedom and hide
pcndence for Cuba.
Nothing short of this will serve.
Democracy is more powerful than di-
plomacy. Freedom is stronger than ty.
ranny. Love is more potent than hate.
Sympathy with the oppressed is a fore,
too vital to be. smothered in the subtle
ties of internatiOna law.
Peace if possible. Peace if Spain VIII
yield. Peace with = q but.
Scuba must be free!'