The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-29
No Playing Politics Now.

There was no dissenting voice in con-
gress when the resolution was under
vote declaring that state of war ex-
listed. Democrats united with Repub-
icans in making the vote unanimous.
This expresses the universal sentiment.
However the matter might have been
viewed as long as it was under DELHI
Grafton, however dissentient many were
for reasons good, bad or Indifferent, now
that congress has said that we shall
have war, let us have it good and
strong. Already there is from the side
that has assumed this fearful respon-
sibility a note Of delay. The New
York Sun, that has been the most viru-
lent of all the Cubaphobists and hound
ed two administrations until one is
driven into conflict, begins to call for
patience, elaboration, protra ction. eft
would be WISER" it says, "to cultivate
in the public the patience to endure a
period Of hostilities which may be pro-
tracted even into the late autumn, if
not into next year.
Troops are being concentrated at
Chattanooga, 500 miles from the ship
ping point nearest to the place where
they will find the front; warships are
sent to blockade Cuban ports under or
ders not to shoot; there is the same
talk we heard early in the war Of the
need Of preparation. We have been
doing nothing else for two months and
more but get ready. The diplomatic
interchange Of notes was said to be
for the purpose of gaining time. The
or twice because we were getting mu-
nitions of war from Europe. We are
just as ready as we will ever be TO
strike.
This will not do. 1t will justify the
suspicion that this whole war talk was
but party trick to create a diversion
and get people to thinking about some
thing else than finance and Dinglev
acts. 1t will confirm the opinion one
hears on the street that 'the war will
last until after the election" Repub-
lican congressman who have jingoed
the country into war fever will find
themselves caught in reaction. if
there is to be much dallying. They are
responsible for the war. The president
wished to avoid it. He asked for DOW
er to back his Intervention to secure
peace by peacable means, and congress
babe him fight for peace. The gen.
tlemen who thus forced war must
see that it is pushed and pushed hard
or take the consequences. It will fare
Ill with them if it comes to be general
ly believed that the story is true that.
when they met last December. thew
saw defeat staring them in the face
in the fall elections and deliberately
embarked on Cuban agitation to divert
and engross public attention. Thew
have walked a sentiment that will brook
no fooling. They must see that the
war they have initiated is vigorously
pushed.
Troops should be thrown into Cuba
at once. Of what utility is a sea block
ade with an open country to draw food
supplies from? True the season is nm
healthful, and men will die of fevers
but that was to be foreseen from tha
start as one Of the consequences. Spain
is leaving the way open. She has not
reinforced Blanco. She has withdrawn
her fleets to the other side of the At
lantic. She will make no more resist
ance to the occupation of either Cuba
or Puerto Rico than the troops now
able that she wishes to be forced to
relinquish the burden Cuba has been
for years. and will make but the mer-
est pretense Of resistance. But wheth-
er she does or not, the country will
insist that the blows fall fast and
thick from now on. Democrats have