Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-07
COLLABORATION,


| clarati0u of Independence 10 tho spirit
Of elaboration which 1t hreRthes, ~
was no hBsty stop which the repreEenta'
tives OF the culoniea took IN serving the
| bonds with the mother country. nor
aid tine statesmen of that day consider
that the mere announcements tdat our
people wanted to be froe would suflice.
In tho impressive language OF that
great instrument, they recognized that,
when an grave ftep was to be takon,
"a decent respect 10 the opinions OF
mankind requires that they should de-
clare the causes which impol them to
tho separation. ~ History has fully
justified their action.
There Is to day danger Of war between
the United States and Spain, and tho
most astonishing featurs OF the situa-
tion is the lacl: of deliberation which
has thus far characterized the members
OF the war making body ut Washington.
The President has from the first shown
the clearest perception of the tre-
mendous responsibility which would
rest upon any man in this republic
who should precipitate a wnr which
might honorably have heen avoided.
But in both Senate and House there
have been plenty of membors who have
not dissemblod their desire for war,
that the Executive might secure what
this nation has sought in Cuba without
war.
There ia overwhelming evidence that
the peops have been with the Presi-
dent in his pulley Of elaboration, as
agHinBt the Congressman who are for
rushing into war. The Springfield
Mass Republican says that ii ought
to be clearly understood by the people
outside of New England that any mem
Der Of the national Senate or House of
Representatives who talks about forcing
the United States into war, whether or
no, and to that end is ready to crowd
or embarrass President Mckinley in his
negotiations with Spain, utterly mis-
represents tho sentiments OF the peopls
Of this section and uutrages them. "
Proof Of this atatament il found in the
action of the most largely attended meet
ing of the Board of Trade ever held in
Hartford, which unanimously adopted
resolutions CORDIALLY approving tho
wisdom and deliberation of President
Mckinley in promptly preparing for.
but in avoiding to the last extremity,
the horrors OF a war with Spain" and
declaring 1t "the highest duty OF all
y y patriotic citizens, irrespective OF party,
y to sustain him in his efforts to main
= tain an honorable peace. I"
= II is the same way in other parts ot
u the country. The Utica Press, pub
b lshed 10 the heart of New York State,
interviewed 76 men encountered al
y random in the business centre Of that
: community, and only 10 OF them favored
. lhe idea OF war according TO the pro
o gramme OF the iingoes in Congress-.
', The feeling of the other G6 was well
" expresssi by one, who said;
y 81 believe in sustaining President
Mckinley in the position he has taken
thus far, and, il Cuba can be freed
Il without war, il will be batter for al
parties concerned. We should give the
President all the time necessary before
taking steps looking toward war; then,
=. il no cannot accomplish what hs hat
sat out to do, it will be time for Con
>. gress to act. -
: The West does not differ from New
!, England and the old "Middle States'
Il in this matter. The Milwaukee Wis
!, consin, strongly Republican news
!, paper, declares that "the Republican
u members of Congress from Wisconsin,
10 like Stewart and Jenkins and Often
m whu are standing by the President il
II the present international crisis, rep
~ resent the sentiment of the people o.
"A this State far more judiciously ant
% CLOSELY than Congressman Cooper dit
Il when he began an expression of opinion
!, on tho subject by finding fault will
- the Presidents message" Tho via
~ consin says further that real patriot
10 ism and true craftsmanship will striv
10 to achieve in trying situation which
~ gravely threatens war the best possible
n results at the smallest possible risk ant
cost to the nation.
10 1t IL not necessary to multiply illus
# tration that the peorls of this natiol
a. shrink from war, and would favor
" resort to it only in the last extremity
- They have no sympathy with tn
az Thurstons. and the Gallipgers, and th
IS Masous, in their impatient appeals 70
/. what the Illinois Senator calls 'glori
, GUS war; They want no war which i
a not justified by their own cUnsciences
a. and by The opinions of mankind.
They would wait, not merely until mex
Monday, but weeks, if necessary, t
avoid war if by waiting it might honor
os ably be escaped
n Tho thing for every right-minda
man to do ut once is 10 bring tina Who'll
IN weight Of his influence to bear upo
m Congress to eecure deliheration. Their
m are Senators and Representatives VIII
st want war, because they fancy it vii
n. promote business, or ''help tn
lv party" or secure them another term
= They must be made TO understand tina
ty they do not represent the people in thi
a.. stand. There should be a flood of dis
:. patches into Washington during tn
4 next 4S hours from the constituents
To Only strong expression OF publ
at opinion is now required to bring Con
40 gross to its senses, for SpeaGer Heed !
IL quoted az having informed the Prosi
Il dent yesterday that "a more consorva
oe tive tons was apparent in ths House
ri That the full responsibility for anythin
l. that nortended war WAS beginning to b
ra fully appreciated, where before ther
had been but fervor approaching almos
ia clamor. 2