New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-09
single warship ahoat under the Spanish nag In
all the world
A PATRIOTIC CONGRESS-.

One of the most important legislative ses-
s;ons IN the history Of the world ended yester-
day ut Washington, and It Ii proper to say at
once that the record now closed Is, on the
whole highly honorable to those who made 1t
and to the United States. During the last
seven months the LVth Congress has evinced
a spirit OF patriotism corresponding to the tenn
per Of the American people. During the early
weeks Of the session, while many believed That
war with Spain could he surely and even easily
averted IL the President were left in unembar-
rasspd control OF the processes OF diplomacy
there was much unwise debate which threat
ened, and was perhaps intended. TO force his
hand; but neither then nor after the destruc-
ton of the Maine had made the situation IN
tensely critical was n majority OF either house
betrayed into any fatal loss Of selfrestraint
The President, employing with extraordinary
skill the resources Of authority and personal
character. was Loyalty supported by those who
had It in their power to thwart him, and when
the emergency became acute and the issue OF
peace or war was hanging In the balance re-
ceivcd one of the most impressive tributes or
confidence ever bestowed upon a Chief Magis-
tratc The appropriation OF $50.O00OOO placed
unreservcdy In his hands by unanimous vote
WINS at once noble tribute to his character and
a superb manifestation of the sacred love OF
country.
There have been, as we have indicated, some
indjscretiOns and some dscordant notes. We
do not believe that the United States ever real
" came near committing the mOnstrouS blum
der of recognizing n Cuban republic. for the
President could and would have averted II;
but too many members Of Congress were mis-
led into advocating such a declaration. In
various ways the duty Of exhausting the pos
sibilities OF negotiation was made more diff
cult than it might have been, and when the
last hope Of preserving peace had disappeared
the various resolutions announcing n state OF
war, including the one which was finally passed.
disclosed lack Of wisdom and propnety. There
have likewise been some things TO regret since
that momentous day: but the blemlshes have
been comparatively few. and the record Of ac-
complished facts is fl to be commended to the
respect Of the world. In Congress- as con-
sstently rs throughout the country. have beea
displayed the best qualities Of a great people
reunited In the imperlshable bonds Of fraternal
devotion to the common honor and welfare.
Finally. as the closing act Of a memorable SEES
sion. an act according with an historic policy
and responding to the wellnigh universal VIII,
the HAWAIIAN hepuDNc mas Deen aduec 10 the
territory of tho United States and the Nations
interests in the Pacific have been forever
cured.
There Is much talk some Of Il deserved and
some Of II unseemly about the shortcomings OF
the peoples representatives at Washington. 1t
is worth q great deal to feel and to be able to
show to the world that there as elsewhere a
crisis has revealed the attributes required to
meet It. 1t is a Congress of patriots which has
Just adjourned