The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-13

is, at least, the hope that by such a COM
initial the honorable peace he has so sturd-
lily sought to secure may be wrested from
unwilling Spain, and Independent and civil
lied government be established in Cuba
Philadelphia Record (Dem.)
The Presidents long-deferred and anx-
iously awaited Cuban message is a paper
which is creditable to its author. and which
imposes the most serious responsibility
upon Congress 1t is a succinct. comprehen-
slVe statement of the American case. pre-
sented with reserve and discretion.-Phila-
delphia Ledger Gnd.)
Doubt disappears with the Presidents
message Calm in tone, it is decided in ut
terance. 1t urges decisive action. reaches a
definite and forceful conclusion, and sets
IN motion the power of the Nation No
stronger course could be demanded. All that
american honor and interests can ask Is
proposed.-Philadelphi Press CRep)
President McKinley's policy as presented
in his message to Congress- appeals to the
enlightened, conservative and sober judg
ment of the Nation. 1t will not satisfy those
who want war, but il will be approved by all
who hope that the pacification of Cuba and
the inconvenience OF the Cuban people may
be attained through peaceful means.-Omaha
Bee Rep.)
Altogether President Mckinley has lost
great opportunity. He has failed to seize
1t and take the leadership when leadership
waited upon him; he will now probably
nave to follow the leadership of Congress,
Tor Congress, even though controlled by his
own party is in no humor to pursue the
course he has uggested.-Louisville Cour-
ier-Journal (Dem.)
BY this message the President justifes
every act he has thus far performed in
the conduct of this most difficult and deli
cate subject. 1t is profound and weghty
state paper that cannot but convince Con-
gfeSS ana the people that to the President
and to the President alone must be confided
the final disposition of the Cuban question
Chicago Tfmes-Heralda 1Rep)
With this presentation of the matter we
believe not only Congress-, but the whole
people will, upon reflection, agree There
is no intent nor desire to deprive of their
just dues the brave Cuban partiots who
nave fought and suffered, but 1t is the
proper desire OF the President that this
tlrely untrammeled during the period of
whatever Intervention may take place-Cin-
cinnau Commercial Tribune (RepO
The Presidents message is temperate in
tone, convincing in argument, and with the
temper of Congress and the people aroused
by Span's uncivilized methods of warfare
and intensified by the destruction of the
Maine, the only possible outcome of the
situation is the withdrawal or expulsion of
Spain from Cuba. No one who considers the
reasons for not Immediately recognizing
cuban independence viii doubt that the
President is a wise adviser.-Milwaukee
Sentinel (Rep)
While the message is Enthusiastically firm in
some of it's clauses, and the declaration for
the immediate discontipuance of hostilities
in Cuba is emphatic the force of the docu-
ment will be leSsened by the evident init
nation that Mr.. Mckinley, while asking
Congress for complete authority in govern
ing the Nations action, is himself relying
upon Congress to take the responsibility.
Vague and discursive as the message is, the
President seems to be very much in earnest.
Chicago Record Qnd.)
With singular obtuseness or perversity
the President fails TO thrust to the front
of the controversy the two things that stir
the hearts of the people and justify inter
vyention by, our government. These are:
The treacherous destruction of the Maine"
and freedom for Cuba y These are the
two grounds for intervention that have
moved the people to demand action by Con-
gress. President Mckinley has ignored the
first reason and minimized the second. 1t is
this renders his message lame aud impo-
tent-New York World .(Dem.)
Every citizen will realize in reading this
message that it has been framed by an ex-
ecutive who seeks to hold the country per-
fectly true to it's established principles of
honor and justice, and who shrinks from no
rightful responsibility. 1t is a message that
means war unless Spain recedes from its
attitude against any intervention 1t means
war unless we are allowed to relieve the
=,
far better government than Cuba has ever
enjoyed. and far better, 1T may be assumed,
than Spain is willing to grant or able to
malnta1n.-St Louis 1flQbe-Democrat (Rep)
1t does not stir the biood it gives no up
ward impulse to the war spirit; it does not
appease the impetuous, perspirng for
chance to get at Spain. 1t gives no com
fort to the unrestrained jingoes; the fam
boyant press it leaves disconsolate 1t con-
tributes no deathless declaration to the
worlds store of fateful phrases. But Con-
gress, acting as the jury in the matter of
the grave charges brought against Spain,
could not go to it's deliberations with q
cleaner more luminous and guiding set of
instructions than those received from the
Presidents hands.-Detroit Free Press Ond.
Dem.) -
Only the widest OF lingo agitators can
criticise the message of President McKin-
ley sent to Congress yesterday. as wanting
in heroic vindication of the rights, preroga-
tives, and dignity of The public. His mes
sage is calm forcible and truthful from
beginning to end, and it opens with the
most terrible araignment against the des-
potism and barbarity of Spanish rule that
has ever been made against any civilized
government during the century. The Pres-
Qent mas FULLY and manfully performed his
duty to Congress, to the country, to human
ity and to the civilization of the world.
Philadelphia Times (Dem)
The message is at once temperate and
brave, peace-loving, but not warfearing. 1t
is not turning over of the whole matter to
Congress. 1t is, on the contrary, an explicit
proposal of a positive and aggressive policy
and an unqualified request for authority to
execute it. The President realizes that he
cannot act alone. The Constitution requires
the cooperation of Congress in declaring
war, and though the plan he proposes does
not in terms declare war he sees clearly that
it may lead to it, or to a state of war with
or without a formal declaration. Rightly he
asks for such momentous plans the sane
ton of the peoples representatives. and
seeks exact compliance with the spirit as
well as the letter of the Constitution.-New
York Tribune (Rep)