The Irish standard., 1898-04-16
en- THE VERGE OF WAR.

en- THE VERGE OF WAR.
At this writing everything points to
war between the United States and Spain
unless the latter eyacuates the island Of
Cuba Immediately. In the message of
President Mckinley to congress there is
no ambiguity regarding his attitude to-
ward Spain. Condensed into few
words. the substance of the document is
that Spain has shown Its inability to
govern the island any longer and must
get out or fight the United States. The
message has been severely criticised for
being indefinite in some things. but no
one fails to understand tho presidents
meaning in his references to Spanish
atrocity, and in his determination to nut
stop to it by force if necessary. He
does not favor the recognition Of the
present insurgent government of the ISL
and. He appears to be opposed to Cuban
independence and asks that he be en-
powered to establish stable" govern
ment there after the Spaniards are
driven out. Whether the stable" gov
crnment would lie Spanish, Cuban or
American the President does not say,
and there is where he lays himself open
to the criticism of those who suspect him
OF being influenced by the money power
Tho house OF representatives on We'd
nesday by an almost unanimous vote
adopted a resolution directing the
president to intervene at once and to use
tho army and navy to stop the war in
Cuba. Tho same resolution calls for
stable and independent government on
tho island. The Democrats of the COM
mitteo on foreign: relations submitted a
minority report urging the unequi vocal
recognition Of neutrality-suspicious. of the
Cuban republic. but it'was rejected. On
the same day tho, senate committee on
foreign relations. of which c. K. Davis,
of Minnesota, is chairman, reported set
of resolutions witheths' true ring to them
as follows: .roh
Resolved, First+-Rlmt the people of
tho Island of Cuba. are. and ought of a
right to be. free and independent
Second-That 1t is the duty of the Unit.
cd States to demand; and the government
ce the United States does hereby demand,
that the government of Spain at once re-,
lirGuish its authority In tho Island of
Cube and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters
Third-That the president of the Unit
Ell States be and is hereby directed and
empowered to use the entire land and
naval forces ct the United States, and to
call into actual service for the United
States the militia OF the sever,i states
to such an extent as may be necessary to
carry these resolutions into effect.
Senator Turpie, on behalf of the Demo-
Gratis on the committee, presented
report favoring 1.-The imme-
date recognition of the republic of Cuba
az organized in that island. as free.
Independent and sovereign power among
the nations Of the world" Mr.. Foraker,
the Republican senator from Ohio, Joined
tho Democrats in signing the minority
report. On motion OF Senator Hoar who
is against war with Spain, the consider
alton Of the resolutions was postponed
till the following day. Thursday after
noon, as We arc writing, Mr. Hoar is
the senate of the repulse of
the Union army at Bull Run. The debate
on the resolutions may continue all this
week. The Democrats Of the senate with
several Republicans are In favor Of
the independence of the Gu
ban republic as 1t stands, while the
friends of the administration are for in
tervention first and recognition after
wards. Mckinley is reported to have
tho senators with veto il
they recognize the present Cuban gov
ernment. 1t will be observed by the
readers of The Irish Standard that the
Democrats in both branches OF congress
arc in favor Of tho independence of Gu
BIZ at once. and before an American SOL
der lands on the island. The Repub-
licans, with the exception OF few men,
bers in either house, favor Intervention
first and recognition of the Cuban re-
public afterwards. 40 The president with
Mark Hanna and tho Spanish bondhold-
ers desire no Cuba1ii independence at all,
unless wo are greatly mistaken. In any
event, war appears inevitable. and in the
language of Patrick Henry. "let it come"
and the sooner thelbetter for the United
States. hros
MlSREPRE SENTED IN EUROPE.