The San Francisco call., 1898-03-30
THE COUNTRIES DEMAND.


 been led to expect, not that their chief executive would breathe the spirit of war; but that at least the stand to be taken by him would be dignhed abso- lute, final, rather than bid for peace It had not been anticipated that he would make mere state ment of the findings of the Maine board ot inqury and leave to Spain to determine as to their accep- tance. That such the present conditions trends of the administration must, however reluctantly ad init, while enemies proclaim 1t, and" in far away Madrid there is rejoicing undisguised The eDons in their conceit believe victory have been won, that their idle boasts of ability subdue the United States have had effect and that their right to at the Yankee is firmly established than ever
 But it must be remembered that the President has more at stake than any other individual. Upon his action must rest not alone his hopes of future preferment but his place in history. It is not req sonable to suppose that he has taken step without the most mature delberation It Is possible he has information yet withheld from the public that feel ing be inevitable he desires to throw the bur den of its declaration upon Spain, so that with the coming of the crisis that decayed and reekng mon archy shall not have the moral support of any other nation Therefore 1t Is i'll to be hasty in pro nouncng verdict A day or season may supply the most complete vindcation.
 Whatever the future may bring forth the present feeling of discomfort is natural and in measure to
 
 were insults to be resented, murder to be avenged and the eager citizens got note saying the matter had been referred to the people guilty of the insult and the murder that adjudication had been left to the of justice and to the honor of these people It struck them as being mockery, and they were un- able pierce the veil discerning the wise statesman ship behind. They entertain the notion that Spain has no sense of justice they read history and know that Spain is without honor, that she has stained its pages with the record of perdy, and the record is written in blood.
 Weeks ago the Maine, laden with gallant men, sent by an act of treachery most dire and unprece- dented to grave in the harbor of Havana Certain as was the feeling that these had been assassi- hated, no hurried conclusions reached. The first impulse smte the miscreants with all the i'm placable wrath embodied in Mosaic law gave way to calmer thought. Inquiry was begun. We were told to wait. We have waited. The inquiry has estab lished everything that had been suspected. It has shown that the Maine, in port on friendly mission, deliberately blown up, and that the Spanish Gov ernment is responsible there be question Still we do not hear an unequivocal demand for such paration is in the power oi that Government. We do not observe it ordered, deserves to be- to move its hateful presence from the Western Hemis- phcre, where 1t is afliction and blight. We are still told to wait Wait until when? Wait for what7
 
 of our court of inquiry fallacious. This coun- try will submit neither the delay the inevitable impertinence with which Spain has been invited to crown it. There is nothing to leave to arbitration, nothing over which to quibbe, Either the United States exact retrbution naming its own terms, stand disgraced among the nations of the earth
 There is no desire to possess Cuba. The wrongs of that island would have gone unredressed and unre- strained had it not been for the crime against the Maine It for this that the spirit of swept across the land It for this that Congress made appropriation and sent abroad to purchase ships full panoplied for battle And that the climax has there is effort to pass it over as an in cident This the people will abide, There already mutterings which must the admins traton that whatever may be its ultimate policy it must soon be revealed They will never be content to have the Maine forgotten while the Spanish flag still flies above the spot where the bones of that noble craft lie bleaching, and n graves which do not shield them from the gibes of the populace its seamen find rest on a foreign shore Whether not Spain pay money indemnity matters nothing. This is not the place of poverty. We do not think that gold is balm for hurts The injury has been too monstrous for settlement cash basis It for this that Amer ca demands that Spain take her trumpery of con quest her banners and her guns and go back to the domain where once she glorious. Her career 
 With the point of the oppressor's sword she has carved her own fate
 Assuredly in the matter of precedents President Mckinley need have been at no loss have turned to the time of Buchanan. Monday morning was cited in this paper message from President Pierce provoked by infinitely less outrageous than the affair of the Maine, yet calling upon Congress to do what lay in its power to check aggressons and prom isng to make quick of any authority conferred upon the executive As long ago 1893 Thomas Jefferson laid before Congress a message detailing the depredations of ship belonging to the Emperor of Morocco. It was not accompanied by information that the matter had been left to that Emperor, did it intimate that his personal opinion was of value On the contrary it closed tflus "In the mean time it is for Congress to consider the provisional authorities which may be necessary to restrain the