The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-12

The Presidents Opportunity.
The country. and. incidentally, Wall
Street, is agitated by the conviction
that President Mckinley is about TO do
something. II is believed that he is on
the point Of sending a message to Con-
gress declaring or recognizing the
independence of Cuba He may be alb
solutely assured that in any such ac-
ton, honestly and frankly taken, and
free from obnoxious qualifications. he
VIII have Congress and the people solid
~ at has back and bidding, just as they
We're the other day when the fifty
miiIion-dollar emergency appropriation
was voted.
The Hon William Mckinley, Presi-
dent, does not need To have US remind
him that ninety-nine per cent Of the
seyenty-five million people who com
pose the citizenship of America are
heartily with him for any policy which
has for its motive the punishment of
Spain FOR its inhuman and treacherous
massacre Of the crew of the Maine or
FOR recognition of the independence
CIR Cuban brothers have won for them
gelyes. He knows that and today en-
joys the great chance of his life to
make a hero Of himself by acting ac-
cordingly
But viii he do it? All, that is the Sc
rious question. Much as the American
people yearn TO love and honor him as
their leader in a great patriotic move
Rlent which should tell the world in
language stern and unmistakable that
America viii not longer tolerate the
oppression, inhumanity and perfidy Of
Spain in the Western Hemisphere, they
fear that he is yet under the malign
influence of the money devils who have
held him back from honest Intervention
10 stop the slaughter Of the innocents
10 this time.
Let US. therefore, pray that when the
President speaks for Cuban independ-
ence he viii speak as representing the
great heart Of the nation and say no
word that may mean connivance with
treasonabie purposes Of the Spanish
Cuban bond syndicate.
In his own organs it was yesterday
charged against Mr.. Mckinley that he
would hasten a proposal TO Congress to
consider Cuban independence practical
~ upon the lines laid down by the Nc
Cook and Hanna interest. 1t was frank
ly said that he or his control feared
that the truth concerning the Havana
massacre if published in Advance Of ac-
ton on other grounds would so infiame
the masses that the results desired by
the Administration would be unattain-
able. For this reason il was widely
suggested in Spanish and Administra-
ton journals that Mr.. Mckinley would
Try TO ignore the findings Of the Maine
Board Of Inquiry, the substance of
(which is VIGOROUSLY within his DOS
session today, and would endeavor to
cloud that disagreeable subject by
startling the legislative branch Of the
Government with a ringing and patri-
otic appeal for Cuban liberty
But why should it be necessary TO
suppress the truth regarding the mas
sacre2 If the President wants the
country in accord with him in a cour-
ageous national demonstration for the
right why should he wish TO conceal
lieye that such is his intention, although
we have positive information that some
of his kitchen cabinet advisers are urg-
ing that fatuous course Of conduct up
on him.
in the interests Of American patriot
ism We have yentured on more than
one occasion to warn AIr Mckinley.
We did so on the last day Of January.
when we begged him 10 remember that
the Maine was anchored over a mine
in the harbor Of Havana. There is an
other mine over which he is anchored
il is the mine Of American wrath which
would explode If it should be discover
ed that he is favorable TO the nefarious
c0spiracy Of some Of his friends TO
compel cuba 10 buy Independence at
the price q the plumber the Spanish
Cuban bond syndicate expects to get
out Of the deal
With all the strength Of the patriotic
zeal which is within US We beg Mr.. Nc
Kinley 70 keep his skirts and his con-
science clear Of that unclean thing He
knows as well as we know that there
is not the slightest occasion TO mix
this nation up in the settlement Of the
Spanish debt We owe it TO our tradi-
lions and history to recognize the free
dom, already achieved. OF a brave
American people. We should be dis
graced for all time in the annals OF
civilization if We tried TO fasten upon
the neck Of the young republic the
debt incurred by its fendish- oppressor
in the vain effort TO reconquer the
Cuban people.
Millions, and hundreds Of millions, for
right. justice. liberty, and the punish
ment OF Spain for its perfidy, but not
one cent for the bond sharks,
Mr.. President, this is the condition
which you are about TO face when you
come before Congress and the country
with your proposition TO terminate the