The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-04-04

$50 600 GOO which the administration ask
ed for TO enable it 10 give IT'S po'ity a
definite and substantial shape.
Our readers have been witnesses 10
the proceedings that have thus Tar peeh
carried out Day by day they nave seen
developments which. on the surface, nav"
been calculated 10 deceive the very elect
Every movement that has taken place
has seemed to betray an earnest desire
on the part of the republican admins
tratOn to carry out the policy when tue
people of this country have insisted on
since the Cuban question has oeNeiopeo
into an American question. We nave
Witnessed the placing of the country on
a war footing. the maneuvering OF our
navy and the display Of intense anxiety
and energy in military circles. Millions
OF dollars have been spent to assure
sharp and decisive victory in the event
that Spain should resent Or resist the
definite policy which ii was supposed
the republican president had determined
to carry out.
ON Monday last we had arrived at that
stage Of the republican performance
where it seemed possible to know deli
nitely the nature of Mr.. Alckinley's poi
lev. Ii was found that the president
was URGING UPON SPAIN THE
RIGHT OF THIS GOVERNMENT TO
FEED AND CLOTllE THE UNFOR-
TUNATE CUBAN POPULATION
WHICH is STARVING no DEATH
AS THE RESULT OF THE BRUTE
POLICY OF SPAIN. If this demand
was refused, the president would back
il ND by display of force. If Spain con
cedes the right, the administration
would claim a victory and contend that
the president had been successful IN
carving out the desires Of the American
people.
Thus we had the definite policy OF
the administration expenditure OF
millions in money, the purchase of Tor
eign warships, the concentration OF our
navy at various points within striking
distance, all for the purpose OF estab-
fishing the right of this government to
feed and clothe those who have been
made the victims of Spanish treachery
and brutality Was it for this that the
men and women of the United States had
urged congress and the president to
united action? No wonder even the re
publican house reyolted and forced an
immediate change of policy as soon as
il asccrtained what was the real purpose
OF the administration.
The mind recoils from the contempla-
ton of a policy so belittling, so rldlcu-
lous, so contemplate. so outrageous, SO
hOpclessly out of tune with every Amer
lean sentiment. Let lis not be miSunder-
stood. The people are willing to spend
millions TO give succOr to the untor-
tunate victims of Spanish barbarism, but
they are not willing TO stop there An
alyze the presidents policy as at first
determined and see how outrageous 1t
was. 1t was a demand that Spain shall
permit the people of this country to re-
lieve the necessities of those whom Spain
is either unwilling or unable to keep
from starvation, while the Spaniards
NAV turn their undivided attention and
resources to the work Of making more
victims. to the destruction of more prop
erty. to the assassination and butchery
of more Cubans. In short, Mr.. McKin-
ley's policy. stripped naked and laid
bare, was that this government by TAX
ing charge of vast work Of beneVo-
lpnce. should give Spain a freer 0ppor-
tunity 10 destroy the CubanS and thus