The record-union., 1898-04-12

with human blood during the last fifty
years. 1t distinctly disavows any
ton to the Spanish or the Cubans, fur
ther than this, to use the words Of the
message, THE war must stop" A
stable government must be establish
ed capable of insuring peace and re-
spending to obligations to other ma
tions.
The addendum of the message is that
Spain has declared an armistice prelim-
mary TO proposed peace negotiations.
But the details of this proposition have
have not been communicated to the
President. 1t is to be assumed that
when they are he will at once COM
municate them to Congress. Concern
ing the object Spain declares she has
in view by this PRONUNCIATION of royal
decree of armistice, the President inti-
mates that it may be we'll to give it a
trial, since, as he puts it, if it results
in the establishment of peace and
the putting of an end to the present
intolerable conditions in Cuba, it will
have accomplished all that this peace
loving republic desires. But if it fails
it Will justify the action now contem-
plated
Thus the whole subject matter is left
with Congress. To cool, deliberate,
lofty purpose, humane consideration
and the exercise of wise judgment the
Chief Executive invokes the action or
cost congressman, who have already
announced their dissatisfaction with
the message, will not venture to ques-
tion it's sincerity, or challenge the high
purpose and conscience of its author.
The radical peace men, who desire that
condition at any price, must concede
that the President fortifies his position
strongly by historical citation, by logi-
cal argument and by appeals to the
best promptings of our natures.
Clearly the President is desirous that
peace shall prevail, and that conflict
in arms shall not take place if wisdom
can suggest any means of avoidance.
But at the same time he as clearly indi-
Gates that national honor must be
maintained, and this republic must not
finch from duty-doing in the interest
Of humanity, and in defense Of the
common concern of the people of the
nation So far does the desire for the
maintenance of peaceful conditions pre-
vail with him that he leaves it to be
inferred that he favors. with the advice
of Congress, that the proposed armis-
tice be tried, provided the terms thereof
prove to be just, promotive of peaceful
ends, and if they do not impose harsh
and unjust conditions.
Not stree Lincoln's time has any man
in the Presidential chair been so beset
and tried as has President Mckinley.
Harassed by radical conservatives and
radical war men, annoyed by newspa-
pers, misrepresented by political enc
mics, assailed off and on the floors of
Congress, his motives impugned, his
integrity challenged, charged with be-
ing a siclxly sentimentalist at one mo-
ment, and at the next with being the
tool of stock gamblers. But through it
all he has borne himself with courage
and resolution and come off with honor
and the respect of the people. He has
now proposed to the people distinct
policy of intervention by the United
States. because of his belief that if the
Cuban insurgents were recognized as
a government there would be no guar
anty that the war would cease or its
horrors be mitigated, that order would
be restored or that the rights of hu-
manity would be the more regarded by
the combatants. Under present condi-
tions. it is thinkable that even if the
Spanish were elected from Cuba, there
might still be civil war, since there is
by no means a small body of Cubans
who are remaining loyal to Spain. The
President evidently believes, in short,
that Cuba cannot as yet be left to her
self, and therefore, that if we do any
thing at all in the premises, it must
be through intervention to command
peace and the promotion of the estab-
lishment and firm seating of a stable
govarppoopt