The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-13
49,. ~.
CONFESSION AND AVOIDANCE.

1
In one respect at least Mr.. McKiuley's
message Of Monday is n very remarkable
document--he makes out one OF the strong
est cases jtstifying American intcryen
ton, and then abandons his right to ask
for an immediate verdict.
He demonstrates that he sees his
strength and moral vantage and then hest
tatcs to use them.
He even goes so far as to declare after
having shown the conditions OF which he
complains, that II is mo answer to say
that this Is all in another country be-
| longing TO another nation aud Is. there
fore, no business OF ours" ut Is especial
| ly our duty" he admits. "ior 1t is right
at our doorl'
Note the grounds upon which he places
our right to intervene and then note his
lame and impotent conclusions. Here Is
ms own summing IN Of the situation
| Tho grounds for such intervention may be
| briefly summarized follows; First In the
| .Auhe OF humanity aud to put AN end To- tho
| phfbnrlucF, hioodshed, starvation aud horrible
| f'lAories now existing there and which the
| parties to the conflict are either unable or
| unwilling to stop or mitigate. II IL no answer
| 70 say thls Is all IN another country, belong
| ing 10 another nation, and ia therefore none
! ui our business II Ia especially our duty
| for It Is right a. our door.
| second, wo owe IL 10 our citSens In Cuba TO
| HIlpfd them that protection to life and prom
| cry when no government thcro can or win
| nhottl, aud to terminate the conditions thai
I DEPRIVE them Of legal protection.
| 1hitd thu right to intervene may no iusti-
| h'd by the very serious injury to our COM
| mercc, trade and business and wanton de
h'Iuctioh OF property and devastation OF the
Fourth. aud which N Of the utmost ,mnor,-
nhee, tn" preHcnt condition of affairs In Cubn
la constant menace 10 our peace and entails
bpon IN" government enormous expense with
snch a conflict wagcd for years IN an island
80 near us, and with which our people have
such large business relations where tho lives
nnd liberty of our citizens are In constant
DANGER aud their property destroyed and
themselves ruined where our trading Vassple
are liable IN seizure aud are seized at our
very doors by wnrHhlps of foreign nation.
tho expeditions of fllbustorng that We are
powetloss to repress altogether, aud the ques-
lions aud cntnngIements thus arisng-all
these and others that | need not mention,
with tho resulting strained relations. are n
conntant mcuuce 10 our peace and compel NJ
to find way ont OF II.
His only reference to the Maine Is 10
present another reason for intervention
the inability of Spain 10 protect friendly
ships in the harbor Of Cuba.
That is his case.
Does he suggest that congress declare
that Spain must leave the island. under
these circumstances? Not a word ON that
tine,
Does he say he intends to send the army
ana navy TO Cuhn, il so authorized by
congress? Not at any point in his mes
sage
Does he declare that he will give the
Cubana the moral or physical support of
me United States? On the other hand he
lntimntcs that he will aid Spain IN put
ing down tho insurgents In order TO give
the island a stable government
Throughout his ontiro message he CON
tinues to recognize Spanish sovereignty
In Cuba and has no word of kindness or
sympathy for tho patriot army or the
struggling Cuban government. The docu-
lnent reads like an apology for the failure
OF Spanish "nutonomist" plans ANA
broathes between tho lines n desire for
delay in order that the tricks of sran-
ish diplomacy, in the way OF autonomy
and armistice. may be given further trial,
ne liz even gnllible enough TO believe that
Spain has appropriated and is preparing
to spend 100000 for the relief of the re-
concentrates
Fhe message, in word, is politicians
Plea OF confession and avoidance The So
called "jnsoes' have urged no more than
no has in justification for intervention.
but the most pusillanimous peace-at-apy-
price fellow could not ask less than he
outlines In the way OF policy. II is.
In short, mn attempt to oaiolo congress-
INTO granting him fun authority to not
'h mo premises-as he has been acting.
y is q shrowd second to sagasta's motion
Tor more time and the continuance OF the
conditions which Mckinley himself has
SHOWN to be "intolerablel" 1t is humn-
'atlon to the American pnople,