The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-11
.M'KINLEY KEEPS-COOL..
Foreign Complications Fail to
Excite the President.
BUT HE Is NOT INDIFFERENT.
Realizes the Responsibilities Of His POSI-
tion and Controls His Emotions In the
Present Situation = Much TO Worry
About-No Lack Of Advice.

Il
Present Situation = Much TO Worry
About-No Lack Of Advice.
WASHINGTON. March 11.-[Special i
| Throughout all these troubles and compli-
cations with Spain over the Cuban situa-
| tion President Mckinley has remained a
very cool and well contained man. Some
| of the newspaper correspondents who are
| known as administration organists have,
| however, gone to ridiculous extreme in
| picturing the composure of the president.
| They have represented him as being SO
very cool that his attitude amounted al
most to Indifference. This Is not accurate.
President Mckinley Is essentially q SYM
pathetic man. 1t would not be fair to call
him emotional, because his logical facul-
ties largely predominant over his impulses.
But that he is naturally one Of the most
sympathetic of men whenever distress or
death or suffering Is involved every one
knows who knows him well. In conse-
quence the president was deeply moved
when the news came of the disaster to the
Maine. There were hours in which IL re-
quired all his powers of self control to en-
able him to keep level head and to avoid
doing anything rash. This am told by a
member of the cabinet who was very near
to the president during the ordeal.
This gentleman tells me that the presi-
dents first impulse on learning the dread
full particulars of the catastrophe was to
seek vengeance. In common with most
Americans, his first thought was that this
deed had been done by the Spaniards and
that they must be punished. Let any read
er imagine himself in the place Of the pres
ident at that moment. He was conscious
of his power. He knew that word from
him would start our ships in motion. At
Key West lay the strongest fleet this gov
eminent has ever been able to assemble.
In two days this feet, were the order
given, could take Havana, Matanzas and
other Cuban ports. In five days, had the
president yielded to impulse, he could have
brought on situation which would have
meant war. He knew, too, that IL he did
this the country would indorse him. There
would be no dissenting voice. Men of all
parties would stand behind him.
The Sober Second Thought.
But the presidents second thought, said
this member of the cabinet, was of the
responsibility involved, of the duty which
he owed to the nation and to the world.
He could not afford to make a mistake.
The government could not afford to pro-
coed upon an assumption. 1t must know
the truth and know it In a way which
left no room for doubt or cavil. One of
the most curious things in human nature
is the influence which high public station
has upon the great majority of men. 1t
makes them steady and strong. The sense
of responsibility becomes keen and over
whelming. Even men who are hot headed
by temperament, eager ard precipitate,
feel the restraining influence of this great
responsibility. There have been several
examples of this in our history, and in
McKinley's case man naturally ardent
and sympathetic, full of emotion and de-
sire for action Is made steady and patient
by realization of the momentous conse-
quences depending upon his action.
An instance of the presidents sympa-
thetic nature was afforded last Sunday.
He attended services at the Metropolitan
Methodist church in the morning and
listened TO a sermon which contained sew
eral pathetic little stories Of boyish gentle
ness and self sacrifice. AS the eloquent
divine told one of these little stories those
who were sitting near the president no.
ticed tear trembling in his eye.
Worried at Times.
At various times during this Spanish
complication the president has been very
much worried. He has not been always
as calm and cool as some of the kitchen
organists would have us believe. There
have been moments in which he was ex-
ceedingly nervous and apprehensive. That
this is so is not surprising, for during the
last six weeks events have followed fast
upon one anothers heels. We had the
Dupuy de Lomo letter, the narrowing dis
aster to the Maine, the Sobral incident,
the efforts of Spain to purchase ships out
from under the negotiations of the United
States, the demand for General Lees re-
call, and all the other complications and
Invitations which have served to anger the
people of the United States and TO make
them willing to fight Spain in order to
gain relief from harassment. There have
been moments when, were the president
swearing man, a round oath or two would
probably have relieved his feelings.
Any man in post of great responsible
ity enjoys more advice than anything else.
He is surrounded by people who wish to
aid him by telling him just what he must
or must not do. The president of the Unit
ed States is no exception to this rule and
1t happens that the president has in his
own official family men who represent the
two extremes of opinion on this Spanish
question. One of these, it is perfectly fair
to say, Is the secretary of the treasury. 1t
has been the desire of Mr.. Gage that every
possible effort consistent with honor
should be adopted to preserve the peace,
and then II these did not suffice to make
war with all the severity and celebrity of
which we were capable. Mr.. Gage has not
believed IL to be our duty to go out seek
ing trouble, and he has said so. But at
the same time he has shown himself as
patriotic as any Of bis confreres, and his
good judgment and sound sense have aided
the president in retaining proper balance.
Alger Stands For Action.
The other extreme has been represented
by Secretary Alger. Mr.. Alger has from
the first had strong convictions as to our
duty in Cuba. He has always contended
for action, for intervention to stop the war
and to put an end to suffering and death
In that unhappy island. Other members
OF the cabinet have taken n middle ground,
but between the two extremes and the
various shades Of opinion around the coun-
Gil board the president has not lacked for