The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-09
SATURDAY. APRIL .. 1898.
WE MUST STAND TOGETHER.

The Times thinks the attack Of Mr.
Ientz. OF Ohio. upon President Mckinley
IN the House Of Representatives on Thurs
day was in the wost Of taste, unjust and
unpatriotic. in The Times opinion Mr..
MCKINLEY has acted all through this
SPANISH American affair the part Of a
rool level-hoaded patriotic American,
who was resolved to maintain tho honor
and dignity Of mis- country, but who in
tended TO avert tie awful calamity OF
war n II could be done consistently with
The countrys honor. The Times applauds
most heartily tho Presidents earnest and
sincere efforts to preserve peace IL has
been obvious for some time that the pre-
dominant sentiment I'm Congress would
not permit Spain TO remain longer mis-
tress Of the island of Cuba, so that II
would have been foolish I'm the President
10 place himself in the way of that SEN
timent, and declare to Congress that he
would prevent war az any cost. He could
not have prevented it by anything he
could do. Congress would have run away
with him the moment IL saw he was ami
mated by any such purpose and would
have forced the issue with Spain, whether
he assented 70 it or not. SO that we re-
peat, It would have been foolish in him
10 put himself in the breach and 20 have
said to Congress that he would prevent
war whether Congress would or not. But
fr,ft~ nj g.
him, It was his duty to hold the war
spirit down as strongly as he could and
90 exhaust every resource of diplomacy
in the effort TO preserve peace. lie has
met his responsibilities upon this line
like man. and, however this unfortunate
affair may terminate, we feel sure that
President Mckinley will have nothing 10
reproach himself with in connection with
the stages that led up TO conflict.
We cannot help feeling outraged az Mr..
Lentz's inslnuation that the Presidential
once has been used as an annex Of Wall
street. We will not tolerate suggestion
that Mr.. Mckinley has been degrading his
exalted functions in this matter by traf-
ncking In his knowledge OF public events
for gain in stock iobblng. We believe he
has conducted himself throughout this
whole business with an eye single TO the
good and the honor Of his country and
we cannot look upon dirty filings and in
situations OF this sort otherwise than as
Incidents sthat degrace those responsible
for them. and that bring discrcdit upon
the country. That information of the
progress, OF events may have drif;od into
Wall street is very possible. But we do
not believe the President let it get there.
1t is much more probable that they leaked
out from some Of Mr.. Lentzs Congress
sional associates TO whom the President
committed them in confidence.
Nor have we the slightest sympathy
with the tendency that the debate stirred
Up by Mr.. Lentz developed 20 make po-
ilticai capital out of what the country is
now going through. Replying 10 the
speech from Mr.. Grosvenor that Mr.
Lentz called out, Mr.. Bailey said that he
repealed the idea that II war came. it was
70 be a Republican war, as Mr., Grosve-
nor had minated. We see no intimation
Of that idea In Mr. Grosvenors speech as
The wire brought It 10 Ms, and we cannot
look upon Mr. Bailey's reply otherwise
than as a strained effort 10 make the
country understand that the Democrats
in Congress are Ut the front taking care
Of the eountrys honor along with the
foremost. That IS nothing but stage
trick for political effect, and ali such
theatrical performances are out OF place
now. The country assumes. as a matter
OF course, that the Democrats are going
20 do their duty II the country is faced
with war, end there Is no need for any
Democrat posing IN Congress as the es-
pedal champion Of the oountry's honor
and reputation. This IS most solemn
hour when discretion and calmness ana
quiet are the qualities the country wishes
10 see In its Representatives. and no
monthings and pratlngs OF readiness to
die and do all sorts OF absurd things 70
keep the country's nag ahoat
II we are TO have war ali OF the Amer.
lean people are going TO be at the coun-
nys back, resolved 10 make it war that