Washington sentinel., 1898-04-02
An Abdioated Leader.

extinction Of 400 gallant lives
"Be patient" urged the Spokesman
Of the Administration. "Suspenc
judgment. Il is better to know
than to think. Perhaps the Maine
was blown up by accident. II il
shall prove that she was wrecked
by design the President can be
depended upon to take such action
as will satisfy the most exacti1g
American spirit. Retribution will
be meted out IN iull measure and
running over. Only have faith. "
The nation had faith, and waited
in pent-up wrath through six
weary, heart-breaking weeks--for
this:
have directed that the finding of the
Court OF Inquiry and the views OF this
Government thereon be communicated
TO the Government of Her Majesty the
| Queen Regent, and l do not permit
my sell to doubt that the sense of justice
OF the Spanish nation will dictate a
course OF action suggested by honor
and the friendly relations OF the two
Governments.
It will be the duty oftt Executive to
| advise the Congress of the result, and
in the meantime deliberate considera-
ton is invoked.
That is absolutely all the COM
ment the President has to make
upon an act of murderous treach-
cry that stands alone in modern
history. He has less to say about
the destruction of an American
battle ship and the murder of 400
American sailors than he would
say about proposition to fill the
Potomac fats. He humbly holds
out his hat to Spain and trusts
that she will drop into it something
satisfactory to US, or at least to
herself
And this is what we have been
arming for so ostentatiously in the
sight of an admiring world. 1t is
for this that we have been securing
the military markets of Europe and
painting our war ships greenish
gray. This is the object for which
Congress appropriated $50, ,ooo,-
900, the most expensive dishwater
in the history OF literature.
No, there is something more.
What Of Cuba--free Cuba, whose
sufferings have wrung the Ameri-
can heart and stirred even har-
dened politicians to emotiona
Cuban independence was promised
up to last Monday morning. What
ever might be done about the
Maine, we were told, the liberty for
which the patriots had struggled
Tor hree years was assured. The
mighty Republic of the North was
about to stretch its protecting wing
over them, and the shadow OF Span
ish tyranny vas to disappear. But
now Cuba Libre seems to be for
gotten at the White House. The
Administration has "a plan, it is
said. to feed the reconcentrados
whom Spain has been starving, to
secure an armistice under Spanish
rule until October, and meanwhile
to obtain by negotiations the
practical independence" OF the
islsnd--a "just as good" imitation
which will be as satisfactory as a
substitute Tor real independence as
counterfeit bill is as a substitute
for genuine one.
Of this precious scheme the
Cuban Junta speaks with a biting
contempt that will make Ameri-
cans who feel pride in their coun-
try hang their heads. 1.-The United
States" says the Cuban represen-
tatives. may be willing to forgive
the blowing up Cfthe Maine and the
assassination OF its 400 officers and
men. But our business is to fight,
and we will keep at it,"
For three years we have fought Spain
as well as America. | mean we have
fought America to get our arms and sup
plies landed.
We are in better condition now than
we have ever been.
We will have no armistice unless the
United States forces us into it.
Our consent has not been asked and
It will never be given.
The action of the Junta kills in
advance the alleged Presidential
scheme for keeping the flag that
represents wholesale murder still
flying over Cuba. II the insur-
gents refuse to accept the terms
proposed, as they do refuse, what
can Mr.. Mckinley dor Will he
spend the remainder OF his $50.
ooo, 900 defence fund in helping
Blanco to suppress the patriots, or
will he allow anarchy and rapine
to continue in CUBA indefinitely
The American people will not per
NIT either course. They demand