The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-04
MKINLEY'S ULTLMATUM
It Will Soon Be Sent to Spain,
Says Walter Wellman.
PRESIDENTS PLANS MATURED.
A Demand For Peace In Cuba-Dificul-
ties of the Situation-Trying to Avoid


she talk in Washington is of our relations
with Spain. 1t is now well known that
President Mckinley is preparing to move
toward solution of the Cuban problem.
AS advised you in these dispatches some
time ago, the president will soon send an
other note to Spain, demanding that Cuba
be given peace and that the United States
be admitted as factor in settling the trou-
BILE on some permanent basis. How soon
this note will be sent is not yet determined,
but in the nature of things it cannot be
dispatched till the mystery of the Maine
disaster is cleared up. Although the pres
ident has matured his plans, he recognizes,
as every one in Washington does that
some upheaval over the Maine business,
or some other accident, may supervene to
make all other designs superfluous. AL
though it is possible war may come over
the Maine explosion, the prevailing Opin-
ion in official circles at this time is that
this incident will be closed in a few weeks
satisfactorily to the United States and
without disturbance Of our relations with
Spain.
AS President Mckinley says to his ad-
visers, the great question after all is as to
the future of Cuba. Many people appear
to think the path of the president is a
straight one, that it is easy to formulate
policy which will solve the whole problem.
OF course it is easy if the president wishes
to rush the country into war. But even in
this apparently simple matter there are
some considerations which present them
selves to thoughtful men. On this score I
am able to give the substance of an inter-
view which I have had with an official
who is high in the administration IS coun-
oils and Who possesses the confidence of the
president.
Difficulties In the Way.
"Let me show you some of the difficult
ties that are in our way" said this gen.
tleman. "Before we can go to war there
must be something to war about. We
should have cause that the world will
recognize as just, for nation in this
serious business of warmaking is just
like an individual. 1t is impossible to re-
tain the respect of ones neighbors and Sc
cure their support if one attacks man
without sufficient justification. Before
we can declare war there must be some
cause therefor, and naturally the president
is expected to lay this cause before con-
gress in full statement of the case. Con-
gress alone can declare war under our con-
stitution, and before congress acts case
uuSU D6 uQduo OuU. WudU Ids = pain uOu0
against us? What attack has she made
upon the United States, assuming that the
Maine was not blown up by a conspiracy
having the authority of the Spanish gov
eminent, of which there is no evidence?
"When we come to answer this ques-
| ton, we find that Spain has rebellion on
her hands in Cuba. That rebellion has
| cost US some annoyance, and we think
| Spain is a long time putting it down.
But did we not have a rebellion of our own
| on hand some years ago and were we not
| long time in suppressing it? And did it
| not infiict great loss of commerce upon
several of the nations of Europe? Still we
should have felt very much aggriey ed if
any European nation had said to us our
war had gone far enough and If we did
not stop it instantly they would declare
| war upon this country.
Action Demanded.
"It is true that the situation in Cuba
| demands some action at our hands and
that the country will never be satisfied till
action is taken. do not doubt that the
president is preparing to act, but the fact
remains that the situation does not de-
mand war, and there would be no thought
of war as a solution of it if it were not for
public opinion. Public opinion is perhaps
pressing the president farther and faster
than he would be willing to go if left to
his own Judgment. In other words, the
people who know only the surface of
things and who think with passion and
heat are really directing what shall be
done instead of leaving such a momentous
question to the officials, who are supposed
to have full information and sober, seri-
Gus responsibility to meet. Remember,
too, that all this because Cuba is 80 miles
from our shores instead of 1900. If the
island lay long way off, over in Africa
or Asia or Australasia, not word would
you hear said about it in this country, al
though the international rights and the
considerations of humanity would be just
the same.
81 do not oppose giving a reasonable
amount of help to Cuba, but do not
think we should talk war. Spain has done
no injury to us. On the other hand, she
has released every American citizen caught
in Cuba violating the laws of Spain and
the laws of his own country too At our
instance she has recalled Weyler and in
stituted more humane policy. She seems
anxious to do everything toward us that
Is right and just. But I admit the coun-
try wants action, and as rule believe in
trusting Gne masses. Iney are nOt OlIeu
mistaken. But in this case they may be
going too far. 1t may not be war that we
need, but some form of mediation that
will solve the problem without war. That,
believe, is the presidents idea. Our pur-
pose is not, or ought not to be, the de-
struction of Spain, but the salvation of
Cuba.
Can We Declare War?
"Suppose the president does demand of
Spain that the war be brought to an end
and that this government be admitted as
a factor in settling the trouble on some
permanent basis. Then suppose Spain
says that is a matter of her domestic con-
Germ, and she cannot admit the right of a
foreign power to dictate to her, but that
she is anxious to remove all things that
annoy US and that she will use her utmost
endeavors to suppress the rebellion. Spain
does nothing but stand on her dignity.
What are we to do? Can we declare war
on her for that? Would it be just cause?
Would the opinion of the nations uphold
us? Where has Spain attacked usp What
has she done to injure usp No, there are
many things to be thought about, and we
should be very cautious how we rush into
war without certainty of having just
cause therefor"
ouote these opipions NOT bacauce I