The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08


The wise and well-worn adages that ut is
the unexpected that happens" and Man
proposes but God disposes'' are illustrated
by the present war. 1t is probable that at
the time of Mr. McKinley's inauguration
nothing was more remote from his thoughts
than war with Spain. The situation at
that time was not threatening-at least 1t
was not so considered though 1t really con-
tanned the elements of trouble. as the Cuban
question had for many years But we had
got SO in the habit of treating it in a per-
functory way. patching it up and smooth
ing it over till such time as it would break
out again, that its real danger was not
realized. But battening down the matches
does not always put out a fire. In his in
augural address Mr.. Mckinley devoted the
following paragraph to our foreign rela-
tons:
1t has been the policy Of the United States
since the foundation of the government to
cultivate relations of peace and amity with
all the nations of the world, and this
cords with my conception of our duty now
We have cherished the policy OF non1nter-
ference with the affairs of foreign govern
ments, wisely inaugurated by Washington,
keeping ourselves free from enlargement,
either as allies or foes, content to leave I'M
disturbed with them the settlement or their
own domestic concerns. 1t VIII be our ann
to pursue firm and dignified foreign pol
Icy, which shall be just, impartial. ever
watchful of our national honor, and always
insisting upon the enforcement or the law
full rights of American citizens everywhere.
We want no wars of conquest: we must
avoid the temptation Of territorial aggres-
sion. War should never be entered upon
until every agency of peace has failed;
peace is preferable to war in almost every
contingency.
Nothing could be more pacific than this.
1t is a blue sky of peaceful anticipation
without cloud in sight as large as a mans
hand Yet the cloud was there, below the
visual horizon, perhaps, but existent. Mr..
McKinley's Cabinet furnished additional
evidence of his peaceable expectations. In
no respect was it particularly war Cabi-
net and in the State Department 1t was
distinctly peace Cabinet. The pains taken
by carefully adjusted political arrange
ment to make Mr., Sherman secretary of
state, thus placing the control of our for
eign relations in the hands Of an aged
statesman, whose hold upon affairs could
not but be weak showed that only plain
and easy sailing was anticipated. Since then
the Cabinet has been reorganiZed on war
basis, but we are speaking of the begin
ming of the administration. The appoint
ment of General Woodford as minister to
Spain was on the same pacific line, for his
strong point was believed to be kind of
optimism that would not recognize war as
long as there was possibility Of keeping
the peace. All these things go to show that
at the beginning of his administration
President Mckinley had no thought of war
and looked forward to a term of uninter-
rupted peace. Elected as the advance agent
of prosperity he had no desire and no eX-
pectation of becoming representative of
the god of war. But men are controlled by
events oftener than they control them. I'm
questionably, President Mckinley was sin
cere in his desire to maintain peace and
amity with all nations and in his expecta-
ton Of being able to do so, but day after
day and week after week, as page after page
of the book of fate was turned, disclosing
the record already made by the Supreme Ar
bitter of events, it became more and more
apparent that events were controlling him,
instead of being controlled by him The tide
once turned in that direction, as it was,
long before the fact was discerned. the cur
rent grew stronger and stronger until it be-
came irresistible. History will undoubtedly
give President Mckinley credit for a sin
cere and determined effort to resist this cur
rent but it will also record that the stars
in their courses, fought against him and
that, in spite of himself he became chos-
en- instrument in the hands of Providence
to execute preordained movement in the
worlds progress. That the responsibility
and the duty now devolved upon the Presi-
dent were not of his seeking is nothing to
his discredit. If he did not seek, nor anticf-
pate, then he certainly did not shrink from
them, and current history shows that he is
discharging them faithfully. fearlessly and
successfully.