The record-union., 1898-04-20
THE IMPENDING CONFLICT.

declaration Of war for two declared
purposes, namely to pacify Cuba and to
enable her people to set up a civil gov
ernment of stability completely indepen-
dent Of domination by Spain.
The resolutions adopted demand of
Spain that she shall evacuate Cuba,
withdraw her naval forces and relin-
uuish authority over the island; that
the sole purpose of the United States is
pacifcation and a permanent peace III
Cuba. and that we distinctly disavoW
any idea of conquest, any intention to
exercise sovereignty over Cuba, and that
when we shall have pacified the island
we stand pledged to leave the govern
Inent and control to the people of the
island.
There is no recognition of the inde-
pendence of the present Junta Govern
ment of the insurgents, though there
Is declaration that the people of Cuba
ought to be and are Independent. Thus
1hc President has won a distinct vic
tory over those who have insisted that
there should be no expression by Amer
ica disconnected from recognition of the
present insurgent government. Had
that contention prevailed, however
even admitting the power of Congress
to trespass upon the executive preroga-
.tive-our task would have been doubly
difficult, if indeed not impossible, since
having recognized a government as in
control and rightfully SO, we could
make no move not subject to its ap-
proval and in accordance with its pol
icy, which might be, indeed probably
would have been, the reverse of what we
hold to be humane. just and wise.
The common ground upon which the
houses of Congress have met, therefore,
is very much better than the position
the Senate took in the outset, and while
it is not precisely what President Nc
Kinley desired, since it limits the lati-
tude of his discretion and action. it is
Infinitely preferable to what was pro-
posed in the first instance.
Pacification of Cuba and the estab-
1fshment of a stable independent gov
ernment by and of the people, are the
expressed and initial objects to be set
forth in the ultimatum that will go to
Spain if the President signs the resolu-
tions, and which it is expected that she
viii Immediately refuse to comply with,
whereupon hostilities may begin.
lie causes prompting the United States
to this action which are potent and have
had perhaps as great weight with the
people, namely, atonement to be en-
the death of 266 of her officers and
men, when she lay in a Spanish harbor
under protection of the Spanish Gov
ernment, and trusting in the safe
guarding Spain was bound to throw
about her. Secondly the feeling that
during many long years Spain has been
accommodating wrath against herself by
her offensive and brutal course towards
our citizens in Cuba and in treatment Of
their persons and property, until now
the claims piled up against her by
American citizens amount to millions.
Over and under all causes, however,
for our movement against Spain is that
greater, overshadowing and preponder-
ing one, namely, sentiment, that means
the fulhllment Of the forecast that this
people have long had in mind, that the
last remnant of misrule and monarch
ical domination by Spain in Cuba must
disappear and give place to democratic
institutions, that this is inevitable and
that the United States is the instrument
and the only one for the accomplishment
of this great end.
For her part Spain will present a case
for the sympathy Of the world which
will be apparently strong, namely, that
she has complied with every demand Of
f1cially made upon her by the Govern
ment of the United States down to this
last, and that only, that she relinquish
her authority over Cuba. But the reply
70 be made to that is that such con-
cessions as have followed our repeated
have been insincere in large part, as in
1he matter of the reconcentrados whose
release, ordered as far back as Novem-
Der last, was not carried into effect un-
Ill very recently, since the threat of war
has impended. Tt is to be replied that
while in response to our protests and
humane appeals Weyler was removed
the horrors of his system were allowed
zion Of the island has not proceeded. and
that Spain has demonstrated her inca
pacity to accomplish it; that autonomy
has proved hollow and a sham and has
not only been rejected by the insur-
gents, but has been ineffective even
among the loyalist population.
Should war come the very natural in
Quiry on all sides is, what will be the
term of its continuance? That no man
can forecast. While it may Iinger for a
year, or possibly longer, the reasonable
probability is that it will be of brief
duration. Assuredly our policy would
be to make it a short, sharp contest
Probably the policy of our Government
will be to do more than invest the
Cuban ports and attempt to reduce them
by blockade; it will certainly include the
landing of forces and an effort to oc-
cupy the island. and that as speedily as
may be done, meeting the forces O.
Spain and her volunteer contingent il