New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-30
VOICES STILL FOR WAR.

Not all are satisfied. The PRESIDENTS MeF-
sage we are told, was received by some IN
Washington with wild bowls Of rage The
phrase may be appropriate. 1t does not seem
happy one. Wildness Is not an attribute OF
Judgment. IIowls are not the voice OF reason.
But let that pass. Granted that some men or
sanity are Discontinued with the policy OF the
Administration toward Spain and Cuba and the
Maine disaster. It will be pertinent, and per-
haps not Improbable. to ask what they would
have and why.
Do they want such reparation as can be made
for the loss Of the Maine and her men? 1t Is
to be presumed they do, in common with all
their countrymen, the President himself most
OF all. Well, Spain has not yet refused TO make
it. Indeed, this country has not yet demanded
It. 1t was surely not to be expected that Spain
would rush to the fore with indemnity in adj
vance OF any demand or even of any expression
OF belief that such an indemnity should be
made That would have been neither business
nor diplomacy. That the Spanish Government
has not made indemnity within twenty-four
hours after the announcement Of the American
verdict on the case Is cause neither for war
nor for surprise. On the other hand, We have
the Presidents explicit assurance that he eX-
poets Spain to do what Justice and honor re-
quire Has not William Mckinley shown him
self enough OF a man Of his word to make that
assurance Of some weight?
But reparation that can be obtained through
diplomatic means, they say, would not be salts
factory. We should resort to armed interven-
ton at once. Nothing else would atone for
the Havana tragedy. Indeed! How long IS It
since this Nation adopted the ethics OF the
Thug? Would 1t repay us for the money loss
Of the Maine TO spend other money. in ten
times greater sums, in war? Would II restore
her to our Navy to imper and perhaps lose
other ships? Could those mon he brought back
to life by sacrificing other lives or their fam
lies be comfortcd by making other families
desoate? Revenge Is not reparation It was
all very we'll for the atrabilarous young man
In TOcksley. Hail. to complain that "the jim
"glng Of the guinea helps the hurt that
honor feels" Sixty years after he knew bet
ter. The cold fact is that n manly apology and
cash indemnity are the only reparatiou that
Is Of any practical value. To say that such
reparatlon Is compromise Of honor Is to say
that a pension 10 the crippled veteran or to the
widow or orphan Is an insult.
But perhaps these critics look further than
the Maine, and are dissatisfied because the
President does not take immediate action upon
the general Cuban question. In that case 1t IS
to be observed that he has wisely chosen to
deal with one matter at a time. His Message
Of Monday was devoted exclusively to the Ques-
ton Of the Maine. In good time he Will re-
veal his policy and his action upon the other
question 1t should not be necessary to point
out again that the general Cuban question Is
In no respect altered by the Maine disaster and
the findings Of the Court. 1t is to be dealt with
entirely upon its own merits. And what is
wantedi Relief for the suffering "reconcentra-
dos? Certainly the President Is opening the
way for that in the most effective manner.
Cessation Of hostllites and the independence
Of the island? There is reason to believe that
those ends are within reach by peaceful means
Assuredly there IS not one word IN the Presl-
dents Message to indicate the least lukewarm-
ness OF that zeal Of his which led him so prompt
ly TO secure the release Of all Americans from
Cuban prisons and the recall OF Weyler and
the abandonment Of his Infamous policy
Really, It IS difficult to account for these
wild bowls Of rage on any other theory than
that their authors are disappointed because
there Is not to be war; Certainly they cannot
be disappointed because there is to be no settle
ment for the Maine, for there is every reason
to believe there will be a prompt and adequate
settlement Nor Is 1t because nothing Is TO be
done for Cuba for something and that the most
effective thing, is in the way Of being done
There is no alternative, then. They must have
wanted war Just for the sake Of war And that
Is n dreadful thing to say. 1t is bad enough TO
be peace at any price" man. But what is to
be said Of one who is for war at any price?