The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
MONDAY. MARCH g, 1898.
The Day of Doom.


After awaiting himself of every pos
sible excuse for delay. the time has
come at last when Mr.. Mckinley sees
that he must act. Accordingly, he will
send the Maine report to Congress to-
Gay, and it viii be formally read there
II the urgent pleadings Of the Admin
istration are needed, the fatefuI docu
ment viii be referred without debate.
But this is not altogether certain.
For several days there has been a
disposition among Democratic senators
and members To obHge the President
by giving him a little more time in
which TO complete his preparations;
but this has been distinctly under con-
dition that he is TO act at once and
vigorously for honor and liberty when
the time is up. Since Thursday, two
considerations have greatly tended to
change these submissive conditions.
The sailing Of the Spanish torpedo
fleet from the Canary Islands under
present circumstances can only be re-
garded as a hostile act.
Understanding the dark treachery of
the Spanish character as well as Mr.
Mckinley does, ii is thought strange
in Washington that there could be
any question as to his immediate
and only duty in the premises. That
hOtilla should be met and taken and
certainly never allowed to reach the
waters Of Porto Rico. That is the
course which prudence dictates and
the one recommended by the Navy
Department. But Mr. McKinley's
calm confidence in Spanish goodness
and chivalry is not TO be shaken.
Hanna and McCook both assure him
that he can trust Spain implicitly.
There is another reason why the
chances for a congressional outbreak
are much greater than they We're two
days ago. II is an actual fact that the
autonomy and bond deal salvation
schemes have come TO the front again,
and that persons close to the Presi-
dent declare that he viii make yet
another effort TO delude the Cuban
people into accepting the one and
shoulderine the financial slavery in
volyed in the other. All this seems in
credible after the repeated and angry
warnings which he has received from
all parts Of the country. and in view
Of the scorn and indignation with
which all classes in the Cuban Repub-
lie have repudiated the idea
Il only tends TO show what a firm
grip the spanish-Cuban bond con-
spirators have upon American execu-
rive policy, and what a vigorous blow
il viii take from the direction Of Cap
itol Hin 10 knock it loose. That blow
ought TO be delivered without any fur
Their attempt al temporlzing. As long
as concessions are made, every one Of
them viii be al the cost Of national
honor and dignity Mr. Mckinley
never win set through begging for
more time. lie viii plead and tease
for il, until, finally, he viii get US all
over into the Cuban rainy season, and
then he thinks he can get Congress
of his hands" and be left free to han
die the situation according to the well
known interests Of the campaign cred
itors.
Congress has no right TO forget how
slyly it was put to sleep in the mat
ter q The Kansas Pacific steal! Il
owes a good deal more to the wishes
Of the nation than it does in courtesy
10 an Administration which has not
the least use for it. but is continually
striving for its suppression. The
President now should be compelled to
act. and without allowing him another
hour