Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-24

tempest beat about him. The courac and
the tirmness of lis position in those cru
Gal days could only be appreciated by
those who were in daily association. The
leaders of congress urged him to abandon
negotiations and accept the appeal to the
sword. The public clamor for war grew
every day. If he had been simply the
flexible follower of popular currents, as
some described him, he would have taken
the easier course and yielded to this SEN
timent. But he resolutely faced and re-
sisted II, and faithfully continued his ef-
fort to stay the clash until he could bring
about a situation which would justify the
belief that Cuba could be saved without
the necessity of war.
How did he hope to do this He must
bring Spain to the necessary concessions.
He must induce her practical surrender
of Cuba. He must convince the Spanish
government that Cuba was irretrievably
that fact without war was better than a
forced acknowledgment with the added
blow of bloody and costly defeat. He
must gain time to make this plain. to
lead the Spanish rulers still further for
ward in the long advance they had al
ready made, and to permit the interme-
date steps which must be taken in order
to carry the acquiescence of their own
people before the final and absolute re-
Left Nothing Undone.
How earnestly PresidentdcKinley la
bored in this direction and how much he
actually did is known through the pub
lie history of those days and through
the diplomatic correspondence which was
long afterward given out. While press
ing preparations for the most untoward
contingency he left nothing undone at
Washington to temper congress and to
calm the country. On the other hand, he
did all that was within his power at Ma
drid, through General Woodford, our ac-
complished and skillful minister to bring
the Spanish government to such liberal
and advanced measures as would avert
the necessity of armed Intervention.
In this art OF persuasion he was I'M
equaled. Much of it lay in his own deep
sincerity and conviction. He convinced
others because he was thoroughly con-
WINGED himself. But beyond this substan-
tive foundation he had an extraordinary
gift of putting things. His quick percep-
ton and his shrewd saving sense enabled
him to present a case in the strongest
form and turn every point to his own &C
count
His power in this direction was proven
bal among all about him. He at one
time called a business man to Washington
to secure his consent to a step which in
voIved a personal sacrifice and which was
repugnant to him. After one or two in
terviews he succeeded, as usual The
shrewd old barber at a neighboring no
tel-one of that class who instinctively
know all that is going on-saw that the
business man had yielded. THE presi-
dent, he out-talk you" was his comment.
yes, aIasg admitted the visitor. 1.-THE
president, he out-talk any man." continu-
ed the interlocutor, and it told the whole
story.
A Political Genius.
The mastery of his political genius was
beyond dispute. He was equally astute in
seeing and measuring popular currents
and in maturing and forecasting the re-
suits of measures and policies. Never in
our history was there a finer piece of po-
litical dexterity than the skill with which
he brought congress to take the RESPONSE
bility' of determining the disposition OF
Cuba and secured the concurrence OF both
parties in the settlement through the
Platt amendment. The situation was del
icate; the necessity of action was imper-
ative: the initiative in one form or anoth-
er was with the executive, and yet there
was no course open to the executive alone
which would not involve sure trouble and
certain criticism. What, then, was to
be done?
Cuba was approaching the time when
she must be launched on her career as an
nation. Her convention was
framing a constitution which should be
its chart. AS soon as that constitution
was completed and adopted steps must be
taken for the election and erection of
under 1t, and for the with
drawal of the United States forces and
authority The president could not well
delay action when Cuba had fulfilled the
prescribed requirements, and he could not
impose additional conditions. AS the mat
ter stood either one of the two alterna-
tives before MIN involved danger. If he
declined to let Cuba set up her indie
pendent government he would be exposed
to the charge of bad faith. If he let Gu
ba go without further safeguards he would
be accused of rashly running the risk of
future complications.
The short session of 1901 was advancing
toward its end and congress was doing
on the subject. 1t saw Cuba I'm
fishing her constitution and coming to the
hour when the guardianship of the United
States would end and it was entirely
passive. The responsibility belonged to
congress, not only because congress rep
resents the sovereign will of the nation,
but because in making the issue with
Spain in 1898 it assumed to define what
the relations of the United States and Gu
ba should Ne.
Brought Congress to Terms.
Accordingly, he gave out that if con-
gress closed the regular session without
action on this question he would immedi-
ately call it together in extra session for
that purpose. The announcement was eff
fective. Congress at once came to a
realizing sense of it's obligation. The
members did not want an extra session,
and they proceeded Immediately to the
steps necessary to avoid it. But the pres
ident did not rest there Having by his
strategic move forced congress to action,
he quietly exercised his influence in shap-
ing its course He was a real leader, and
while deferring to congress and resolved
that it must relieve him from the neces-
sity of any arbitrary action, he kept the
guidance of the policy in his own hands,
and impressed himself on the legislative
branch. He conferred with the wisest
men in the senate. and together they
nodded the decisive legislation.
The result was the Plat amendment to
the army bill. It solved the problem.
The president was anxious to set up an
Cuban government and with
draw the flag of the United States. He
felt that the good faith and honor of the
nation were pledged to it. But he saw at
the same time that the complete relin-
luishment of United States control, with |
Dulsive and mercurial people just start |
ing out on a national career, would plant |
the seeds of future trouble which might |