The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-04
THE NEEDLESS WAR.

1t has been known since the time
prior to the opening Of the Spanish
American war that that war was wholly
needless. Those who were observant of
the incidents and facts which led up to
that war knew all the time that there
was no need of it; that Spain was pre-
pared TO concede whatever demand the
United States might make as TO Cuba.
and that, in fact. Spain had already
conceded two Of the three main points
IN controversy. Spain recognized that
she was no match for the United States
in war in Cuba, and she engaged in
that war with the utmost reluctance.
The American Minister in Spain, Gen
eral Stewart L. Woodford, was impor-
tunate in appealing TO President Nc.
kinley to stem the tide Of public senti-
ment and prevent the war. General
Woodford reported to President McKin.
ley that Spain had given way on two
OF the main points and would updoubf-
edly give way on the third. The death
of General Woodford recently has re-
called this his high service to his coun.
try at that time, and now on a wider
scale than ever before, the American
public is convinced that that war was
absolutely needless and that Gen
Woodford as Minister to Spain al that
time was rendering his country a serv.
ice beyond calculation But he went
under cloud by reason of his impor.
tunate entreaties against the war, for
the public sentiment OF this country
was bent upon vengeance, and it would
have been difficult thing even for
President Mckinley TO head off that
war
In the early part of the year 1898,
Gen: Woodford labored incessantIv in
Madrid to bring the contentious as to
Cuba to settlement without war. And
the New York Evening Post tells in
reminiscent vein the story of his eff.
forts in the following words:
october OF that year that our Government
couId nave secured the withdrawal of
Spanish rule from Cuba without the
nrins OF shot or the loss OF a life. This
n
at the time. but II did SO no longer when.
three years later. the full story OF his
diplomatic negotiations and dispatches
was Tor the nrst time published by. The
washington authorities. Then it became
clear that IL President Mckinley had moi
been so terrorized by Congress that he
nad not the courage TO second Minister
Woodfords efforts. hostiIities could have
oeeh aVerted. IL was on April D. 1898
that General Woodford sent n moyIna,
dispatch TO the Presldent-whlcb he aid
not lay before CoDgress-givlng the POSI-
tive assurance that the Spanish Govern
ment was willing 10 grant two out of our
three demands. with the other one virlu-
any certain soon also to he granted. and
adding: II believe that this means peace
winch the sober judgment OF our DeopIe
VIII approve long before next November
(electlon month";, and which must he an
proved at the bar OF final historv'' y2irt
Mckinley already had his war MESSAGE
written, and sent e. 10 Congress with only
the barest and coidest mention Of Minister
Woodfords earnest appeal However n
may stand with Mckinley at the bar of
history and at that other bar IN which
both he and General Woodford have hoen
summoned-nothing but praise and thanks
can be accorded the Minister who stroye
nobly but In vain 10 stem the tide Of
needless war
good many people in the United
States were fully aware at the time of
the needlessness of that war. and on.
posed vt because it was needless. and
because the United States had abso.