| Show THE ULTIMATUM president McKin mckinless leys ultimatum to the spanish government was dispatched to madrid this morning the spanish minister at washington on being handed a copy of the document promptly asked for his passports undoubtedly the united states minister at madrid will demand his passports as soon as he is given to understand that spain refuses to comply with the terms of the ultimatum this cuts off all diplomatic relations between the two countries the next step will be a formal declaration dec of war or the commencement men cement of hostilities without such buell m formality the precise language of the ultimatum has not yet been published but it Is undoubtedly an embodiment of the resolutions passed by congress and spain Is given until midnight on saturday to formulate her reply there is touch much speculation now as to the course the government of the queen regent Is going to pursue it has haa been conjectured that program to Is to keep her warships and torpedo boats the other side sidd of the atlantic abandon on an cuba without a struggle and leave the island to be overrun by the united states troops and finally to turn to wyrone for sympathy and justice it is ie more than probable that would satisfy the patriotism of spaniards for the time being and that afterwards when cuba to is de facto lost to the spanish crown the wrath of the mob would exhaust itself on the sa gaeta ministry in some way or another adoth it has also been thought probable that spain after cuba has been occupied would refuse to sign any treaty of peace and continue by private ering to do all the harm possible to the american 0 chippi shipping ng thereby inviting the united statte states to send an invading force to the spanish penin peninsula sula in order to compel cessation of hostilities the latter policy would present a most moat grave situation not only would it compel this country to carry on a war thousands of miles from the base of supplies but it would soly tempt some european powers to come to the aid of spain the war would then assume gigantic dimensions whatever policy cy in detail Is speaking generally it seems to be to play for intervention of the european powers and in view of all that to is at stake it would create no surprise if the plan ultimately succeeded to tb spain the cuban question involves the fall or salvation of the reigning dynasty the existence of tho the bank of the realm and the financial status of the wealthy class in spain tibe the problem is in how bow to save the country akom in the hawaii ahe and this matter is not fil indifferent different to some atthe country countries mighty neighbors V i the die to Is cast h however however cuba to Is about to be free on this botet is no doubt on either side of the atlantic whether spain decides decided to or run makes no difference the principle of government by the people and for the people is about to be applied to a population that for years and years have fought bled and died in order to obtain freedom it will be a supreme test of the truth of the principles princ olea ioles that underlie the american Amerl cai form of government are cubans reefred in oppression for centuries ripe for self government Is there in this form of goat government rement power enough t to save a race from degradation and elevate it to a higher level or will perfect liberty prove the destruction of the race this is the test to be made president mckinley is authorized to take military possession of cuba and as a matter of course to hold it until in his judgment the object is attained when that is ia done it will be turned over to the people and the final account will be a grand object lesson to the world as to the price a tree free people to Is willing to pay for the blessings of liberty |
