The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-01
To be Continued.
NEARING A CRISIS.
From the Washington Post.

The theory of all good government Is the
the greatest liberty to the individual con-
sistent with the rights of his fellow-citi-
zen. He Is free to act until he trenches
upon these rights. and then the law lays
it's hand upon him. So with nations.
Each is supreme and absolute within Its
own sphere; but. unlike individuals there
Is no higher power to enforce upon ma
ton 4 just and equitable regard for the
rights of another. The power to do Is
restrained only by the special agreement
not to do, the national conscience, and 4
decent respect for the opinion OF mankind.
There is no court TO which nations may
appeal under International law and treaty
obligations, The law and the treaties en-
ist, but their enforcement depends entire
" upon the nations good faith. To give
effect to this good faith, within Its own
borders and over its own citizens. neu-
trality laws are enacted. Here the ma
tion is supreme 1t may say what is. or
what is not, a violation by its citizens or
the rights Of another nation. 1t may say
what is a violation of its own rights py
the citizens of that other nation. But
after all, these are but private laws, anu
unless they line up true with lnterha-
tiOnal law they are at fault. The natlonal
conscience must plumb true with the III
ternadional conscience, or the savage coh-
dition ret urnS, ana mlSht HlaNes iAsh''
Ill
ou. neutrality laws are not binding upon
Snain. hut Spain has not heretofore founc
fault with them. They are, in erect, the
same as the English and French laws. ana
are lust, equitable, and adequate can
the same be said of the laws or Spain :
The Competitor a small commerciii
schooner laden with munitions OF war
intended for the Insurgents. was captured
in Cuban waters. This is no unusual i
thing in time Of war. and international
law provides that the punishment due 10
those engaged in such AN enterprise IL q
forfeiture of their vessel and their gooas.
| This il the only punishment which may
| he inflicted. But the Spanish law, ahd
we must suppose that the Spaniafd mas
law for what he does. not only 1ortelts
the vessel and cargo, nut conuehiis "
death the alien crew. This no other CAV =
lized nation has done or would do. we 90
NOT now sneak of our treaty with Spain,
guaranteeing u civil trial, Which treaty III
this ease the SpanardS diSresarueu. Tic
Judgment of u civil tribunal would prooa
hly have been the same. We complain
| of the Judgment itself and the law Whlcii
brings it into operation. Should this Juos-
mont he executed and we have no reason
| tn believe that it will not be. 1t Will be IN
defiance of international law ana the GUS
toms of civilization. Is SPAN stio'S
enough to say, I'VE care nought LOT r'sh'
wa have might?" Would she treat us 'is
she treats her swarthy subjects IN A1iicu :
ill :,
We lenyo out of the subject all ques-
tions of Cuban rights or CUBAN Wrohss'
and our sympathy for the one or detes'a-
t;nu for he other The question is NOT
no,y Cuba. but America We do not claim
| 40 no ,lways right We have irresponsible
,,ounpsters i'm this country. VINO etuiatei
| the Barcelona mobs When they purheu
| in cffipy the irresponsible younSster VINO
| is king of Spain. We have even le"Hp
nars hob-nobbing with kings and prime
minister's which attempt 10 regulate 'he'
destiujes of nations, if not 1ne pIosi co, .
| or the universe, and one OF Which no" ,co
until it was red in the lace III oen"ile'
t;on of Spain because the Spaniarcs were
,,s,ng a copper-swagged bullet In CUBA.
| ,ot knowing that our own government LOT
,o,rs exnerimented with copper-coVereu
bullets and failed to adopt the same ior
,,,,. now army rifle only because the steel
covered bullet was found more ehee'Ne'
We have statesmen who try 10 Iiake po-
| ,;,;o,I canital out of Cuba. But we nave
| ,,oro than this. More than our sympath!
Cor cuba we have a firm DETERMINATION
that America and Americans shaii pe
snected. Spanish law, when IL touens@
,,s must be yoked to the same Pio" do IL"
ternational law.
-:lI:- .,,u,
The Competitor incident is not set.ieu.
r,,r from II. The sentence of death Is
only suspended. 1t hangs as sword over Te
the heads of American citizens. me ,,
sword is poised in air. but with II Is
no,sed another sword, firmly held by the
arm of the republic. Should this 1aii' the
second will cleave forever the iran .ics
| that now bind Cuba to the mother eo."-