The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-13

THE CONTROVERSY WITH sPAIy.
The resztsons seswees Spain asf TIE
Usssed stafss are wat might se termed
sfrslsec tzst Dew. bat n 10 sos .; a e-oo-
asis that wsr WI result TIE stxse de-
pzrtnents Of the tive countries have a.
really placed he ssbsers o. immediate Con-
tro~ersy IN tire hands os diplomacy Spain
vii nes dare &c pat iato eject the sen-
ssncs Imposed upon TIE zer taken On the
Competitor. ana as the Urlted States
seems &c b n tbs right IN - contsn-ton.
spain OH fn6 = way cot Of the dinsculfy-
Spain VII not un5ertzks . war vita the
United States uniess are has reason to BE-
lieve that she vsi1 have the Support Of eth
- Europ>an nst,srs. ard that she 0n
eniy have ~ being In the right
Thsrs may - some ccabt ~ 10 whether
the csssh.sg protocol Of hi applies 20 the
case IN asestson. but article Of tho treaty
of l7x Clearly does Apply. aat il has OBJ
viocsiy bssa violated II the Spanish gov
ernmens were indispossd 10 comply win
the request Of the Cnsted States govern
meat II vsuic hardly be indifferent TO the
Representations o. the British government
and any eiemercy shown 70 TIE supposed
English prisoner must necessariiy b az
tsndsd 20 TIE Americans.
30 far - TIE responsibility OF this gov
srnmenf extends TO the prisoners. the only
3usslnahss plea for intercssslon. except to
secure for them the rights preserved BY
the treaty. 10 that some OF the men may
have been deceived a. TO the character Of
the enterprise they we're engaged IN Men
Who engage in adventure and Voluntarily
participate IA IN armed conflict must take
some Of tie risks OF var. The treaty with
Spain does not promise immunity from the
consequences OF taking an active part IN
warfare: It's object II 70 insure that any
American citizen accused OF completely
compstisor have no. had those opporfuni-
ties for defending themselves which the
treaty guarantees and en- this ground alone
the United States has q right 10 demand
that another trial should be had. conducted
upon the lines laid down b. the treaty.
The Enxlish newspapers ind themselves
placed Ia an awkward predscament 1t
vas only the other dAy that some English
men we're sentenced to death for aiding
and abestinx A armed movement against
= power with which their government was
officially On frssndly terms. Now . few
Americans are under sentence Of death
for having aSetfed an armed movement
against . power with which their govern
nent 10 officially upon good terms. The
differences II that the Transvaai took the
utmost pains to insure a fair trial for the
accused. whereas the sp2niards not only
failed to take any such precaufson. but
violated the terms OF . treaty. The En-
giish who 20 promptly appealed TO the con-
demnlng authorities for mercy. can hard
ly ind fault with the American people for
doing the same thing Yet II seems as IL
the London Times had been very hasty In
coming to the conclusion thar. a. II says.
Spain Is clearly In the right" Before the
correspondence proceeds very far the En-
siish press VII. II II takes an unpreju-
diced view. be compelled to sdmi, that
Spain Is clearly In the wrong SO far as her
procedure il concerned. even though she
may be morally RICH, In seeking TO punish
any who have been engaged. directly or in
directly. In armed resistance to her au-
thority.
The safety Of the men being assured. the
American people may confidently trust the
outcome TO the good Judgment and courage
Of the secretary of state. Nothing viii be
added to the strength Of our cause by In
namma;ory speech