The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-11
A Welcome Policy.

Two very welcome steps nave, IL II
said. been decided upon by the new ad-
ministration with reference to CUBA
one is the stationing of a warship at
Havana; the other is the withdrawal OF
the vessels now doing police duty for
Spain along the Florida coast.
1t should be understood that this con-
templated action involves no sanction
of the wanton violation by our citizens
of tire neutrality laws. All persons
caught i'm such violations will be prose-
cuted to the fullest extent of the law.
we are bound as a nation by solemn
treaty to proceed against flibusters
and to prevent, when possible con-
spiracies on this soil against power
with whom our relations are at least
nominally friendly.
In this connection it may be doubted
if the president will at present feel
called upon to exercise ClemenCy in the
case Of Captain John ID. Hart the own
er of the nlibuster vessel, the Laurada.
who has recently been sentenced in the
United States district court to two
years imprisonment and $500 fine Cap
tain Hart was justly convicted after a
fair ana impartial trial. As Judge
Butler said to him when imposing SEN
tence THE offense Is q very grave
one It involves national honor and
national peace You entered upon it
with your eyes wide open, with full
knowledge of its gravity. You did it
for the unworthy purpose of pecuniary
gain You took the risk for the price
and you must now bear the conse-
quences. ! do not believe you belong to
the criminal classes, and | am sorry I
have got to punish you. AT the time
you committed the offense the law was
well known, and it is the duty of the
court. to severely punish you The
president cannot we'll interfere with the
execution OF this sentence; at least, he
cannot suspend it; later ON. if the pris
oner shows good behavior he might
perhaps be justified in shortening it.
But it is no part of this governments
duty to employ detectives to ferret out
evidence against filibusterifig eXpedi-
tions before they set sail or to become.
as it We're, "A partisan of Spain in its
warfare on Cuban liberty. 1t is in duty
bound to punish violations of law, by
WhomsoeVer committed, but that is all
The extent to which it's resources have
in the past been used in Spain's behalf
has, it is believed, oVerstepped the line
of fair neutrality and constituted just
cause of complaint both for Cuba and
for the people of this country against
whose ardent sympathes it went di-
rectly counter. No such complaint will
be heard during the future if the policy
now agreed upon by the president shall
be put into execution. He will, as an
official, be neutral as between Spain
and Cuba until forced to act otherwise
in order to protect American interests.
When SO forced, we believe he will act
promptly and in a manner not open to
mistake.
AS has been repeatedly pointed out,
the stationing of a warship in Havana
harbor will not be an act of belligerency
but merely a customary precaution. 1t
will be Spain's fault if it shall lead to
the necessity for other warships to keep
it company. The one sure thing is that
one who cares to discover the full
difference between man of the people
and demagogue can do 50 by con-