The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-29
lll.Requited Friend ship.

The premier of Spain informs ii Mad
rid interviewer that in Spain's next
diplomatic communication To the
Emitted States the fact will be made
plain that Spain can admit no foreign
intcrfcrcu i'm her internal affairs.
We viii also insist" he adds. ION
the fact that in spite of those efforts
that are alleged as being made hv the
American government to prevent I'LL
clustering eXneditiuns such expeditions
continue to leave United States ports
ana to reach their Cuban destination.
a fact which proves that American
vigilance is deficient or that American
tolerance iS great We will especially
insist ard with great energy i'm con-
tradiCting tn" theory that lilihust"ving
expeditions are lawful when they are
not publicly organized to help the rob-
els. spain /, friendly nation. Every
one knows i'm the United States that
th"S" expeditions are being organized
to help rebels in arms against Spain.
International laws and treaties forbid
expeditions of that sort. The Amcri-
can government itself acknowledges
thar tho. are unlawful the moment it
makes efforts t. prevent them and
r.o>ooutrs their organizers. Spain
cannot conceive that such expeditions
would hc defended az lawful. 1t would
loNCrs" the whole of international law
ON that point we are perfectly secure"
Under present circumstances it is
unlawful for an armed expedition to
equip i'm tn" United states and to sail
from an American port aVoWedlV for
tho purpose of committing on aiding i'm
dcprcdatiune against "A friendly nation
Until cuban bolligcrcncy is recognized
such expeditions cannot leave Amcri-
can ports for Cuban ports without vio-
lnting tn" Ucutralit! laws of nations
"ud also the statutes Of the United
states; and it is the duty cf the fed
o"al officials to use due diligence to
prevent such attempts to violate our
laws. This is matter in which SYM
pathy can play no part. 1t is wholly
a matter Of plain duty. matter in
NulyinG the sanctity of the oath which
the officials of our government take
" hen they assume federal office For
tunatcly for the good fame of the
United States no dereliction can justly
be charged in this direction. Every
express or implied obligation to Spain
and to the law and comfy of nations
has been observed and fulfilled to the
utmost sCruplc.
But by the same rules of law and
custom the government of the United
States has neither moral right nor
written warrant To place a single hind
rance i'm the way of the American dealer
in rifles, gunpOwdcr, dynamite, shells,
cartridges, swords, pistols, machetes
hayoncts, cartridge boxes, or other inn
plCments and accessories of warfare
who sees fit tn trade with persons WhO
direct that the delivery Of these goods
he made To specified inhabitants of
cuba, No blockade of Cuban ports has
been declared hy Spain, Spain does
not recognize i'm her official intercourse
with the government, AT Washington
trat a state of war exists i'm Cuba
Officially Cuba is al peace and heI
citlzens either in person or through
agents, are at fun liberty to buy in the
United States whatever they want IN
the way Of merchandise and as much
as they can pay for on get trusted for
and the transaction on this basis is
none of oar governments business
The course of the Cleveland and Me-
Knley administrations in trying &c
stop this export sale Of American goods