The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-02
AMERICANS IN CUBA.
SAFER WITH ONE OF OUR WARSHiPS
IN HAVANA HARBOR.


ton Nothing Desired but the Safety OF
American Citizens.
The sending of warship to Havana
could not be construed as covering the
purpose of irritating or intimidating
the Spanish, nor to provoke them into
hostilities, the sold purpose being to
protect the lives of our consuls and of
our citizens.
1t will be remembered that shortly
before the Inauguration OF President
Mckinley it was announced that the
then president elect had in mind the
stationing of a naval vessel at Havana.
That statement was made upon ade-
uuate information.
Since coming to Washington the
president has had opportunity to exam
inc the reports made by our consuls In
Cuba during the last six months, and
in these months and in these reports
he finds ample justification for carry
ing out of his original intention. More
than one of our consuls has reported
| that his life has been threatened by the
excitable Spanish, and when the pres
/ ident gave the members of the foreign
relations committee of the senate re-
Gently certain information supplied by
our consuls in Cuba it was with the
condition that the names of those Off
Gals be not made public for fear of vio-
lence to their persons.
The president believes there is ample
justification for the dispatch OF war
vessel to Havana Things have come to
such q pass that the consular representa-
tives of the United States dare not have
their reports to the government made
public with their names attached. TO
do so provokes the danger of violence to
their persons. 1t is high time some
means were adopted for the protection
not only of our consuls, but OF all our
citizens in the island
Sending warship can furnish nc
cause for offense on the part of Spain. II
is the right of every nation to take such
measures as to it seem proper for the pro
lection of its consuls and private citi
Zens.
During the ten years war Genera
Grant kept warships in Havana harbo
nearly all the time. We have had GU
naval vessels in Honolulu, In Rio janet
70. in Valparaiso, and later in the port
. of Turkey. 1t is well recognized prin
ciple that a nation may station war
ships in the ports of friendly countrie
for this purpose without offense.
. It NAV be necessary to keep war
shin at Havana for some time to come
!. If any violence be done to an America
consul. the commander of this vesse
=. will have instructions to seek repara
: ton. If an American citizen be arrest
; ed. the commander of the ship will b
instructed to demand that the cltize
be brought on board within give
time.
President Mckinley has given niue
4 time of late to the examination OF ii
reports of our consular agents. The'
h reports were made by consuls appointe
~ by the Cleveland administration, an
some of them have been OH file for man
r. months The president has been a
: founded at the condition of affairs
n Cuba revealed by these Official sta'
p ments. AS a result of his examinatio
d he has decided it is his duty to make
% prompt movement for relief Of Amer
can citizens placed in situations OF gre
"A distress by General Weyler's cruel
r. der. This duty the president has pc
N formed, with the prompt and unan
ID nous cooperation of congress-
"a "But the measures taken do not 60
of the heart of the question, they do Il
solve the problem, and the president
T. thoroughly convinced it is his duty
ri solve it. No half hearted measures,
recognition of belligerency, no gent
mediation or use of good offices, w
suffice Something more decisive, mo
vi forcible, will be needed if anything Is
as be accomplished. Just what that sh'
a be. lust what form it will be best to 81
as to the proposals, the president has Il
as vet determined 1t is too important a
ry delicate matter to rush into witho
ed careful consideration. Walter We
IN man in Chicago Times-Herald.