The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-04-16


to the contest. as well 10 enforce a truce
as To guide the eventual settlement. The
grounds for such Intervention may be
briefly summarized as follows:
Grounds for Intervention.
First, in the cause of humanity and TO
PIT an end to the barbarities bloodshed
starvation and horrible miseries now ex-
listing there and which the parties to the
conflict are either unable or unwilling 10
stop or mitigate. 1t IS no answer to say
TINS Is in a country belonging to another
nation and is therefore none of our bust
ness 1t is especially our duty, for 1t is
right at our door.
Second, we owe to our citizens in Cuba
TO afford them that protection and in
demnity for life and property which no
government there can or will afford, and
to that end terminate the conditions that
deprive .nem of legal protection.
Third, the right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to the
commerce. trade and business of our peo-
pie and by the wanton destruction of
property and devastation of the island.
Fourth, and which is of the utmost
Importance the present condition of af-
fairs in Cuba is a constant menace to our
peace and entails upon this government
enormous expenses. With such conflict
waged for years in an island so near to us
and with which our people have such
/ trade and business relations-when the
lives and liberty of our citizens are in
constant menace, their property de-
stroyed and they themselves ruin
ed when our trading vessels are liable to
seizure and are seized at our very doors
by warships of a foreign nation. the expe-
ditons of hlibustering that we are pow
elless to prevent altogether and the irri-
tating questions thus arising-all these
and others are constant menace to our
MOO aud
war footing with that nation with which
we are at peace.
The Tragedy of the Maine.
The elements of danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingly
illustrated by a tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American
people.
I have already transmitted to congress
the report of the naval court of inquiry
on the destruction of the battleship
Maine in the harbor of Havana during the
night of the 18th of February. The de-
struction of that noble vessel has filled
the national heart with inexplicable hor-
ror; 25S brave sailors and marines, two
officers of our navy, reposng in the fam
cied security of a friendly harbor, have
been hurled to death, grief and want
brought to their homes and sorrow to the
nation.
The naval court of inquiry which, 1t is
needless to say, commands the unquali-
fled confidence of the government, was
} unanimous in its conclusion that the de-
p struction of the Maine was caused by an
{ exterior explosion: that of a submarine
= mine 1t did not assume to place the re-
2 sponsibility That remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine, by whatever cause, is a patent
) and impressive proof of a state of things
in Cuba that is intolerable. That condi-
ton is thus shown to be such that the
l Spanish government can not assure safety
} and security to vessel of the American
2 navy in the harbor of Havana on a mis-
sion of peace and rightfully there.
Spain Wants Arbitration.
Further referring, in this connection. t,
, recent diplomatic correspondence, dis
: patch from our ministerfto Spain of tn
26th ult. contained the statement that tn
- Spanish minister for foreign affairs assur
ed him positively Spain will do all tina
4 the highest honor and justice requires il
the matter of the Maine. The reply abov
referred to of the S1st ult. also containe'
an expression of the readiness of Spail
to submit to arbitration all the differ
n ences which can arise in this matter
: which is subsequently explained by tn
d note of the Spanish minister at Washing
e ton of the 10th inst as follows:
t LAS to the question of fact whc
n springs from the diversified views be
5 tween the report of the American and tn
Spanish boards, Spain proposes that tn
=: fact be ascertained by an impartial N
r vestigation by experts which decisio
d Spain accepts in advance"
n To this l have made no reply
J. President Grant Quoted.
8 President Grant in 1875, in discussin
j. the purposes of the contest as it appeare
n then and its hopeless and indefinite pre-
q longation. said:
g I'm such event I am of the opinion thf
l. other nations will be compelled to a:
a sumo the responsibility which devolve
: upon them and to seriously consider tn
Il only remaining measures possible media
: ton and Intervention. owing perhaps
It the large eXpanse of water separating IL
l. island from the peninsula the contendin
= parties appear to have within themselVt
no depository of common confidence
e suggest wisdom, when passion and e,
It citement have their sway and thus a!
e sumo the part of peacemaker."
j. In this view, in the earlier days of II
n contest, the good offices of the Unite
e States as mediator We're rendered in GOO
e faith, without any selfish purposes, in II
o interest of humanity and sincere frienC
+ ship for both parties, but were at II
= time declined by Spain with the declar,
l. ton, nevertheless, that al a future tin
= they would be indispensable.
i No intimation has been received that
II the opinion of Spain that time has bee
e reached; yet the strife continues wit
= all of its dread horrors and its injuries
n the United States and other nations. Fac
party seems quite capable of workir
It great injury and damage to the other
It well as to all the relations and interes
) dependent on the existence of peace
d the island, but they seem incapable
n reaching any adjustment and both hay
h thus far failed of achieving any success
y whereby one party shall possess and col
? troll the island to the exclusion of Il