Morris tribune., 1898-04-13
.oUR CAUSE, 1T is JUST"

along on a tidal wave of excitement,
tile knowing what the outcome OF it
all would be. In such troublous times,
the over-active alarmist often gains
the ascendency, while the more judic-
ially minded conservative looses all
influence until he is called upon to
repair the damage which has been
done after the wave of excitement has
passed. Just such condition OF at
fairs as this has been the cause of
many an unjust war. Texas, under
the brilliant leadership of Sam Hous-
ton, won it's independence from Mexi-
co and maintained itself as separate
member of the family of nations for
two years. All the time she was
knocking for admission to the sister
hood of American states. Finally she
was admitted and then the federal
government became involved in a
boundary dispute, over which the
people very easily became excited.
The outcome of it all was that the
United States was led into a war of
conquest which to the same degree
that it brought us rich territory to
that very same degree was unjust and
inexcusable.
The question now arises, have not
the people of the United States again
been carried away in desire to just
fight any effete or ineffective milton?
Cuba is a tempting morsel in the eyes
of many people, and Spain is a power
VII IN would offer scarcely more re-
sistance than did the Spanish-Amer-
lean republic fifty years ago. But
ha ,pily such view of the present
crisis is not born out by the facts
Our government has from the first
disclaimed any intention of obtaining
permanent possession of Cuba, and
has during the whole crisis been able
to point clearly to two demands which
it has to make against Spain.
The first is on behalf of the Cubans.
That a state of war exists in Cuba, no
one denies. True the insurgents have
never been granted belligerent rights,
but why should they have been when
they would only have been the losers
thereby. Then inasmuch as a war
does exist, it is the duty of the United
States, as of every civilized nation, to
protect the rights of non-combatants,
when those rights are barbarously
violated. For the United States to
allow SPANS barbarities to continue
in Cuba would be nothing short of
criminal. Her duty is to intervene in
the interest of humanity, and the
sooner that Intervention is consul
mated the better.
But more than this, American prop
erty has been destroyed in Cuba, ou1
trade has been hampered and Spain
has made no reparition for the same.
The magnificent Maine is worthless
old iron and 253 American sailors
have been massacreed. No demands
have been made on Spain directly for
the destruction of the Maine, so far
as the official correspondence hes been
published, but the hasty report of
Spain's board of Investigation" shows
that the facts were not thoroughly in
v3stigated, but that Spain had some
Interior motive in concealing the
cause Of the sinking of the ship.
But Spain is proud. She has been
defeated in Cuba. A Carlist or re
publican revolt is brewing at home. |
Let her fight the United States and
she can make a show of being driven
out of Cuba by a superior power, while
at the same time the attention of the
people will be turned away from
them.
The demands of the United States
are just, but Spain dare not grant