The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-18

maintain national integrity and domain AND AM
an unbroken union of states. and, secondly.
it was held to be Gods method for the ex-
| tinction Of slavery. These causes gave the
struggle. from our point Of view, moral JUS
tification, so that, as Mr.. Lincoln said, I'VE
all felt that 1t was Gods war;
In our foreign wars We have never been
the aggressor. save. possibly. in the one in
stance named. We have fought to gain no
nations territory, to curtail no nations I'D
erty, to humiliate no nations pride or sat
isfy no national grudge.
II war now occurs, can 1t be JUSTIFIED on
ethical grounds? Will 1t be conflict In
which We can confidently expect divine APP
prevail and blessing. as we have in previous
contests.
The answer to these questions depends
chiefly upon two things:
upon the conflict; and. second. the necessity
of conflict as the only means of achiev-
irg our objects.
What are our motives and aims?
Why do We propose to intervene In Cuba,
even at the expense of war?
Only two reasons of real Importance are
given, one of which is the loss of the Maine.
That was treacherous deed. AS a crime.
an act of wholesale murder. we justly
insist that its perpetrators be apprehended,
if possible, and properly punished. But 1t
was more than murder. 1t was an offense
OF the most serious character against us as a
nation.
ship was on friendly visit She was moored
where a government official had placed her.
The sentiment of the people, and especially
the official class, was known to be intensely
hostile to the flag which that vessel carried.
yet no precautions were taken to secure her
safety. Whether this omission was owing
to an absence OF apprehension Of harm or to
indifference or to thoughtlessness, the neglect
was criminal, and Spain cannot escape moral
responsibility for the result
This, in ITSELF however. should not and
would not cause war. Were 1t the only Ques-
ton at issue 1t would doubtless be quit ky
settled without an appeal to arms.
ton is that Of terminating the barbarous and
long-continued civil war in Cuba. The condt-
ton of affairs there is and has been, as our
p porSihIe hTtsberv have for three Years de-
vastated the island. Hundreds of thousands
of women and children have persisted by the
sword and slow starvation
In the sacred name of humanity our gov
eminent proposes to interfere to stop these
atrocities and end these miseries. Is it right
to do this? Can any one moral grounds
question that right? Is it not our duty as a
nation to terminate this condition OF affairs
if we can?
We have criticised the powers of Europe
for allowing the brutal Turk to exterminate
the Armenians by fire and sword.
Shall we allow at our own gates similar
tragedy and lift no hand to prevent it, or
only express mild protest or eXpoStulatiOn?
II is said We have no right to interfere in
the internal affairs of another and friendly
nation. True, in all ordinary circumstances,
but not true in such circumstances as prevail
Certainly. it ever it was right and oblg-
atory to interfere to save people from ex-
termination, that duty Is thrust upon us.
Cuba is our near neighbor; our interests ere
largely centered there. Many of our sub
jects reside there Upon no ether power rests
this responsibility as it does upon ourselves.
There is no government On this Western
hemisphere except own abe 10 interfere
with effect. If any other nation this side
of the ocean should make the attempt, it
would not only certainly mean war, but in
tervention would end in failure. AT least,
success would only. be won by a prolonged
conflict. and probably there would be very
few Cubans to set free when 1t was ended.
We alone intervene speedily and efec-
lively.
Let us hope that this can be done without
war. or at least with more than a brief
resistance to save the pride Of the Spanish
people. If the duty Of Intervention rests
upon any nation, it rests upon us.
The motives now actuating US are not
those Of national ambition and aggrardize-
ment. We are acting from no desire for
glory or conquest or revenge. We do not
covet SPANS territory, nor have We any de-
sire to cripple degrade or humiliate her.