The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-21
The 0f1cial Paper of San Juan County.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2lst, 1898.
INTERVENTION IN CUBA.

The presidents message upon the
Cuban question was SIMPLIFY a strong,
dispassionate statement of facts that
had for weeks been well known
throughout the United States, but
vet required formal transmission to
congress by the executive to serve as
proper basis for legislative action. 1t
Is undoubtedly true that the message
was disappointing to very large por-
ton of the American people, including
many of the presidents own school OF
politics, who have for weeks and even
months been clamOrous for war regard
less apparently Of either causes or con-
sequences. But the president may well
rest content i'm the knowledge that the
Judgment of history upon such step
as he was called upon to take is of far
greater Importance than the present
opinion of any number Of extremists
who bear but a very small share of the
great burden of responsibility for either
war or peace. 1t is not denied that the
presidents review of events and cOndl-
tons growing out of the present strug-
gle for Cuban independence is compre-
hensive, forcible and truthful, nor is it
claimed that any fault can reasonably
be found with his recommendations, SO
far as they go. His critics, most of
whom are merely endeavoring to make
political capital out of every real or inn
aginary element of discord which the
crisis occasions, call the message "weak
and vacillating" because it does not
advocate the immediate recognition of
Cuban independence as condition al
ready established, involving, as such
action would, the recognition of the
supremacy" of a civil government
which has not been able to obtain pos
session of single seaport, or even
establish and maintain capital in the
interior secure from Spanish capture
We are fully i'm accord with the idea
that the Cubans "of right ought to be
independent" but there is scant foun-
dation, in our Judgment, for the sem
ate's resolution that they "are" so
now. The president advised that the
house of representatives authorized
and directed Intervention upon hui
manitarian grounds, ITO stop the war
in Cuba, to the end and with the pur-
pose of securing permanent peace and
order there, and establishing by the
free action of the people there stable
and independent government"
Thus far should we 60 and no farther.
The fiendish destruction of the Maine,
and the exactions, barbarities and
atrocious misgovernment of the Span
ish in Cuba not only give us the right
but impose upon us the duty of insist
ing, in the name of humanity, that
Spanish rule there must cease, but we
have no right to snap our fingers at the
law and custom of nations by recogniz-
ing as independence" such condi-
ton As tina. which now exists in Cuba,
or such republic" as even Consul
General Lee says exists as a Skeleton"
only, as 1.-The true and lawful govern
ment of that island" Time and OPP
portunity should be given for the Or
ganization of a stable and just form of
government, and when such govern
nent is established its prompt and
practically unanimous recognition by
this county may be safely counted
upon. Whether the senate or the
house yields on the question of present
recognition, war seems inevitable, and
its inevitable result will be the end Of
Spanish tyranny in the New World
and the establishment and recognition
of the twentieth republic on the west
ern continent, where but one existed at
the dawn of the 10Th century.