The Eddy current., 1898-04-16

promptly ana readily recognized. and
the relations and interests OF the United
states With such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms
OF Intervention to end the war. either
as an impartial neutral by imposing a
rational cumpromiae between the con-
tcsianta. or aa the active ally Of the
one party or the other
As 10 the FIRST. lt IA not to be forgot.
ten that during the last few months
the relation Of the United states has
virtually been ono OF friendly inter
ventlon In many ways. each not OF IT,
self conclusive but All tending 20 the
eXertiun of a potential influence to-
ward an ultimate pacific result Just
and honorable to all interests con
cerncd. The spirit of all our acts
hitherto has been an earnest. unaelhBh
desire for peace and prosperity In
Cubn. untarnlshod by differences be
tween us and Spain and unstainod by
the blood OF Americans.
The forclhlc Intervention OF the Uni-
ted states No neutral TO stop the war.
according tu the large dictates uf hu-
manity and following many historical
prcccdcnta whore nclghhorlng states
have interforcd 90 chock the hopeless
sacrinccu OF life by intornocino con.
nicts beyond their borders. ~ iustln-
able on rational grounds II involves.
hoN ever hostile constraint upon both
the parties 10 The contest. as we'll M To-
enforce n truce nv 10 guide the event
uul settlement
The grounds for such intervention
may be briefly summarized ns follows
First. " the cause of humanity and
20 put an cnd 10 the bnrbaritlcs.
hloDdahed. starvation and horrible mis-
cries now existing there and which the
parties to the conflict are either unable
or unwilling to stop or mitigate n is
no answer 20 say this is all IN another
country, belonging to another nation
and Is therefore none Of our business.
u Is especially our duty. for Il ls right
az our door
Second. We owe ~ to our citizens IN
Cuba 10 afford them that protection
for lifo aud property which no govern
mont there can or viii anord and TO
terminate the conditions that deprive
them of legal protection
Third The right 10 intervene may
be Justified by the very serious Injury
tO the commerce trade and business
of our people
Fourth And which la OF the utmost
Importance the present condition OF
anairs In Cuba Is a constant menace 60
our peace and entails upon this gov
Urnment enormous expense with such
O conflict wngod for years IN AN island
80 near us and with which our people
have such large business relations
whore the lives and liberty Of our citi-
zenH are In constant danger and their
property destroyed and themselves
ruined. whore our trading vessels are
liable 90 seizure and the seized at our
very doors by warshlps Of foreign
nation. the expeditions OF filibustering
that we are powerlcHs 10 repress alto
geiher and the queations and entan-
clements thus arlslng-all these and
others that | need not mention. with
the resulting strained relations. are "A
constant menace TO our peace and
compel us TO find a way out OF IL. These
elements of danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingly
illustrated by tragic event which has
deeply and Justly moved the American
people.
| have already transmitted TO con
gress the report uf the naval court Of
Inquiry on the destruction OF the bat
tleshlp Maine In the harbor OF Havana
during the night OF 18TH OF February
The destruction OF the vessel has hlled
the national heart with lnexpressihlo
horror, Two hundred and ffty-eight
brave sailors and marines and two
officers Of our navy. ropusing IN the
fnncled security of q friendly harbor.
have been hurled 90 death, grief and
want brought 10 their homes and sor-
Tow 90 the nntioE
The naval court Of Inquiry which.
u Is needless 10 say, commands the
unqualified confidence Of the govern
ment. was unanimous IN Us conclusion
that the destruction OF the Maine was
caused by an exterior explosion-that
of a submarine mine II dld not as
sumo 10 place the responsibility That
remains To be- fixed In any event tho
Maine. by whatever exterior cause. is
a patent and impressive proof OF a
state of things In Cuba that Is intoler-
able. That condition ~ thus shown 10
be such that the Spanish goycrnemnt
cannot assure safety and security to
vessels of the American navy In the
harhor OF Havana on n mission of
r'ace and rightly there.
Further referring In this connection
tO recent diplomatic correspondence.
a dispatch from our minister 10 Spain
OF the Goth ult., contained the state
ment that the Spanish minister for
foreign affairs assured him positively
that Spain will do all that the highest
honor and Justice require In the mat
ter of the Maine The reply above
referred OF the 3ist ult also contained
an CXpession of the radinesa OF Spain
10 submit 10 arbitration an the diner-
ence which can arise In this matter
which Is subsequently expected by the
nnto nf the Spanish minister of the
10Th inst as follows:
"As To the question OF the fact
which springs from the diversity OF
ylows between the reports uf Ameri-
can and Spanish boards. Spain pro-
poses that the fact be- aacertalnod boy
an impartial investigation by experts
whose decision Spain accepts IN ad-
vance
TO this I have made no reply.
President Grant In 1875. after dis