Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-23

If, as a certain section of the press ex-
ultantly- proclaims, and as another sec
tion is coming reluctantly to believe, the
United States is going to war with
Spain, it is of the highest Importance to
understand exactly and beyond all shad-
ow of doubt, what we are going to fight
for. If, when the issue is clearly stated,
the people or their representatives de-
mand war, and compel the executive to
take measures which will surely bring
on war, there is nothing more to be said.
But the people should not gon into
fight under the impression that they are
spending blood and treasure to defend
the national honor or inflict punishment
and wreak vengeance for insults, injur-
les and wrongs suffered, wlen in reality
the purpose is quite different from any
of these objects.
To state the case bluntly, if we go to
war it will not be to avenge the de-
struction Of the Maine, but to free Cuba.
That is the general tenor Of the reports
from Washington, whether conservative
or jingo. The Maine disaster has been
relegated to the rear as an incident in
international politics. This is the testi-
mony of the committee of senators and
congressman who went to Cuba unoff1-
cially to report upon the condition Of the
island for the benefit of a New York
newspaper. The real issue, they say, is
Cuba libre. Additional evidence of this
is the best information now attainable
concerning the findings of the Maine
court of inquiry and of the probable pol
icy of the administration. Without as
Stunning to know what the contents of
the courts report are there is good rea-
points of the evidence gathered are
known, and there is little room for diff
ference of opinion as to the conclusions
to be drawn from them, No sane per-
son imagines there will be any evidence
adduced to show completely or treachery
on the part of Spain. In fact, the latest
statement from a conservative source is
that there may not be ground even for
demanding an indemnity, but only an
explanation. This would give Spain an
opportunity to tell what she has to say
about "due diligence" in the protection
of our ship, and to ask for an interna-
tional board of inquiry. The president
is said to believe that such a request
might be both reasonable and just, but
in the face of the present temper of con-
gress, it may well be doubted whether
he would feel justified in entertaining it.
But this is not the all-absorbing topic
Just now. 1t is intervention. Whether a
demand for indemnity is to be made by
or not, does not interest the advocates
Of war. Officially, as well as logically,
the Maine episode is set off by itself,
and does not enter into the problem.
This view Of the case virtually implies
an official confession that the popular
outburst of indignation against Spain
because of the destruction of the Maine,
was misdrected. it is an admission
that, whether the explosion was inside
or outside the boat, it was an accident,
for which the Spanish government may
or may not be responsible and be re-
quires to pay damages. The demand on
our part, so far as can be discerned from
expressions in Washington and certain
section of the press, is now for the in
dependence of Cuba. The present war
fever had it's origin almost exclusively
in the disaster to the Maine. With that
deplorable incident eliminated from the
case, would there be any war fever? Of
ficially we are supposed to be informed
that the Maine disaster has been elm
mated, and the only issue is Cuba libre.