Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24

The United States battle ship Maine has
been ordered to sail at once to Havana.
This action was taken today after a pro-
Ionged conference between the President,
the Secretary of the Navy. the acting Sec
rotary of State, the Attorney General and
the General commanding the army. 1t is
a right action and will be applauded AMI
sustained by the people Of the United
States
Whatever may be the reason assigned by
the administration for the sending of the
Maine it is plain that her presence in Hay-
ana harbor has been urgently needed for
some days for the protection of American
interests. The Star "a week ago today re-
ceived dispatch from it's special CORE
spondent at Havana indicating the gravity
of the situation there and declaring that
the lives of the Americans resident in that
city might at any moment be endangered
by the explosion of the pent-up feelings
against them on the part of the ultra
Spanish residents and army officers. MIR.
Pepper then said that whatever might be
the motive for sending war ship. such
an act must be accepted at home as equiva-
lent to Intervention in the war. for it
would be viewed as such by the people at
Havana.
This action of today must, however be
judged solely with reference to The grave
necessity for protecting the lives and prop
erty of the American citizens. 1t must not
be construed here as necessarily bearing
Upon the relations of the Spaniards and the
insurgents or upon the prospects of the
autonomy project. 1t is necessitated, to be
sure, by the state of war that exists in the
island. state that has not been acknowl-
edged by Spain or by this government. II
incidentally the sending of the Maine snail
be taken by the Spanish to mean a recoG-
milton of the belligerency Of the insurgents
that Interpretation must be accepted as
confession on the part of Spain that the
insurgents are entitled to such recognition.
There may be risks in sending the Maine
to Havana. That act may arouse the re-
sentiment of ST ain to the point of a breach
of the peace now prevailing between these
two countries. The time has come when
such a risk must be met, unless the graver
risk is to be incurred of permitting the
American interests in the island to suffer
from the mob that may form without
warning in the Cuban capital. Spain is
responsible for the danger that Is involved
In the presence Of an American warship in
Havana harbor. In the ultimate recording
of the responsibility for today's work that
fact must be taken strictly into account.
The Navy Department declares solemnly
that the Maine is sent to Havana in re-
sumption of the course of ordinary naval
operations that were interrupted by the
outbreak of hostilities in the island.
state of war, which has never been recog-
nized to exist, has now ceased, and we
send warship in recognition of peace in
stead of belligerency. The departments
announcement is evidently intended for
Spanish rather than for American con-
sumption.
This government has acted toward Spain
with excessive patience and liberation. The
condition of things in Cuba has for months
been such as to warrant the taking of ex-
tremc measures by this country, as an act
of humanity. If now, after three years of
lICltlesS warning, Spain has only succeeded
IN giving rise to such explosive and dan
gerous conditions to threaten the lives
OF The Americans resident in Cuba, it is by
no means TO be considered as an affront 10
the government at Madrid when a shin of
war Is sent to give those lives the protec-
lion of the American flag.
II war results from the presence of the
Maine In Havana harbor on this GRAND
the responsibility for that war will rest
with Spain.