Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-01

Minister Woodford seems to be con-
WINGED that the negotiations between the
United states and Spain may lead to a
pencefui settlement Of the questions at
issue. At Madrid the impression is said
to prevail that the Spanish government
| liz willing 10 comply with the demands
| OF the United States. although there
is some difference of opinion as to the
proper mode of procedure IN the carry
| ing out of the demands made. II this
| Is correct. II IL still possible to avoid
| war, provided Spain does not take
course to precipitate II by ovnsive re-
plies and plain sophistries. The counter
argument to the note of Minister Wood
| ford to the effect that It is spain's pre-
rogative to say what should be done
with Cuba is of this nature. 1t may be
true that Cuba Is Spanish territory, but
| IL the treatment of the inhabitants Is
| contrary to the demands of humane
| civilizations. and If there is reason to be-
lieve that this condition IL going to con-
| tnue indefinitely. other powers have a
| right to make friendly protests, and
| II these are not needed. to take other
measures. A man that owns a horse
| may, technically speaking, have right
| to do whatever he pleases with his own
property, but humane laws recognize
| the right of others to take whatever
steps are necessary to prevent cruelty
| to animals. The same principle has by
| numerous presidents been established
In the dealings of one nation with
10 IN Ia that tIplpeG
| Spain speedily takes a stand consistent
with the dictates OF Righteousness, the
| patience of Congress may be tried be-
You'd endurance. and the catastrophe
| will come, whatever may be the per-
sonal hopes and preferences of the
! leading men of both nations.
| 1t need hardly be said that the time
is one in which cool deliberations on
| both sides of the Atlantic are the press
| ing need OF the hour. 1t is time
enough for those whose temperature
| indicates war fever to come to the front
when the actual hostilities have COM
menced. No government will be justi-
| fed in precipltating a war until every
other resource has been exhausted. The
| Cuban question cannot be considered to
| be beyond the reach of craftsmanship,
| judging from the position taken by
| President Mckinley and his advisers.
1t Is difficult to believe that Spain
| is going to perpetratc the first act Of
hostility. To the rulers OF that coun-
try It must be apparent that n war
with the United States would endanger
vast financial interests OF England,
Germany and France. and she is not
going to deprive herself of the moral
support of these countries by COM
meneing hopeless struggle with n for
| eign nation. II. for some reason, the
Madrid government desires hostilities
as prelude to Cuban independence.
| the policy would be to give the war
every appearance of defensive one.
But II 1t comes to that. and II by some
chance or other 1t should appear In the
beginning that Spanish aims are meet
ing with some degree of success. the
sympathy of Europe might be In
| fluenced in their behalf. Financial in
terests are powerful. To play d.
rectly into the hands of Spain by de-
claring war for the establishment of
| Cuban independence and ignoring the
destruction of the Maine can hardly
be deemed consistent with the dictates
OF the best judgment.
It is a moment of suspense through
out the United States. People are
anxiously looking forward for final de-
velopments. II 1t is to be war. every
one Is anxious to make it one of glory
to the American Republic; still the hope
is entertained that Cuba's freedom car
be bought at q less precious ransom
than the blood of American citizens.