The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-16
Arbitration Talk
Has No Foundation
From the Troy Times.

From the Troy Times.
~ ONE suggestions are made of BIZ
Wn tration between the United states
IN and Spain. These suggestions have
WI appeared both I'm this country and
in England. But the fact IL that
there is nothing to arbiTate There is NO
pending Issue between the United States
and Spain. The Maine incident Is not
yet an issue and may never be. There Is
not n controverted point In dispute be-
tween the two governments. There may
be, and probably will be. "A difference of
governmental opinion. But SO far there
is none We are as much at peace with
Spain at the present time Rs with any
country, and, with Alaskan and fishery
problems stil unsettled, perhaps on the
face of affairs our relations to Spain are
more peaceful than to Great Britain.
Every demand We have made of Spain
has been complied with. We demanded
the release of American citizens held
prisoners in Cuba. They were released.
We demanded, more or less directly, that
Weyler be extinguished. He was de-
posed and sent home. We demanded
that steps be taken to end the Cuban CON
fict which arose from Cuban discomfort.
And Spain granted a measure OF colonial
autonomy which is now in process of
trial.
Spain has also made some suggestions
TO us. She asked that flibustering be
more vigorously repressed. Our answer
was a statement of the great sums we
had expended in IIatrolling our long
coast, the arrests and seizures made and
the trials in United States courts. We
showed Spain that filibusters were fire.
quently stopped here but never stopped
by Spain on the coast of Cuba Madrid had
no more to say about illlbustering. That
incident was closed. Spain suggested a
N no nal snt Ia hD n
swer was "No!" And Spain said she
never really meant it. There has not
been a casus belli in the relations be-
tween the countries. and there is none
today. The suggestions of arbitration
hover about the Names explosion. But
neither country has made accusation
against the other in connection with that
lamentable occurrence. and it is not at all
likely that if the United States on a re-
view Of the facts shall make a demand
it cannot be peacefully treated with the
resources of diplomacy. There is Moth
ing Yet to srbtrate.
The continuing possibility of trouble is
in the disturbed condition of Cuba. The
United States has plainly told Spain that
the horror of years in that unhappy
island must cease. Spain has admitted
that to he true. and asked a reasonable
time to restore peace. Upon the decision
of the United States as to what consti-
tutcs a reasonable time and what "A
restoration Of tranquility means, will
hinge events that may produce Issues that
Will not make the cry for arbitration pre-
mature at it now is. But even then
there are some things that cannot and
will not be submitted to arbitration. The
license to commit murder cannot be sub
| mitted to arbitrators: the Monroe doc
| trine and its necessary corOlaries will
not be so submitted. nor will national
! honor.
Arbitration is better than war. but
| there are some things that defy ar5ltra-
| ton. Assassination cannot he aIbitrated
| while the assassin has his knife raised
| Arbitral tribur ais do not conduct their
| deliberations by the light of burning
| homes.