The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-19

Sun: THE proposed Intervention of
the United States to put an end to the
hostilities in Cuba cannot in my opin-
ion, make our government in any man
nor responsible for the bonds issued by
the Spanish government, for the inter-
est and principal of which by their
terms, the customs revenues of cuba
are pledged These bonds represent
mainly the debt which the Spanish gov
ernment has incurred In it's efforts 70
put down the present and former in
surrections in that island. The inter-
vention will result in all probability
in the overthrow OF Spanish sovereign
ty in Cuba and the establishment of
an independent government in It's
place. AS well might Great Britain,
at the close of our Revolutionary war.
have demanded of France that she
pay the expense of that war because
she had intervened TO recognize the
independence of the colonies and had
materially contributed TO destroy the
sovereignty Of the mother country. Nor
is the question Of our responsibility
established by the act Of recognition of
the Independent government of Cuba,
whether it is made concurrently with
armed intervention or follows that act
Had Cuban independence been achiev-
ed by peaceful mediation the subject
of validating the bonds in whole or in
part Of the Cuban republic or by the
guarantee of the United States would
doubtless have been considered in the
negotiations, but diplomacy having
failed by reason Of the uncompromising
attitude of Spain. and war being there
| by precipitated, she has risked both her
sovereignty and her bonds in the ar
bitrament of arms, and they must
| abide the result The bondholders
| seem to have contemplated such "a
contingency. for they required not only
| the pledge of the customs revenue of
| Cuba, but also the guarantee of the
| Spanish government. IT, in the con-
| test. the army Of the United States is
| triumphant. and out of it an indepen
dent Cuba emerges, the pledge will
ave disappeared, but the Spanish ma
ton will still remain to fulfil it's guar
| antee to it's creditors SO far as It is
able"
These views are concurred in by the
| Hon. John A. Kasson, special recip-
| roCity commissioner, and leading in
| ternational lawyer and diplomat. II
know of no instance in history" said
| Mr.. Easson, where an interviewer ma
tion in the affairs of another in the in
| tcreSts of peace and good ordar, has
| been made to assume responsibility for
| the obligations of the nation affected
| by the intervention. II we go to Cuba
| 10 secure Ieace there, il is becaus-
the misconduct of Spain in the manage
ment of it's affairs has produced sucl
a condition Of things that it is intoler-
able to us. Our national economy is
threatened Ly the existing evils in the
island. The commerce Of the cUGrtrl
is disturbed. The Cuban question
affects our political life. We find nu.
merous reasons for Intervention, but
none Of them nor the act of lnterven.
tion can make us liable for Spanish
bonds. Neither could the recognition
Of the Cuban republic by the United
States affect the relations of Spain ant
her bondholders. They must still lool
TO her for settlement. All history
shows that whenever. subsequent t.
Intervention or the recognition of c
new government relations were estab
lished between the interviewer ant
bondholders of the eXtinguished sover
eighty. they were based upon princi
pies that had no application to tht
matter IF intervention or recognition. >
In other words, Span's is the deb
and upon Spain is the responsibility o
liquidation or reputation.