The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-12


az" How to Prevent and Cure Pimpes." mailed free.
not rightly eliminable factors when the
real question is whether the community
| claiming recognition is or Is not independ-
ent beyond peradventure
Nor from the standpoint of eXpedience
| do think it would be wise or prudent for
| this government to recognize at the pres
ent time the independence of the so-cal1ed
| Cuban republic Such recognition is not
necessary in order TO enable the United
! States to intervene and pacify the island
To commit this country now to the recog-
milton of any particular government an
| Cuba might subject us to embarrassing
| conditions of international obligation to-
wards the organization so recognized. In
| case of Intervention our conduct would be
subject TO the approval or disapproval of
| such government; we would be required to
| submit to its direction and to assume to il
the mere relation of a friendly ally. When
| 1T shall appear hereafter that there is
within the island government capable of
| performing the duties and discharging the
| functions of a separate nation and having
| as matter of fact, the proper forms and
| attributes of nationality, such government
| can be promptly and readily recognized
| and the relations and interests of the
| United States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms of in
| tervention to end the war, either as an i'm
| partial neutral by imposing a rational
| compromise between the contestants, or
| as the active ally of the one party or tie
other.
| AS to the first, il is not to be forgotten
| that during the last few months the rela-
| lions of the United States has virtually
been one of friendly Intervention in many
| ways, each not of itself conclusive, but
| all tending to the eXertion of potential
| influence toward an ultimate pacific result
| just and honorable to all interests con-
cerned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto
has been an earnest, unselhsh desire for
peace and prosperity in Cuba. untarnisled
| by differences between us and Spain and
unstained by the blood of American cti-
zens.
The forcible Intervention of the United
| States as a neutral, to stop the war, ac-
cording to the large dictates of humanity
and following many historical presidents
where neighboring states have interfered
to check the hopeless sacrifices of life by
internecine conflicts beyond their borders,
is justifable on rational grounds. 1t in
wolves, however hostile constraint upon
both the parties to the contest as well as
to enforce a truce so as to guide the event
Cal settlement
The grounds for such Intervention may
be briefly summarized as follows:
put an end TO the Darbarities, boodshed
starvation and horrible miseries now ex-
listing there, and which the parties to the
conflict are either unable or unwilling 10
stop or mitigate. 1t is no answer to say
this is all in another country, belonging
to another nation, and is therefore, none
of our business. 1t is specially our duty
for it is right at our door.
Second. We owe 1t TO our citizens N
Ts,,l, to off "a
indemnity for life and property which no
government there can or will afford, and
TO that end to terminate the conditions
that deprive them of legal protection.
Third. The right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to the
commerce, trade and business of our peo-
pie and by the wanton destruction of
property and devastation of the island.
Fourth. And which is the utmost inn
portance. The present condition of affairs
in Cuba is a constant menace TO our peace
and entails upon this government an enor-
nous expense. With such a conflict waged
for years in an island so near us and
with which our people have such trade
and business relations-when the lives and
liberty of our citizens are in constant dam
ger and their property destroyed ano
themselves ruined-where our trading yes
sells are liable to seizure and are seized
at our very door by warships of a foreign
nation, the expeditions of filibustering that
we are powerless to prevent altogether
and the irritating questions and entangIe-
ments thus arisng-all these and others
that / need not mention with the result
ing strained relations, are a constant me-
mace TO our peace and compel us to keep
on semi7war footing with a nation with
which we are at peace.
These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been strikingly
illustrated by a tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American
people.
/ have already transmitted to Congress
the report of the naval court of inquiry
on the destruction of the battleship Maine
in the harbor of Havana during the night
OF Feb. 10. The destruction of that noble
vessel has filed the national heart with
inexpressible horror. Two hundred AMI
hfty-eight brave sailors and marines ana
two officers of our navy, reposing in the
fancied security of friendly harbor. have
been hurled TO death, grief and want
brought to their homes, and sorrow TO the
nation.
The naval court OF inquiry. which Il IL
needless TO say, commands the IN
qualified confidence of the gov
eminent, was unanimous In its conclu-
sion that the destruction of the Maine
was caused by an exterior explosion-that
OF submarine mine. II did not assume
to place the responsibility. That remains
TO be fixed
In any event the destruction of the