The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-21
THE DIVINE RxcHr OF INrERvEv-
TION.


As for those who even at this. late
moment may think that as citizens OF
this great Republic we have problems
enough to attend 20 at home without In
terfering with those of our neigh bors, 1t
might be weil to ask them to consider
the good Samaritan episode. There were
probably sick and poor enough in the
home OF the Samaritan, but divine Wis
dom commended the relief given the sick
and injured Hebrew. Again worthy of
consideration. as everything ne wrote Is.
though at times one msy sorciby disn.
gree with him, are these words of force.
fur English from John kuskins lee
ture before tho Royal Military Academy.
Woolwich. Eng, delivered some years
ago. and to be found in his Grown of
the Wild olivss:'' ~
sBut as 1t is at their own peril that
any race extends their dominion in mere
desire of power. 80 IL is at their own still
greater peril that they refuse to under
take aggressive war, according To their
force, whenever they are assured that
their authority would be helpful and pro-
toctiye. Nor need you listen TO any
sopt istical objection OF the impossibility
OF knowing when "a peoples help Is need
ed, or when not. Make your national
conscience clear and your national eyes
will soon be clear. No man who IL truly
ready TO take part in noble quarrel
will ever stand long in doubt'by whom
or in what cause his nid Is needed.
hold It my duty to make no political
statement Of any special bearing in this
presence; but l tell you. broadly and
boldly. that, within these last ten yenrs,
we Enlaish have, AS kni9htly nation,
lost our spurs; We have fought where we
should not have fought for gain; and Ne
have been passive where we should not
have teen passive, for fear 1 tell you
that the principle of non-intervention, as
now preached among us. Is as selfish and
cruel as the worst frenzy OF conquest, and
differs from IL oDly by being not only
malignant, but dastardiy."
II 1t is war that tie peace loving peo-
pie Of the United States are now entered
upoh, never has q war had q cause more
broad. more humane moro disinterssted.
What has the United states Co gain In
fighting Spains Whatever the amount OF
the loss that will be inflicted upon Spain
In case that nation undertakes to deny
our demand upon her to get out OF Cuba.
or oppose by arms our undertaking to en-
force that demand. loss will eome to us,
too, in lives and treasure. Never did
nation onter upon war with Less Of ma
terial gain possible to the triumph OF its
arms or for less reason 30 far as person
al interests In any way are involved. In
sense. Spain has, indeed, "done moth.
ing to the United States" unless she Is
demonstrated to have been guilty of the
Maine atrocisy. But the movement for
Intervention In Cuba began long before
the Maine incident came to arouse the
people to o state of frxay. The policy OF
our government which has now resulted
In the action of Congress, and the ulti-
mstum from the President In accordance
with tiat action, was crystsIlized in the
politics Of two yeSrs ago and plainly ex
pressed by a plank In the Republioan
platform. The Maine horror simply has
tened the inevitable purpose to intervene
in Cuba. =
In the interests OF humanity, for altru-
istic and abstract srounds, If ron please,
the United States assume a position that
means war, whether Spain accepts 1t as
war or not Spain y suffer the inevi-
table penalty of lonk continued bad gov
ernment misrule. incapacity and ma
tional barbarity. II IL the destiny OF the
United States to 20 shs instrument of
that penalty. The nation accepts the
call In spirit Of Righteousness. 1t pre-
sents to the world another example Of
the Samaritan, another example Of
kniahtliness, of true chivnlry, of Christ
ianity militant, ready to. fight. II need
be. for cause that IL OF sentiment II
you please, at any rate a cause that sure.
ly Is not for selfish gain, unrestrained by
fear, confident Of tho result and conf
don't Of justification in the eyes of the
world and to the calm review of history.