The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-12

BIZ following historical precedents where
there has been interference to check the
hopeless sacrifice OF life by internal
conflicts beyond eountry's borders. Is
tastifiable on national grounds 1t in
wolves. however hostile constraint upon
both parties to the contest. as wei, TO
enforce a truce as to guide the eventual
settlement, The grounds for such inter-
vention may be briefly summarized as fol-
lows:
put an end 10 the barsarities. bhoedshed.
starvation and horrible miseries now ex-
isting there. and which the parties TO the
conflict are each unable or unwilling 10
stop or mitigate. 1t is no answer 10 say
this ID all in another country. belonging 10
another nation. and Is therefore none OF
our business II Is expressly our ouly. ZOE
II Is right at our door.
Second-We owe 1t 10 our citizens IN Cuoa
TO afford them that protection and indem-
nifty for life and property which no govern
ment there can or win anord. ana 10 tnas
end terminate the conditions that deprive
them of legal protection.
Third-The right to intervene may be JUS
tilted by the very serious injury to COM
merce. the business of our people. and ov
the wanton destruction OF properly anu
devastation of the island.
Fourth. and most important-The pres
ent condition of affairs in Cuba - con-
menace
upon this government enormous EXPENSE
With such a conflict waged for years IN
an island so near to us and with Which
our people have such trade ana business
relations. where the lives and liberty OF
our citizens are in constant menace. sh-
dangering our peace. their properly ue
stroyed and they themselves ruined; wnen
our trading vessels are liable to seizure at
nIr very door BY warships OF foreign ma
ton: the expeditions OF hlioustermg that
NC are powerleSs to prevent altogether'
and the Irritating questions ana eheAus
ments thus arisfng-all these ana othe's
are a constant menace to our peace. anu
compel US to keep on semi-Was ioo''a =,
with tina, nation with which We are al
peace.
nrsrnuCruON OF THE MAINE.
These elements OF danger and disorder
already pointed out have been striKinSiy
illustrated by tragic event Which mas
deeply and Justly moved the American
Y.aon,e I have already transmitted to con-
rress the report Of the naval court OF M
uuiry ON the destruction OF the battlesiap
Maine In the harbor OF Havana during the
nipht Of the 18th OF February. The de-
struetion of that noble vessel has filled the
national heart with inexpresslDie horror.
Two hundred and sixty-six brave sailors
and marines and two officers of our navy
renosiny In the fancsed security OF
friendly harbor have been hurled to deatn'
grief ard want brought to their MONIES
and sorrow to the nation.
The naval court of inquiry which, 1t IS
needless to say. commands the unqeah-
fled confidence of the government, was
unanimous in Its conclusion thai the de-
struction of the Maine was caused by an
exterior explosion. that OF submarine
mine. II did not assume to place the re-
sponsbility. That remains to be fixed.
In any event, the destruction Of the
Maine. by whatever exterior cause, is
patent and impressive proof OF a state
OF things In Cuba that is intolerable. That
condition Is thus shown to be such that
the Spanish government cannot assure
safety and security to a vessel OF the
American navy In the harbor Of Havana
on a mission Of peace and rightfully there.
Further referring in this connection to
recent diplomatic correspondence. dis
patch from our minister to Spain OF the
18th ult., contained the statement that the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs as
sured MIN positively that Spain will do
all that the highest honor and justice re-
quired in the matter of the Maine The re-
ply above referred to OF the 31st ut, also
contained an expression of the readiness
Of Spain to submit to arbitration all the
differences which can arise in this matter
which is subsequently explained by the
note of the Spanish minister at Wash
ington Of the 10Th inst, as follows:
LAS to the question OF fact which springs
from the diversified views of the American
and the Spanish boards, Spain proposes
that the fact be ascertained by an Impair
tial investigation by experts. which de-
cision Spain accepts in advance"
To this have made no reply.
GRANT FOREsAW THE END.
President Grant, In 1875. In discussing the
purposes of the contest as it then appear
ed and Ats hopeiessness and apparent in
definite proIongation, said:
In such event, ! am OF the opinion that
other nations VIII be compelled to assume
the responsibility which deyoIyes unon
rnaining measures possible mediation ana
intervention. Owing. perhaps to the large
expanse OF water separating the island
from the peninsula. the contending parties
appear 10 have within themselves no de-
pository OF common confidence to suggest
wisdom when passion and excitement have
tneir sway, and thus assume the part of
a peaceufa ker."
In this View. in the early days OF the
contest, the good Offices of the Jruita5
States as mediator were rendered IN co.,
fath, without any selfish purpose. In the
interest OF humanity and sincere srsana
ship for both parties but were NJ the ,;,n,
declined by Spain. with the declaration
nevertheless. fnat at a future time thew
would be Indispensable. No .ntlmafion
has been received that in the opinion OF
spain that time has been reached. vet ts,a
strife continues with all It's dread horrors
and It's injuries TO the United States and
other nations. Eacn party seems oui,a
capable of working great injury and dam.
aga to the other, as well as 10 all the "a.
lations and interests dependent on the OK
Issence OF peace IN the island: but they
seem fncapable Of reaching any adjust
ment and both have thus far failed OF
achieving any success whereby one party
shall possess and control the island TO the
exclusion OF the other. Under the circum-
stances. the agency Of others, either by
mediation or by intervention. seems 10 be
the only alternative which must sooner or
later be involved for the termination OF
the strife. In the last annual message of
nay immediate predecessor during the
pending struggle. it was said:
When the inability OF Spain 70 deal s,,c-
cessfaily with the insirrecticrs has be-
come manifest. and il Is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct In Cu..a
for ali purposes OF its rixhtfai acton and
when a peoples struggle for Is ra-e<tai3-
sE.r -..xfs~ has a a