The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-04-14
plunges into that question in it's frat
sentence which is as follows.

1.-THE destruction of the United States
Maine, of two of her oft;cors
and OF 264 Of her crew in the harhor &c
Havana on the night of Feb. Is lsas
excited to an unprecedented degree the
compassion and resentment of tho
American people,"
Contlntlnuing the report saws:
manifestations Of that resentment
were suspended, although the feelin,
was not allayed by the self restraint Of
our people, who determined to hold
their Judgment i'll suspense concerning
thelr ultimate action until an official
Investigation should disclose the canse
OF that great disaster and enable them
by direct or circumstantial testimony
to impute the responsibility therefor
"Ihat investigation has been made.
1t was conducted with judicial thor.
oughness and deliberation. The diff.
Guilty Of demonstrating by conclusiv,,
proof the efficient personal cause Of
that sinister event was the usual one of
exposing plotted and mysterious
crimes. No such difficulty, however.
ooscrres its official and responsible
cause"
Cuipably Negligent At Least.
The committee say that the explosion
itself Of the Maine, was linked with a
series OF precedent transactions, which
cannot III reason be disconnected
from it.
with animus by Spain SO plainly
apparent that no one can even plausibly
deny Its existence, it is merely one rea.
son for the conclusion to which the IN.
vestlgating mind must come in consid.
erlng the entire subject of the relations
OF the United States with that govern.
ment. 1t is the opinion of your com.
mittee that the destruction of the Maine
was compassed either by the official act
OF the Spanish authorities or was made
possible by negligence OH their part
SO willing and gross as to be equivalent
In culpability to positive criminal &C.
ton"
When property and life are de-
stroyed by an act which the exercise of
due diligence by the person whose duty
1t is to use it could have prevented the
happening Of such an event is suffic cient
proof that that diligence was not en-.
ployed."
The time of the explosion" says the
report, "must have been calculated for
the moment when the Maine should
swing within the destructive radius Of
the mine"
Concluding this portion OF its pres
entatlon the committee says: "Ihe
dupliclty, pcrtidy. and cruelty Of the
Spanish character, as they always have
been, are demonstrated still to continue
by their manifestations during the
present war III Cuba. Al! these CIR.
cumstances, considered cumulatively,
warrant the conclusion that the de-
Struction Of the Maine was compassed
.ither by the official act Of the Spanish
authorities (and the ascertainment OF
the particular person is not materia)
or was made possible by negligence
on their part, SO willing and gross a:
to be equivalent in culpability to posi-
tive criminal action.
Ought to Recognize Independence.
In taking up the more general sub
jects the committee expresses the opin
ion that the United States ought a
once to recognize the independence q
the people Of Cuba and also ought t
intervene to tho end that the war anC
| its unexampled atrocities shall cease
and that such independence shall be
como settled political fact at tn
earliest possible moment. by the ostao
lishmcnt, by the free action OF the peo
pie Of Cuba, when such action can b
had, OF government independent II
fact and FORM
Tho Slaughter Of Non. .Combatants.
The committee asserts that the gov
ernment Of Spain has grown weake
while the cause Of the insurgents ha
grown stronger and says the few rein
forcements now being sent II Cuba q
not supply tithc Of SPAN losse
caused by battle and disease. Calm
attention to the policy OF Spain IN
committce says that over 100000 pei
sons have been killed as 4 result of TN
faction and adds: There has been II
distinction OF sex or age III TINS pre-
tracted and torturing massacre. In
children of this generation have bee
starved to death and tho immolation
womanhood has Destroyed the possibi
;,v Of posterity.' The opinion Is G,
nressed that it was the intention OF III
contriycr of this policy to depopula'
the island and repeople it with Spar
iards.
violated All Rules Of Warfare.
It is also asserted that the SPANS
government has violated the laws
civilized warfare in the slaughter