Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-15

brave sailors or marines and two officers
of our navy, reposng in the fancled Sc
curity of "a friendly harbor, have been
hurled to death, grief and want brought
to their homes and sorrow to the ma
ton.
The naval court Of inquiry which, 1t is
needless to say, commands the unquali-
fed confidence of the government, was
unanimous in its conclusion that the de-
struction of the Maine was caused by an
external explosion, that of a submarine
mine. 1t did not assume to place the
responsibility. That remains to be fixed.
In any event, the destruction Of the
Maine, by whatever exterior cause, is a
potent 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 rightruuy
there. Further referring in this connec-
ton to recent diplomatic correspondence,
dispatch from our minister to Spain OF
the goth ult., contained the statement
that the Spanish minister for foreign af-
fairs assured him positively that Spain
will do all that the highest honor and
| justice required in the matter of the
| Maine. The reply above referred to of
| the 31st ult. also contained an expression
| OF the readiness of Spain to submit to
| an arbitration all the differences which
| can arise In this matter, which is sub
| sequently explained by the note OF the
| Spanish minister at Washington, of
| the 10th inst, as follows: AS to the
| question of fact which springs from the
| diversity Of Views between the reports
of the American and Spanish boards
| Spain proposes that the fact be ascer-
tained by an impartial investigation by
experts, whose decision Spain accepts In
advance. To this have made no reply.
President Grant in 1876 after discuss
| ing the phases Of the contest as then
appeared, and its hopeless and apparent
indefinite prolongation, said:
In such event, 1 am of opinion that
| other nations will be compelled to as
sumo the responsibility which devolves
upon them, and to seriously consider
the only remaining measure possible
mediation and Intervention. Owing per-
haps to the large expanse OF water sep
arating the island from the peninsula
the contendng parties appear to have
within themselves no depository Of com
mon confidence,to suggest wisdom when
| bhooAbl anu tAtIAtIltHl nave their
sway, and to assure the part Of peace
maker"
In this view, in the earlier days Of the
contest. the good offices OF the United
States as "a mediator were rendered in
good faith, without any selfish purpose.
in the interest of humanity and in sin
cere friendship for both parties. but
were at the time declined by Spain, with
the declaration, nevertheless. that at a
future time they would be Indispensable
No intimation has been received that
in the opinion Of Spain. that time has
been reached And yet the strife con
tlnues with all its dread horrors and all
Its injuries to the interests Of the United
States and Of other nations. Each
party seems quite capable of working
great injury and damage to the other
as well as to all the relations and inter
ests dependent on the existence Of peace
in the island; but they seem Incapable Of
reaching any adjustment. 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 circumstances, the
agency Of others either by mediation or
by Intervention, seems to be the only al
Tentative. which must. sooner or later
be invoked for the termination Of thu
strife"
In the last annual message Of my i'm
mediate predecessor, during the pending
struggle, ii was said:
when the inability Of Spain TO deal
successfully with the Instruction has
become manifest and 1t is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
j for all purposes of its rightful existence
| 1 h., H. al.
, establishment has degenerated into &
. strife, which means nothing more thar
the useless sacrifice of human life ant
/ the utter destruction Of that very sub.
Jet matter of the conflict, situation
, | will be presented in which our obl!ga
lions to the sovereignty OF Spain will b,
y superseded 10y higher obligations which
- we can hardly hesitate to recognize anC
, discharge"
: In my annual message to congress- il
/ December last, speaking to this question
S | said: The near future will demon
70 strate whether the Indispensable con
Z dition OF a righteous peace, just alik
r to the Cubans and to Spain, as we'll a
EQUITABLE to all our interests SO init
e mately involved in the welfare of Cuba
4 is likely to be attained. If not, the eX
$ igency of further and other action by tn
e United States will remain to be taken
~ When that time comes that action vii
be determined in the line of indisputabl
d right and duty. It will be faced withou
l. misgiving or hesitancy in the light O
) the obligation this government owe
= 70 itself, to the people who have con
II fided to it the protection Of their Inter
10 ests and honor and to humanity.
l. Sure of the right, keeping free from a
s. offense ourselves, actuated only by VI
Is right and patriotic consideration
IT moved neither by passion or selishnes
the government will continue its watcl
n full care over the rights and property {
N American citizens and will abate nor
y of its efforts to bring about by peacefl
Il agencies peace which shall be honori
lie BILE and enduring. If it shall hereaft'
al appear to be a duty imposed by our obi
cation to ourselves, to civilization al
De humanity, to intervene with force,
to shall be without fault on our part al
II only because the necessity for such
IN ton will be so clear as to command II
l. support and approval of the civilizt
world"
n The long trial has proved that the Of
T. ject for which Spain has waged war CA
to not be attained. The fire OF insurrectiC
n may flame or shoulder with varying Sc
a sons, but it has not been, and it is pla
so that it cannot be. extinguished by pre-