The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-26
Whose the Responsibility?

While the administration at Wash
inGton and the board Of inquiry at
Havana are seeking to discover who
IS responsible for the destruction of
the Maine and the death of her brave
defenders. it might be worth while to
pause for one moment, in the rush Of
hot feeling that has followed that
depiorable calamity, and inquire
whether there be not a prior and per-
haps an equally weighty responsibility
which we can definitely locate. Just as
the murder of President Garfield rests.
In the last analysis, not upon the Graz
ed assassin so much as upon the dia-
bolical spoils system that fred his hate
and nerved his arm, so was the situa-
ton out Of which came the destruction
of the Maine, If we assume that it was
not an accident, created by American
jingoes. It will come to be realized
In time by the American people that
sensationalism, the wild vaporings of
windy blatherskites and the daily ca
tering to the passions Of the mob all
have their perilous price. If peace with
honor seems to be of doubtful achieve
ment in the relations that exist today
between the United States and Spain,
much of it Is the work Of the jingo.
More than two years ago the GIob e
took the only stand consistent with
national dignity and honor, and point
courses only was open to the United
States. 1t could interfere openly and
positively in the Cuban affair, declare
that our commercial interests in the
island, our devotion to liberty and our
duty in the cause Of humanity demand
ed the cessation of Spain's attempt to
subjugate her rebellious subjects, and
thus bring matters to a crisis Refus-
Ing to do that, it could stand abso-
lutely neutral-alert, but silent-and
wait until it's rights were trenched
upon.
It has suited our politicians to do
neither, Not month has passed,
scarcely week, seldom day, in which
not merely the columns Of the sepsa-
tional press, but the debates in con-
gress have not been filled with
diatribes. vituperation and verbal
bullying of Spain. Insensibly,
the tension between the two
countries has been increased, and
both peoples have been gradually driv-
en- into an attitude of intense hatred
toward each other by the unlimited
license of personal folly and party bra
Yado. 1t is not what the responsible
authorities of our government have
done that has created the situation
that makes it possible for us to be-
lieve that the Maine was blown I'D
by Spaniards, for they have done
nothing except to attempt to enforce
neutrality. 1t is the irresponsible ut
terances on both sides of the men who
rely upon sensation and love to work
public passion to a frenzy that have
brought the two nations to a point
where war can be averted, if at ali.
cniy by heroic means.
" ar or no war, II the Maine eXplo-
sion was not due to accident, then the
spirit that conceived it was in
famed, at least in part, by a jim
goism that cares nothing for country or
for honor. The hostility between the
two nations today IS not one Of gov
ernments or of institutions, but per-
vades the whole body of both peoples.
Spain through all her parties, down
to the meanest peasant, is filed with
hatred Of the United States The peo-
pie of the United States, from top to
bottom, despise and hate the Spaniard
1t is not what has happened in Cuba
merely that is responsible for this it is
the daily bombardment Of speeches and