Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-04-14

illustrated by tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American peo-
pie. l have already transmitted to Con-
gress the report of the Naval Board of In
quiry on the destruction of the battleship
Maine in the harbor Of Havana during the
night of the 18th Of February. The de-
struction of that noble vessel has filled the
national heart with inexpressible horror.
Two hundred and tfty-eight brave sailors
and marines and two officers of our navy,
reposing in the fancied security of friend
ly harbor, have been hurled to death, grief
and want brought to their homes and sor-
row to the nation.
The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it is
needless to say, commands the unqualified
confidence of the Government, was unani-
nous in its conclusion that the destruction
of the Maine was caused by an exterior ex-
plosion, that of 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
patent and impressive proof of 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 10 vessel of the American
Navy in the harbor OF Havana on a mission
of peace and rghtfully there.
Further referring in this connection to
recent diplomatic correspondence, dis
patch from our Minister to Spain, of the
26th ult., contained the statement that the
Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs az
sured him positively that Spain will do all
that the highest honor and justice required
in the matter of the Maine. The reply of
of the readiness of Spain to submit to an
arbitration all the differences which can
arise in this matter, which is subsequently
explained by the note of the Spanish Min
lister at Washington of the 10th inst, as
follows: "As to the question of fact which
springs from the diversity of views between
the report of the American and Spanish
boards, Spain proposes that the fact be
ascertained by an impartial investigation by
experts, whose decision Spain accepts in
advance To this ] have made no reply
Tho oply bOna af raliae o,d ,o.s.S
frnn, n condition which oon ~ ,ep
ba endured 10 ho .nfor,od ,o;soa.e'
of cuba II tho 80 h,,r,,;,,, T..
tho name n, civiIiz.tior In hahait =.
endangerad American intaros,s u,h;oh
Give nc tho righ, and tha d,,t,, -, n,oa,-
and m oot Tho r,.r !, Crho ~. -,
In y;eu, or tboso s.o,s .na .l,o.o a.,.
sidarations ast tho coraros. to ~,
tborize and emnower tho presidont 70
take measures to sacure a frl, and AMI
termination q, tho bostili,,as hotu,oon
tho oovornn,on+ ~ cnoin o,a tho 700
MI ., C,,ha ona .. - =. a., ~,
and tha ost.hlish - .ta,na oo,,
ornuo,,t oonahIa -, .,,a;,.a,,,,. p
ona ah.a,.,+ a. -n.,n' e U.u
-. 80 n','o". oDrs'.
-, .'.. ~. a'-'Ny ~,
"''u inv 'e'"'''' Vi ITO ,'''"oia do We,
% ou' o"i''anu ~ L9e 'H. ,ni''ai' anu
a al lolee9 VI lne y ou'''u ''h'os do may
oe necessary lor THESE purposes ana IN
tie cot vi humanity anu " anu u
e'''ns 'he lives vi 'he s'ai'ihs
peopie vi the 'siahu' i recommend that
.he uist'ioution Vi ioou anu supplies
De continued ana that an appropfia-
tioh out OF the pupllc treasury 10 sup
plement the char1ty OF our cltizens.
Inc issue is now with congress. IL Is
a solemn responsibility. nave ex-
hausted every effort to relieve the in