The herald., 1898-03-01
THE MAINE DISASTER
rs DISCUSSED By EX-SENATOR
EDMUNDS
HAsTY ACTION DEPRECATED
Remembering the New Orleans Malta
Riots, Dignity Forbids Dealing
in Suspicion Of Malignity
Associated Press Special Wire

in Suspicion Of Malignity
Associated Press Special Wire
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 2S.-Former
United States Senator Edmunds, in dis
cussing the status Of the Maine disaster
as affected by international law, said:
above all, 1t seems to me that Amer
lean chivalry demands that we exercise
our finest and incest sense of honor and
dignity and impute nothing evil to the
government of Spain unless the most
incontrovertible facts demonstrate such
q necessity.
Our government Is not without prece-
dent Of her own making in the matter.
At the time of the Malta riots in the
State Of Louisiana some years ago, you
will remember that the then Secretary
Of State James G. Blaine, contended,
and think rightly, that the death Of
q number of Italian subjects was
brought about by circumstances so ex-
traordinary that the government could
not be expected to have foreseen their
danger and therefore could not have
prevented it.
"If in view Of these facts the United
States sought out the real offenders and
brought them to the fullest justice, he
further insisted that all had been done
that the Italian government could prop
erly demand.
1.-THE offenders were found and an at
tempt was made to bring them to JUS
tice, but the conditions were such and
the public opinion was so prejudiced
that 1t even affected the State courts
of Louisiana and 1t was impossible to
bring them to justice. The President
was authorized by Congress to indemni-
fy the widows and children of the Ital-
ians who were killed. This case and
that of the Maine disaster are analogous
in their effect.
1.-THE dignity and chivalry of the
United States forbid dealing in suspi-
cions. An efficient board of inquiry Is
Investigating the matter in an orderly
and commendable manner. and when
1t has announced its finding we
must accept 1t as the truth"
Asked as to what would be the prob
able results IL the report of the inquiry
should show that the Spanish govern
ment officials were implicated in plot
to destroy the Maine, Mr.. Edmunds re-
piled that such an assumption was too
horrible to think about. unless 1t was
finally shown to be true.
Spain could not afford to do any such
thing" he said. "She would forever
lose all honor among the nations Of the
earth. The strained relations which
have existed between the United States
and Spain made 1t incumbent upon
Spain to take the greatest precautions
against accident to our ships when they
visited the port of Havana and 1t is only
fair to assume that Spain did her duty.
Until more facts are obtainable from
an unquestionable source we must be
content to hope for the best"
SPANISH COMMENT
LONDON. Feb. 2s.-The Carlist organ,
Ell Correo, of Madrid. in It's issue Of Feb
ruary 22nd, Just received here by mail,
says:
There Is no doubt whatever that the
loss of the Maine was due to lack of
discipline" and cites the case of a United
States cruiser which was lately at
Venice, describing her crew as being
rather pirates than sailors of civilized
nation"
Continuing, Ell Cerreo says: Drunk
ards, insorbordinates, thieves and fight
ers, the sailors of the United States
never set foot on shore without creating
riots. Nightly several Of them slept
In jail or were taken on board until the
was forced to really COM
plain to the Commander and request
lin not to allow his men to land, as other
wise they could not be answerable for
the consequences. Had these officials
belonged to the Christina regime, the
United States would have replied by de-
an indemnity, or an apology,
Or both, with the certainty Of obtaining
It. But the protest not being Spanish.
no attention was paid to 1t. This naval
convict ship, which Is never free from
the fumes Of alcohol, must be twin
sister Of the Maine. It is a marvel |
ous thing. in such hands as these that
! ship does not blow up daily"
The impartial Of February 25th ap-
proves the growing sentiment that "con-
session has reached its limits" and ex-
presses the belief that 'the best forces
n Spain are convinced that the time
las arrived to firmly, though with moder- |
'tion and calmness, assert the honor Of
he Fatherland."
Ell Liberal of the same day, warns the |
SCORAC 660AnSt ~AAO6C WAO AE0 6CSAluB u |
every act and word of the |
United States" and criticises the "ef- |
'orts Of the Carlists to block autonomy"
which, it adds, "the Liberals are loyalty |
rying to put into effect in Cuba"
Ell Liberal concludes: LET Spaniards |
that Cuba is the key to our
If, within brief space Of
lime, we succeed in pacifying the island,
he danger Of external war will forth
with disappear. though we do not for a |
moment believe that, should war break
tut, Cuba will be the only battlefield. !"
The Globe comments on the friendly |
Ind even cordial relations between the |
wo Cabinets of Spain and the United |
,tates," and gathers from the recent |
peech OF President Mckinley at Phila-
lelphia, that the chances all favor peace. |
t blames the fierce jingoism Of certain |
spanish papers for provoking similar
'ellicose utterances in the United States
md adds. when Spain's papers con-
tantly inform the United States that
var is imminent, the latter cannot do
therwise than prepare for hostilities."
NO CAUSE FOR War