Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-04-15

lives and liberty of our citizens are III
constant menace, thelr P,p ,,in-
stroyed and they themselves rum
cd when our trading vessels are Eapie "
.aizir. and are seized at our very uooi'
by warsnips of a foreign nation the eNpe
di.;ons of tilibusterinS that we are pow
eiIess to prevent altogether anu the ~
tating questions thus aris'hg-a' theas
and others are constant menace to our
aoe ord coun.l us to keep on semi /
n>ar footin, with that nation with which |
We are at peace
The Tragedy of the Maine.
The elements of danger and disorder az
,.adv pointed out have been strlklliSis
ustrated by tragic event WHICH "'
deeply and justly moved the America"
people. o,>,.,,ss
/ have already transmitted to congress
m. report of the naval court or inquiry
-, tho abstraction of the battleshp
Maine in the harbor of Havana during tiie
night of the 18th of February. The de
structo on of that noble vessel mas my"
/ the national heart with ineNphcapie MOI
ror: 25S brave sailors ana marines wv
officers of our navy, reposing III the l"h
ci,d security of a friendly harpor' nav.
been hurled to death, grief ana "ah'
brought to their homes and sorrow to the
nation. . :,
The naval court of inquiry which. II IS
/ needless to say commands the uliau'A'
! fled confidence of the government, was
! unanimous in its conclusion that tne de
struction of the Maine was caused by an
! exterior explosion: that of a submarine
mine 1t did not assume to place the re-
! sponsibiity. That remains to be nxeu
| In any event the destruction of the
| Maine by whatever cause, is patent
and impressive proof of state or thihss
! in Cuba that is intolerable. That condi-
h.l
Spanish government can not assure sale'v
and security to a vessel of the American
navy in the harbor of Havana on mis-
sion of peace and rightfuily there
Spain Wants Arbitration.
| Further referring, in this connection. to
recent diplomatic correspondence. dls-
patcE from our minister to Spain or the
26th ult. contained the statement that the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs assur-
ed him positively Spain will do all that
the highest honor and justice requires in
tie matter of the Maine. The reply above
referred to of the 3lst ult. also contained
an expression of the readiness of Spain
to submit to arbitration all the differ
ences which can arise in this matter,
which is subsequently explained by the
note of the Spanish minister at Washing
ton of the 10th inst as follows:
LAS to the question of fact which
springs from the diversified views be-
tween the report of the American and the
Spanish boards. Spain proposes that the
fact be ascertained by an impartial N
Nestigation by experts which decision
Spain accepts in advance"
To this | have made no reply.
President Grant Quoted.
, President Grant in 1875. in discussing
the purposes of the contest as it appeared
then and its hopeless and indefinite pro-
longation, said:
I'm such event l am of the opinion that
other nations will be compelled to as
: sumo the responsibility which devolves
upon them and to seriously consider the
only remaining measures possible, media
ton and intervention. Owing perhaps to
the large eXpanse of water separating the
island from the peninsula. the contendins
parties appear to have within themselves
: no depository of common confidence to
r suggest wisdom, when passion and ex-
! element have their sway, and thus as
2 sumo the part of peacemaker.'
70 In this view, in the earlier days of the
contest, the good offices of the Unit. d
5 States as mediator We're rendered in good
: faith, without any selfish purposes. in the
n interest of humanity and sincere friend
q ship for both parties, but We're at the
e time declined by Spain with the declara-
: ton, nevertheless that at future time
e they would be Indispensable.
: No intimaton has been received that r
/ the opinion of Spain that time has beer
: reached; yet the strife continues witf
u all of its dread horrors and it's injuries tC
+ the United States and other nations. Each
: party seems quite capable of working
great injury and damage to the other a:
e well as to all the relations and interest.
II dependent on the existence of peace il
e the island, but they seem incapable o
y reaching any adjustment, and both hav,
n thus far failed of achieving any success
e whereby one party shall possess and con
e troll the island to the exclusion of thu
o other.
l. What Cleveland Said.
Under the circumstances the agency I
others, either by mediation or by inter
venton, seems to be the only ALTERNATIVE
- which must sooner or later be invoked
=, for the termination of the strife. In tn
., last annual message of my immediate pre-
"a was said:
:. When the inability of Spain to dea
~ successfully with the insurrection has be
e. come manifest, and it is demonstrate
., that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
ar Tor all purposes of its rightful eXis tenct
~ and when a hopeless struggle for it's re
l., establishment has degenerated into tn
- strlfe which means nothing more tina
= the useless sacrifice of human life an
the utter destruction of the very subjeC
matter of the conflict. situation wi
De presented in which our obligations t
of the sovereignty of Spain will be superced
m ed by higher obligations which we ca
4 hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
t. charge"
lie From the Previous Message.
81 In my annual message to congress De
al c.n.ber last. speaking to this question,
:" said:
~ ne near future will demonstrat
"a whether the Indispensable condition of
rd righteous peace just alike to the Cuban
N, ana spain as well as equitable to all GU
interests so intimately convolved in tn
to welfare OF Cuba. is likely to be attained
mr. IL not further and other action by tn
I'D United States will remain to be taker
es Nheh that time comes action will be de
If tef,nlhed in the line of indisputable RICH
r. a.'u DUTY; 1t will be faced without mis-
a, giving or hesitancy in the light of the Of
ra hSat'oh this government owes to itsel
no 10 the people who contided to ii the pre-
IS tect'oh OF their interests and honor an
o. u humanity; sure of the right keep.n
slll