The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-08
EX-SENATOR EDMUNDs's VIEWS

| am sorry that we are drifting into &
war for which we have no justitiable
reason. So far as the Maine incident is
concerned it furnishes no ground for a
declaration of war on our part because,
by the report of our own board of inquiry,
there is no imputation of Spanish respon-
siDility. The Presidents actions have
been wise and sound. He has reported
the findings of our court to Spain, and
now it is cur honorable business to wait
and see what Spain has to say.
In respect to the Cuban question, so far
as any facts are stated no ground is furn-
ished for our beginning q war, for. with
in the time that has elapsed. the fact that
the Spanish government has dreadfully
ill-treated the reconcentrados would not
yet justify nation in going to war with
her. Instances have occurred ever and
over aga in of similar evils in the OPERA
tions of governments. when other govern
ments felt that they had no right forcibly
60 interfere. In this particular instance,
moreover, every body ought to see that,
if we went to war on the score of the i'll
treatment of the reconcentrados, the effect
would be to deprive them of the assis-
tance that we are now giving them with
the consent of Spain, and would be fol
lowed by the great majority of them
starving to death for no sane man can
suppose that we can get into possession 5of
Cuba in time to extend relief to them.
Therefore. it seems. to me that the unkind
est thing we can do to these poor sufferers
Is to stop giving them aid, and at this
present Tina begin to fight for them, to
say nothing of the losses of life and limb,
and consequent misery inflicted on our
own people, and to say nothing of the
climatic conditions that, in case of war
now brought on by the United States,
would, in all probability. destroy more
human lives of our own citizens both in
Cuba and the United States from yellow
fever than year Of active hostilities.
The interference with our trade and
material interests in Cuba, consequen
on the disturbed condition of the island,
Is, of course, injurious. When such q
state of things shall have been continued
so long as to make it clear that the Gu
bans have established their independence
and have a government capable OF main
tanning itself, then our duties Will change
but every government has the right, with
out interference from other governments,
to restore order in it's own territories, al
though the prolongation of that restora-
ton, rs we found in the 4. time of the
Civil war, may run into years ard years,
without the right of any other govern
ment to interfere on that account. And
supposing our navy is able to contend
successfully with the Spanish navy, that
would not clear the seas of Spanish COM
acknowledgements, and our growing COM
merce would uninterrupted and destroyed
and sent to other flags, but if we had a
Just cause for war, of course 1t would be
our duty to undertake it, no matter how
heavily the consequences might bear upon
our commercial affairs.
There is, therefore, no ground, that /
can see, upon which the United States
would be justified either in beginning
war or in recognizing the independence
of Cuba, and there is no ground upon
mencing war against us, even if we did
recognize the Independence of Cuba,
wrong and practically injurious to the
Cubans, as it would be, With all our
warmth of patriotism, in which I think 1
share as fally as any citizen, think we
should look the case squarely in the face
and not allow our emotions to lead us
into the grievous error of beginning
war or giving just provocation for it,
Interview in Philadelphia Press.