The Indianapolis journal., 1898-04-15
OUR DUTY PLAIN AND CLEAR
SHAMEFUL BLOT ON CIVILIZATION
MUST DE WIPED OUT.
And Spain Should he Forced to Make
Amends for the Cruel Massacre
of Our Brave Sailors.
DAoIal 70 the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April A.-Mr G. w.
Fairbanks, of Indiana, delivered an elo-
quent, forceful speech on the Cuban cues
ton in the Senate to-day. He did not speak
till near the close of the session, but was
given the closest attention. and his utter
ances were frequently applauded. lie said:
Mr.. President--I have not been for either
peace at any price, or war at any cost.
have been steadfastly for peace Ii 1t could
be maintained honorably, and for war IL
the national dignity and honor required it.
The problem which is presented TO ua is
one of the greatest gravity-one which in
vokes our most deliberate. patriotic judg-
ment. Many times during the last three
quarters OF a century our relations with
Spain have been the subject of deep con-
Germ and profound embarrassment. The
proximity OF the island of Cuba to our
shores. our intimate commercial relations
with 1t, are such that we are instantly and
sensibly affected In greater or less degree
by its misgovernment. The island stands
sentinel over the gulf of Mexico, the en-
trance to the Mississippi river, and lies In
the direct course of our commerce via the
Isthmus OF Panama. We have been, and
shall always continue to be. concerned In
the character OF the government which
maintains it. No other nation can have an
interest in the maintenance of peace and in
the existence Of stable and just government
in it equal to ours. Turbulence and rev0lt-
ton there involve our peace, embarrass our
commerce and entail upon us heavy expense
A. che o,,H aY4Fo NJ frtfw
neutrality laws.
During the last thirty years instructions
have occurred in the island which the Span
sh government has been impotent to sup
press, and devastating warfare has existeS
for many years. Each recurring insurrec-
ton, apparently, has been more determined
and successful than the preceding one. and
the Spanish authority and power have con-
tinued to diminish until it seems that the
crown is incapable of successfully re-estab-
lishing it in the island.
1.-THE war that has been waged has been
in disregard of the universally recognized
principles of modern warfare. The torch
has laid waste the homes and property Of
innocent people not engaged in the struggle.
and barbarities have been practiced which
dsgraced savagery A fruitful island. sus-
ceptible of high development and the sup
port Of prosperous nation has been re-
duced in many places TO a dreary waste:
commerce has been destroyed and the peo-
pie driven from their homes to starvation
and death. The world has Witnessed a
warfare without a counterpart in its bru-
talities and it's destructiveness; and the
moral sense OF the civilized nations has been
shocked and aroused as never before.
AMERICAN POLICY.
"Our government has neither coveted the
island nor sought by force to control its adj
ministration. 1t has been our settled policy
from an early period to permit no foreign
interference with the Spanish authority
over it, Our imperative demand has been
that Cuba should fall under the sovereigntg
of no other(power than Spain. We have re-
peatedly declared that we would not. with
out interference, see it pass to any other
European power. This was clearly the poll
icy embraced IN the Monroe doctrine; and
it was pointedly urged by Mr.. Clay in 1S25s
in his note to Mr.. Brown, when he said:
You will now add that we could not con-
sent to the occupation OF these islands
(Cuba and Porto Rico) by any other Eu-
ropean power than Spanish under any cone
tingency whatever
"1,his doctrine has never been modlfeds
1t has been repeatedly reiterated and re-
would undoubtedly have acquired the island
when she desired to do so in 1923, and
thereafter have established a governments
which would have relieved us from the dis
quiet that has prevailed, and the world
would not have witnessed the horrors of
Spanish rule at our very doors. Indeed, but
for our attitude, other powers might have
succeeded to the Spanish control and have
established stable government in the Island
of Cuba.
In view of our relations to the island and
of our policy of opposition to foreign inter-
ference with Spanish control we are NOR
ally bound to put an end to the wrongs,
the outrages. the evils which flow from
Spanish misruIe. We have repeatedly ten-
dered to the Spanish Cabinet our friendly
offices to end the wars In Cuba and TO re-
store peace. Our offers uniformly have
been rejected Many of the concessions we
have demanded, however, have been grant
ed to the insurgents. During the ten years
war slavery was abolished at our demands
autonomous government was proposed, In
name, however rather than I'm reality. The
autonomy afforded was, in fact a sham, a
delusion, for the grasp of Spain was in no
essential degree relaxed. This government
has at all times been scrupulously OBJ
servant Of her duties toward Spain. set
Spain has been either unwilling or unable
TO properly protect the rights of her cfti-
zens or to make adequate reparation for
the wrongs committed against them. They
have been imprisoned without cause ana
tardlly released without just reparatlon for
the indlgnites and wrongs committed. The
story is an old one. is already familiar aa
a thrlce-toid tale. History Is but repeating
itself.
When the present administration suc-