The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-11

unwilling to stop, or to mitigate It is
no answer to say this IS all in another
country belonging to another nation
and Is therefore none of our business
It is specially our duty. for it is right
at our door
Second-We owe it TO our citizens in
Cuba TO afford them that protection
And indemnity for life and property
which no government there can or will
afford and to that end to terminate the
conditions that deprive them OF legal
protection
Third-The right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury TO
the commerce, trade and business Of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
ton of property and devastation of the
island
PORTLAND which is of the most i'm
porta1ce TIE present conditions of
affairs II Cuba IS Constant menace to
cur peace. and entails upon this gov
eminent an enormous expense WITH
such 4 conflict wagRd for years in an
island so near Us with which cur people
have such trade and business relations
WHEN the lives and liberty of our citi-
Zsus are in constant danger and their
property destroyed and themselves ru-
ined-where our trading vessels are LA
Ole to seizure and are seized at our
very door. by WarshfpS OF 4 foreign ma
ton. the expeditions of fIbusterlng
that we are powerIess to prevent alto
gether and the irritating questions and
acknowledgements thus arisfng-au these
and others that I need not MENTION
with the resulting strained relations
are a constant menace and compel US
TO keep on a seui-war footing with 4.
nation with which We are at peace
These elements OF danger and diSor-
der already pointed out have been
StTIkingfy Illustrated by a tragic event
which has deeply and justly moved the
American people I have already trans
mItted to congress the report OF the ma
of the battIeshfp Maine in the narbor
Of Havana during the night OF the 18th
of February The destruction OF that
noble vessel has filed the national
heart with iuexpressfbIe horror Two
hundred and hfty-eight brave sailors
and marines and two officers of our ma
w. reposIng in their fancIed security
of a friendly haEbOr. have been hurled
to death-grief and want brought TO
their homes and sorrow to the nation
The naval court of inquiry which. it
IS needless to say commands the IN
qualified confidence OF the government
was unanimous in its conclusion that
the destruction Of the Maine was caused
by an exterior explosion that of a sub
place the responsibility. That remains
TO be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine by whatever exterior cause, is 4
patent and impressive proof of 4 state
Of things IN Cuba that is intoIerabEe-
That condition is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish government can
not assure safety and security 10 YES
y
Of Havana On q mission of peace and
rightfulIy there
Further referring IN this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence, a
from our minister to Spain. OF
the 26th uIt- contained the statement
that the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs assured him positively that
Spain Will do all that the highest honor
Maine The reply above referred to OF
the 31st uIt- also contained an express
sion of the readiness of Spain to sub
nit To an arb tEratIon. all the differences
which can arise IN this matter which |
Is subsequently explained by the note
IF the Spanish minister at Washington
De the 10th instant as follows
As to the question Of fact. which
springs from the diversity Of views be
tween the report of the American and
Spanish boards Spain proposes that the
fact be ascerTafned by an impartial in
vestigatiou by experts which decision
Spain accepts in advance To this I
have made no reply
President Grant In 1875, after discuss |
ing the phases Of the contest as II then
appeared. and its hopeless and appar-
ant indefinite proIougatfou- said
In such an event, I am Of the opIu-
ion that other nations will De Compel
I'd 70 assume the responsibility which
1evolves upon them and to seriously |
consider the only remaining measures
INSTRUMENTATION and intervention I
Owing perhaps. TO the large expansa
Of water separating the island from the
peninsula the contending parties ap-
pear to have within themselves no de- I
3osftory of common confidence 20 sug-
-zsr wisdom when passion and excite
nent have their sway, and assume the +
part Of peacemakeE
In this view, in the earlier days Of /
the contest. the good Offices OF the Uni {
ed States as 4 mediator were rendered I
n good faith without any selfish ps1r-
pose IN the interest Of humanity and 1
n sincere friendship for both parties.
but were AT the time declined by Spain