The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-04-13

stitute in fact body polite, having a
government In substance as well as In
name. possessed of the elements OF
stability" and forming de facto. III
left to itself, a state among the nations,
reasonably capable of discharging the
duties of a state'D; IT has thus made
known to the world that the uniform
policy and practice of the United
States is to avoid all interference In
disputes which merely relate to the In
ternal government of other nations and
eventually to recognize the authority
OF the prevailing party without refer
ence to our particular interests and
Views or to the merits OF the original
controversy.
1t has imposed for its own govern
ance In dealing with cases like these
the further condition that recognition
Of Independent statehood Is not due
to a revolted dependency until the
danger OF its being again subjugated
by the parent state has entirely passed
away. This extreme test was In fact
applied In the case of Texas. The con-
gress to whom President Jackson re-
ferred the question as one probably
leading to war; and. therefore. a proper
subject for n previous understanding
with that body by whom war can alone
be declared, and by whom all the pro-
visions for sustaining Its perils must be
furnished left the matter of the re-
cognition OF Texas to the discretion OF
the executive, providing merely for
the sending of a diplomatic agent
when the President should be satisfied
that the republic of Texas had become
an Independent state 1t was so re-
cognlzed by President Van Buren,.
who commissioned q charge d affaires
March Z. 1887, after Mexico had aband-
oned an attempt to re-conquer the
Texan territory, and when there was
-. Il. .s..,A II.
on between the insurgent province and
It's former sovereign.
But on this, as on every other trying
occasion. safety Is to be found In Il
rigid adherence to principle.
In the contest between Spain and the
revolted colonies we stood aloof, and
waited not only until the ability of the
new states to protect themselves was
fully established, but until the danger
of their being again subjugated had
entirely passed away. Then. and not
until then, were they recognized. Such
was our course In regard to Mexico her.
self.
THE IMMORTAL MAINE.
"These elements of danger and dis
order already pointed out have been
strikingly Illustrated by n tragic event
which has deeply and Justly moved the
American people. have already trans
mitted to congress the report of the
naval court of inquiry on the destruc-
ton of the battleship Maine In the
harbor of Havana, during the night OF
the fifteenth of February. The des-
the national heart with inexpressible
horror. Two hundred and fifty-eight
brave sailors and marines and two Of
hcers of our navy reposing In the
fancied security of a friendly harbor,
have been hurled to death, grief and
want brought to their homes and sor-
row to the nation.
1.-THE naval court of inquiry, which.
II Is needless to say, commands the un-
qualified confidence of the government.
was unanimous In It's conclusion that
the destruction of the Maine was caused
by an exterior explosion, that of a sub
marine mine. It did not assume to
to be fixed. In any event. the destruc-
tion of the Maine by whatever exterior
cause, Is a patent and impressive proof
OF a state of things In Cuba that Is In
tolerable That condition Is thus shown
to be such that the Spanish govern
ment cannot assure safety and security
to a vessel of the American navy In the
harbor Of Havapa on mission of peace
and rightfully there.
Further referring In this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence.
dispatch from our minister to Spain
of the 26th ultlmo, contained the state
ment that the Spanish minister for for
eign affairs assured him positively that
Spain will do all that the highest honor
and Justice require In the matter of the
Maine. The reply above referred to OF
the 31st ultimo also contained an ex-
preston of the readiness of Spain 10
submit to an arbitration all the differ
ences which arise In this matter which
is subsequently explained by the note
of the Spanish minister at Washington
of 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 ascertained by an impartial
sion Spain accepts In advance.
ITO this / have made no reply.
president Grant in 1875, after dis
cussing the phases of the contest as II
then appeared. and It's hopeless and ap-
parent indefinite prolongation, said:
In such event, l am of 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,
mediation and Intervention. Owing,
perhaps, to the large expanse OF water
separating the island from the penin-
sula, the contending parties appear to
nave Wltnln themselves no depository
Of common confidence. to suggest Wis
dom when passion and excitement
have their sway. and to assume the
part of peacemaker In this view. In
the earlier days Of the contest, the good
offices of the United States as q me-
diator were rendered In good faith,
without any selfish purpose, In the in
terest of humanity and in sincere
friendship for both parties, but were at
the time declined by Spain with the de-
claration nevertheless that at future
time they would be indispensable.
CLEVELAND'S PROPHECY.
mo intimation has been received
that In the opinion of Spain that time
has been reached. And yet the strife
continues with all it's dread horrors
and all its injuries to the interests OF
the United States and Of other nations
Each party seems quite capable OF
working great injury and damage to
the other, as well as to all the relations
and interests dependent on the exist
ence of peace in the island; but they
seem incapable of reaching any ad-
justment, and both have thus far failed
of achieving any success whereby one
party shall possess and control the Is
land to the exclusion Of the other. Un-
der the circumstances. the agency oi