The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-14

| No such difficulty, however, obscures It's Of
hcial and responsible cause.
With animus by Spain SO plainly apparent
| that no one can even plausibly deny its ex-
| istence, 1t Is merely one reason for the con-
clusion to which the investigating mind must
come in considering the entire subject of the
relations of the United States with that gov
eminent.
| Spain Arraigned.
1t is the opinion of your committee that tho
destruction Of the Maine was comprised
either by the official act of the Spanish au-
thorities or was made possible by a negli-
gence on their part willing and gross as to
be equivalent in culpability to positive GRIM
inal action.
act which the exercise of due diligence by the
person whose duty 1t Is to use it could
have prevented tho happening Of such an
s Sas ndf is smnasss proof that that diligence
The time Of the explosion must have been
calculated for the moment when the Maine
| the mine.
The .duplicity, perhdy and cruelty of the
Spanish character, as they always have been.
are demonstrated still to continue by their
manifestations during the present war in
| Cuba.
All these circumstances. considered cumula-
|
| struction of the Maine was comprised either
by the official act of the Spanish authorities
land the aseertainment Of PARTICULAR per
son Is not materially, or was made possible by
| a negligence on their part, SO willing and
gross as to be equivalent in culpablity to
positive criminal action.
In taking up the more general sub
| jects the committee expresses the
opinion that the UNITED States ought
| at once to recognize the independence
Of the people Of Cuba, and also ought
| to intervene to the end that the war
| cease, and that such independence shall
| become q settled political fact at the
earliest possible moment by the estab-
| lishment by the free action Of the peo-
pie Of Cuba, when such action can be
had, Of a government independent in
fact and form.
Power Waning.
The committee asserts that the gov
eminent of Spain has grown weaker,
while the cause Of the insurgents has
grown stronger, and says the few rein
forcements now being sent to Cuba do
not supply 1.-THE Of Spain's losses
caused by battle and disease. The
southern portion Of the island is spoR-
! en- of as a desolation, caused by Spain,
in which portion Of the island alone
she exercises sovereignty.
Calling attention to the policy OF
Spain the committee says that over
two hundred thousand persons have
been killed as a result of this action
and adds:
age in this protracted and torturing massacre
The children of this generation have been
starved to death and the immolation OF WON.
| anhood has destroyed the possibility OF
posterity.
The opinion is expressed that it was
the Intention of the contriver OF this
policy to depopulate the islands and
repeople it with Spaniards.
1t is also asserted that the Spanish
government has violated the laws Of
civilized warfare in the slaughter of
prisoners and the massacre of sick and
| wounded.
The committee discussed at some
length the two propositions for the rec
ognition Of the independence of the
CuIbans and of Intervention. They say
that because Of the attitude Of the
United States this government has
placed Itself in concurrence with the
acts of Spain ever since the beginning
Of the war, and that we have in
spirit of forbearance submitted to many
atrocities perpetrated by Spain upon
our own citizens, which, under recog-
milton, could have had no warrant in
International law and would have af-
forded just ground of procedure by
that there has been no real neutrality
throughout the entire war, as Spain
has had free right to purchase in this
country, while the Cubans have not
had such rights.
The committee places the cost of our
policing the seas In the. interest of
Spain at $1,000, 900. =.
Right to Intervene.
On the subject of Intervention the
committee says:
Justification for Intervention is STRENGTHENED
IN such cases as thds where the oppression
by a state OF It's subjects has been so inveter
ate. atrocious and sanguinary as to REQUIRE
intervention by other nations in the inter-
ests OF humanity and the peace of the world
ment and establishing or recognizing another
| in its place as the only means of eytirpatine
an otherwise incurable and dangerous evil.
| The committee then quotes from the
| messages of President Cleveland, OF
! Dec. 81, 1895, and from President Nc
| klnley's message, of Dec. s, 1897, in sup
port of the committees contention that
| the attitude Of the United Staes toward
| the present question has been based
| upon the right of Intervention and the
| intention to exercise it in certain con.
| tingencies. The committee says:
| These declarations more than implied that
| ms government would interfere in the event
OF nature within reasonable time to conquer
the insurgents or to induce them by con-
cessions Of home rule to lay down their
arms. They have not been subdued The
autonomy proffered was specious and illusory
/ 1t has been rejected by the insurgents. not
| because IT was specious and illusory but
| because they will accept nothing short of
| complete national Independence
The suggestion of a more complete auton-
omy has also been rejected by them. They
declare to the United States and Spain alike
/ that no terms short OF Independence which
| these powers may attempt to prescribe to
| them will be accepted. Spain refuses to grant
| independence.
The war, then, must go on and the misery
| which has shocked the civilized world must
continue and increase unless it is terminated
| by the triumph Of Cuba or Spain, or by the
| Interpolation Of the United States.
Time to Act.
| 1t Is the opinion OF this committee that
the time to intervene has arrived; that in
| PREVENTION, which will stop the war and Sc
cure the national independence of Cuba,
should at once take place. II under all the
circumstances Spain shall choose to regard
such action by this government as a cause
of war; that consequence, however de-.
| plorable, will be accepted by the American
| people with all the fortttude that confidence
in the justice Of their action can inspire.
| Such Intervention Ia justifable and neces-
sary for the following reasons:
The present situation in Cuba has become
menace to the peace Of the world and espe-
cially to the peace and safety Of the United
| States. Spain has bid for European inter-
ventions, thus far apparently without success,
but the conditions which make such inter-
10 Oh ho