The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25
WHY WARP
Summing Up Reasons for Action
Against Spain.

The Outlook.
Not because OF the Maine. Spain is alb
solutely right in proposing to submit the
question of the Maine tragedy to an i'm
partial tribunal. We have a right to accept
for our own guidance the judgment of our
commission. We have no right to impose
that judgment on a suspected people. The
investigation was rightly secret and ex
parte, because it was only an investigation,
But to convert the opinion of an ex parte
committee, sitting in secret, without cross
examination of witnesses in the presence of
the suspected, into an indictment, trial and
conviction of great nation, and proceed
thereon to execute sentence is abhorrent to
all the traditions of the Anglo-Saxon peo-
pie, and to every sentiment and instinct of
justice.
Not to relieve the reconcentrados We
were relieving them; Spain was relieving
them: one relief certainly, the other prob
ably, has been prevented by the mere threat
and dread of war;
If honorable war comes, it will be, not
for revenge, nor for immediate succor Of the
eminent whose whole history has been one
of oppression and whose later course has
become intolerable, not only to the people
of Cuba, but to it's nearest neighbor, the
people of the United States.
1t has wholly failed to afford that protec-
ton to peaceful industry which is the first
duty of government.
BY it's policy of spoliation it has trans
ferred the revenues of the island to the
treasury Of Spain or to the pockets of Span
ish officeholders and has kept in perpetual
poverty island which is by nature ex-
trdordinarily rich.
1t has fostered prohigacy and corruption
in its governing class, while inflictng power
ty, wretchedness, hunger, and death upon
the governed.
1t mas secured practical monopoly of
trade to the Spaniard, and denied to the
Cuban that commercial freedom which
every mother country ought to give to Its
provinces and colonies.
1t has lacked either the will or the power
| to prevent repeated instructions and an
almost continuous revolution through many
years.
1t has waged a relentless war against
| those CubaES who have dared to demand
| freedom and fairness of their government.
In this war 1t has devastated whole prov
| inces which it should have protected from
| devastation.
It has condemned innocent and unoffend-
| ing women and children 10 death by slow
| starvation.
lit has thus applied to the government of
| this fertile island that policy of extortion
| which, when employed by ancient Rome,
| ended in the disruption and death OF the
Roman empire.
The history of it's government over other
| colonial possessions demonstrates the Iact
| that this III government Of Cuba IS no error
! of a single administration durable by a
| temporary change of policy, and forbids all
| hope OF better things for Cuba while under
| the authority of Spain.
| Nor has the United States been wanting
| in patience and consideration toward Spain.
| Twice she has been publicly and officially
| warned that if the insufferable condition of
| her unhappy colony continued, honor, con-
| science and humanity would compel the
| people of the United States to interfere. Re-
| luctantly they have been forced to the re-
| solve that Spanish domination over the ISL
! and of Cuba must cease. Reluctantly they
| have been compelled to the conviction that
| the military and naval forces of the United
! States must be used, If necessary, to estab-
| lish on the island a stable government.
| capable of maintaining order, observing its
| International obligations, and insuring peace
] and tranquility and the security OF its cltl-
| zens as well as those of the United states.
| If this can be accomplished peaceably, hon
| or requires that no effort should be lacking
| for that end If it cannot be accomplished
| peacefully still justice and humanity re-
| uuire that il be accomplished,
| This Is the answer of the Outlook TO the
| war with Spain?