Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-04

| We know that 1t is simply q question
| of time when the people will arouse
and stand by us. Then, when we are
assured that the people are with Us
we are going To bass belligerency
resolution through both houses of con.
gress by two-thirds vote. We will dc
this as matter of individual, as well
as collective, duty, and thus clear our
own cOnsciences Of participation in
slaughter which can be not only mod
flied, but actually stopped.
PEOPLE MUST LEAD.
"You want to know who is to take
the lead, and L will tell you. The
people must take the lead, Just as they
did in the Venezuelan matter. Pop
ular opinion bacame strong enough 10
warrant President Cleveland in max
ing an enunciatiOn of the Monr e
doctrine two years ago, and when
Cleveland spoke in his vigorous and
determined, patriotic manner, the
people arose en- maSse and cheered
him. Within As hours after his
patriotic enunciation the people
would have been willing to have
voted to make him dictator,
"When you place these facts before
the people you should reiterate aud
make perfectly plain the fact that IN
international law, to which all ma
tions are agreed, this country has no
business to act as policeman OF the
seas for Srain and in Spanish int rest.
We might as we'll send our warShips
to protect Germnn interests in China
or French interests along the Suez
canal.
"Tell the. people that Spain
has .no right according to in
ternational law to expect us
to patrol our coast to prevent our
citizens from carrying merchandise to
the citizens of Cuba; for those Cuban
citizens haye perfect right to pur-
chase whatever they please from our
citizens. The neutrality laws do not
apply, according to the official decla-
rations of Spain, for che government
at Madrid in a most vehement man
ner declares that no state of war
exists in Cuba. Every reader will
understand that, since Spain declares
that there is mo state OF war in CUBA
the citizens of that island are in a
state of peace.
RIGHT TO SELL GOODS.
"That being the case, under inter
law you have a right TO sell
any Cuban citizen rifle, shotgun,
saber, cannon or any other article OF
that he wants. LII he
wants two or two hundred rifles, or
two or two hundred diamonds, you
haye a perfect right to sell your goods
to him, and no United States war
ship has any business to Interfere;
Of course, If you undertake TO land
your goods without paying the tarif
1uties, you will be subject to punish
ment by Spain as smuggler.
"But you should make it plain that
Jhe government of the United States
mas no right to prevent you from sell
ing your goods to the Cubans, who are
in state Of peace, for there
IS mo state of war in Cuba.
"Inasmuch as President Mckinley
,ees fit to differ with Spain, and to
assume that a state of war does exist
n Cuba, he is policing the sea to pre-
vent our citizens from selling to the
Jubans such merchandise as they de-
ire and are able 10 pay for; and
herein, / say, he is YiOlHJing the let
er and spirit of intel aIiOnal law. In
70 dong, and at time when thou
ands of human lives are being sacri-
iced, / say that he is sowing to the
Wind and reaping the whirlwind.'
Mark the prediction.
"This proclamation of the presi-
lent, issued by the secretary of state
informing our people that can send
i'd to the starving reconcentrados, is
supererogatory. If the war
,essels, which under international
aw are unlawfully acting as Spain's
,olice agents, are sent about their le-
Ultimate business, our people will do |
heir duty in the matter without any |
'fficial proclamations."