Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-14


. ssmi-wsr footing With . nation with vhtsh
~ sfe u psscs
The Wreek Of tia bstsieshtp Maine
These elements Of danger and disorder a.
ready pointed out have been strikingly illus
trsted By tragic event which hes deeply end
Justly moved the American people. have a.
Feady transmitted to congress the report Of The
naval court Of inquiry on the destruction Of the
bettleship Maine 10 the hsrb0r Of Havana dur
ing the night OF February Is The destruction
of that noble vessel has Hlled The national
heart with tnexpressible horror Two hun
dred and nifty eight brave sailors and marines
and two officers OF our navy, reposing In the
ianclod security OF . friendly hsrbor, have
been hurled to death. grief and want brought
10 their homes and sorrow to the rat!on.
inc nsval court OF inquiry which, II Is need
less to say, commands the unqualified conf
dence Of the government was unanimous In Its
conclusion that the destruction Of the Maine
WA caused by an exterior explosion, that Of .
submarine mine II did not assume to place
the responsibility That remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction OF the Maine, BY
Whatever exterior cause, Is patent and i'm
pressive PROOF " stase OF tn'hgs IN CuDs tnat
Is lntolersole' inc condition Is thus shown TO
DO such tnat she spanish government cannot
assure safety and security 10 vessel Of the
American navy IN tne narool OF HAVANA on
mission OF peace ana rigntIuiiy mere
rurtnel referring 10 tnis connectlon 70 recent
dlpiomatlc correspondence, dlspatcn from
our minister 70 SPAIN OF tne soth uitimo con-
talningt ne statement tnat me spanish minis
ter TOT lorelsn aHalrs assured MN posltlVely
that SPAN Will 40 ali that tne hlgnest nonor
and justice requires In the matter Of the Maine
The reply ABOVE referred TO OF the Slst ultlmo
also contained IN expression OF the readiness
OF spain 10 submit 10 an aroitration Oil tne
dlnersnces wnicn can arise IN this matter
which IS subsequently, explained by tne note
OF inc spanish minister u washington on inc
loth inst' as follows: AZ 70 the question OF
lact whicn springs from 'ne dlVersity OF views
between the report OF inc American anu span
Ism Doards, spain proposes that inc iact 10 U.s.
certalned by an impartial investigation by ex-
perts' which decision spain accepts In advance
10 this nave maze no reply
Gen. GRANTS Opinion.
President Grant, In 1875 after discussing the
phases Of the contest as 1t then appeared, and
the hopeless and apparent indefinite prolonga-
ton said IN such event, ON OF the opinion
that other nations will becompelled to assume
the responsibility which devolves upon them,
and to seriously consider the only remaining
measures possible mediation and interview
tion Owing, perhaps to the large expanse Of
water separating the island from the peninsula.
the contending parties appear to have within
themselves no depository Of common conf
dence to suggest wisdom when passion and ex-
element have their sway and assume
the part Of peacemaker In this view,
In the earlier days OF the contest,
the good offices Of the United States as me-
diator were rendered In good faith, without any
selfish purpose, In the interest Of humanity
and In sincere friendship for both parties, but
were ut the time declined by Spain with the
declaration, nevertheless that ut Il future time
they would be Indispensable No intimati0n
has been received that in the opinion OF Spain
that time has been reached And yet the strife
continues with all its dread horrors and all Its
injuries to the United States and Of
other nations. Each party seems quite
capable Of working great injury and
damage to the other, ns well Us
to oil the relations and interests dependent on
the existence OF peace In the island. but they
paav tunu ~ M nd m