The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-18
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY IS lS9s.


In the present state OF strained rela-
lions between this country and Spain it
is. OF course. very dlhcult matter to
get the whole body Of the American peo-
pie to consider the destruction of our war
ship with that calmness and just judg-
ment which is absolutely essential 10 all
wise action in difficult circumstances.
Men will reason that all the conditions
were just such as 10 justify the oxpec-
tation of something like this. They will
argue that all the Spanish people are
deeply offended at the course this coun-
try has taken respecting the Cuban mat
ter. that they look upon the Names pres
cnce in the harbOr of Havana as an in
suit and a menace TO their country, that
they had just had their pride seriously
Inundated by the De LONE incident, and
that they were in just that frame Of
mind which would naturally lead an
INSCRIPTIONS people like the Americans
think the Spanish. TO the preparation Of
the awful deed. 1t is a natural tendency
Of the human mind to drift towards this
course Of reasoning. Nevertheless We are
not to lose our heads and run off into in
considerable action that our cool judg-
ment will make us ashamed Of because
the case has many circumstances rais-
ing a strong suspicion against Spain.
Suspicion amounts TO nothing in the way
Of proof Evidence tending TO q conclu-
sion must bo produced before Judgment
can be formed.
As We said yesterday 81 lniard may
have blown the Maine up, and yet it
might not be case in which we could
hold Spain responsible. Spain would only
be responsible in such case II she knew
Of or connived in some way at the deed.
II a spaniard blew her up upon his own
motion only and without any inspiration
OF any sort whatever from the Spanish
Government the case would not differ in
any degree whatever from any other
case in which tho citizen Of a country
violated its criminal laws and committed
a crime We would have a right to ex-
pect in such n ease that Spain would
use all her power in experimenting the
criminal and bringing him TO justice but
II she did that she would have done oil
that her obligations 20 another power
called upon her 20 do
We must look at this case precisely as
we would look at It If it had happened
in the harbor Of any other friendly pow
er. IT, for instance, IL had happened in
the harbor Of Cronsladt. and the Rus
sian Government had made every effort
10 apprehend the criminal and punish
him. we should have felt that all the
ezigencies Of tho case had been met, and
that We had no complaint whatever 10
make Of Russia.
Now, the case is not changed in the
least because the great body of the Span
ish people are In a state Of evaporation
against the American people or because
the great body OF the American people
are similarly Influenced towards Span
iards. The two Governments are in a
state Of amity and friendship, and that
requires that We shall treat the Spanish
Government exactly as we would treat
the Russian Government in a similar case.
30 long as that state Of amity continues
The case is one that calls for calm and
1eliberate judgment, and We must see
to II that We do not rush off and 30
something haSty and rash that we shall
be ashamed OF when the excitement has
passed away
The occurrence Is certainly a very re-
mArkabe one and We find ourselves. on
the evidence 80 Ear furnished utterly
unable 10 form any satisfactory conjec-
ture even as 70 how it occurred. BABY
as we think Of the inspiration OF Span
lards and The Spanish Government, we
ind Il impossible to believe that SPANS
Government would have resorted to
aastardly scheme OF this sort 10 do us a
petty injury. Spain could not possibly
scfive any advantage from Il, for. II we
must fight her one battleship the more
Or the less could not possibly have de-
sisiyo influence upon the war. 10 40 such
thing would only degrade her there
tore in the eyes OF the whole civilized