New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-04
A REPLY 70 F.. j. PHELPS.
HIS FACTS AND HIS LOGIC BOTH CR1TI-
CISED BY A CORRESPONDENT

Sir: | have not the prestige NJ the Hon =. !
Pnelpss reputation for learning. nor is my stand
ing thus far in the scale Of lies economy such
as 70 induce request for a statement u my views
from any distinguished source. For lack ~ higher
Inspiration. thon. this attempt ~ review 81 Mr.
Ihclpss letter 10 Ex-Governor Morton on the si'ua
ton in cuba rests upon simple honesty OF conv'c-
ton and purpose on my own part. in voicnC
which | am aided nv ,ha- large estimate have
~ The Tribunc's impartav in the publication OF
differing opinion. II speak forth tho words Of
truth and soberness hear me-
have read Mr. Phelps's letter With close care
willing. hut unable 70 agree with him And may
add nat within the circle OF my daily life and
occupation have found but man who does
agree with him This circumstance may he val
liable only in far It indicates a certain
stratum OF thought-the thought OF those OF
plane not equal In ability or experience with Mr..
Phelps. perhaps. yet VINO are nevertheless closely
allied with the very bone and sinew Of our land;
nghters for their country. first; critics OF her.
never-C;od help u.s.
The tone Of Mr. Phelps's letter Is conservative. 4
quality all thoughtful men admit 10 he OF priceless
value in present affairs Of state. All thf more.
therefore is 1t TO ne regretted H. while endeavor
ing TO reach sound conclusions. NJ Phelps should
seem to make Of arguments that belittlH the
very virtue Il Is his manifest purpose TO exalt
In human affairs II is the intelligent practice Of
conservatism that saves: not rs blind employment
always There is time to go forward. az wei
time to hold back time 10 fight and time
10 pray Extremes meet. often. The very !oftiest
virtue may be made 20 appear ridiculous. some
times vicious by an extreme Application OF st.
And II conservatism Of action such rs Mr.. Phelps
advocates would lead ultimately 10 consider
only the wealth OF this Nation. nor its responsi-
biiiiy. only the safe'y u this Nation. not its duty
only It's profit not its Justice. only ia peace. not
is honor-then is tho Nation Justified in rejecting
such 4 policy
Is there IN Mr. Pholpss letter any counsel or
suggestion affecting those higher attributes ~
nation. alluded TO- that would lead Ne whittier We
ought not TO follow t..n-any teaching mat We
should reject Let rs 500
SPANS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINE
In considering the Cuban situation Mr. Phelps
dismisses the possibility Of its becoming comp
Gated by the disaster TO the Maine nv saying that
no completely on the part Of Spain IN that calam-
ity is found 20 exist" am unable TO regard This
as an exact use OF words for his purpose tn"
Maine blown up hy submarine mine: that
much has been found. or course. proof % direct
Official connection With the hnal act Of destruction
on the part Of Spain may be lacking 1t generally
s I'm such cases made and provided Bu;-com-
pliclty9 May not the completely thai makes an
act possible that precodes the act itself be culpa-
bic? Shall the so guilty escape ShaH not
,udgmcn; rs 10 unknown facts be given tn me
light OF known circumstances Sir. Il Was 10 10Y
by some fanatic that sank noble ship ana d!d
our brothers TO death, That mine war Their" be-
cause Spain by her representative a. Havana
wished f. there. and the Maine was directed %
anchor where she was destroyed because tho -Afl'
Spain wished g. There some facts clear IN
this matter. there 'nfererces urafoidaoie -
the legal dictum as to accessory before the iact
10 he excluded from consideration here
On the subjec, OF reparation under n claim based
on negligence confess / do rot understand Mr..
Phelps q: all HIS argument. addressed 70 nose
who would invoke the rule 70 liability OF one
nation for damages caused by 80 negligence towa
another and who would apply this rule 20 The
case OF the Maine IS that ~ Spain must eunran-
zee the safety D. our ships In her ports. whether
herself In faul, not We must equally guarantee
to her tina. armed expeditions 20 subvcri her Gov
eminent shall not be fitted ont and dispatched from
ours" II Is difficult TO reconcile this with me
known and accepted facts o. our Government =
efforts TO arrest nbuste.s when and where and
IA what manner did this Government permit in'
wrong here charged 10 NV Implication II NJ
Phelps has any know edge that makes bus aiEu-
mcnt lust and pertinent 8, ~ know % com taH'"
that would render hts caution necessary D" should
take z that MA. Mr Phelps has r. mind wn"n
he speaks % armed expeditions - ihf "Nporia-
lion o.. nerD hdnG4se foT use Do VT, are. ~ n %
opinion q Theodore : Woo.scy. nrofo-sor u ~
,ernao4aI IA T. Yaie ! n.yers,'y F,gr, 10 Al
iary supplies have been sent oui from our ports.
but a lavfUl tram ii" bIF.'u 81 pre-
venting j. belongs % spain.
/, Is equally dlflcuit 70 pndersiana W Pheipss
non IN resa5S T. r sate. for q the puTp6sc
n stopping Wholesale murder IN 'noa procee J.
Ing a. which hc looks most decidedly sskan"".
oIerying whether or not II he "ihe preienc" inai
conccals a motive
win spain hc saws chiefly through The "Ner-
ion. of those who have an interest IN bringing II
ciadc senator proctor among 'iaoee'e The Amer.
car people 10 not; vii venture - say mink
| sf-r1f - 4 d
eyewitness reliable. and az OF more value man
NJ Phcpss op.nio1 at gai h1 ho,e ~ .
| conditions in cuba to-day that together with the
| destruction Of The Maine may make war a
| righ,eous necessity
THE RECONCENTRADOS
rba reconcentrados. whose restitution and suf-
fering arc the horrible element in those conditions
NJ Phelrs describes people whose homes.
| plantations and industries have been destroyed In
the course OF the rebellion. and who now gath
cred in temporary shelters provided by the Spanish
| Governuent" Very temporary: short. indeed.
"a N he inadequate 10 sustain l!fc at It's lowest,
shelter so un.peakaby cruel that the objects OF II
! have been starving to death by hundreds OF thou.
sands, The frigh,tui trayesty o. truth which Mr.
Phelps's version OF this matter embodles needs no
sett.ag forth. do not permit myself to believe
| maj lie is correctly Informed Of he facts. Either
! he ia mistaken. else the sources % hl lnforma-
ton re superior 10 hose Of the dsiing shed pub
| lie men whose accounts We nave hcaFd nose
| scc6unfs were derived from experiences and oh
| esrv,ilon And they simply counfm what was al
| rcadv kno1n-thst theae recorcontrados are nom
| combaiar,s compelled by order OF the Spanish
| go ~rrne1f 10 forsake their homes and such
| n'esns Of subsistence as the soil might AFFORD and.
| bnrdel together in fortin y towns. whence cscape
,ossite only under risk OF death. hay" been lcft
| ,here 70 perish miserably. Shall they indeed all
| perish" ,,.. .,,,,o - ,,,., .oo,,s 49, -,
| ,-sordinary reasoning that enables Mr.. Phelps 10
| regard the destruction OF property ~ una 49,
| .,r,s,a.-arv acts Of war when accomplished by
| 40 snaniards buy which when done by the i'm
.,rc,nfs is characterized the work Of guerrilla
| and bandits who nave made cuba desoiaiion
| 'a,rd vyh.f an is that which declares.
| 10 ono hand. that Spain f. too weak to attack
| ~. and on the other that We would have 10 waste
| many millions II We went 20 war win this So
.iiod wcakling Inconsistency g. very human.
| but il IN COMFORTS with that impartial iuiSm" II
| ,ba, gives weight TO words - council.
NO rui,tus nave fought heroically considering
,hn ,.,rful odds against Them. Mr Phelps arraigns
| Nom as criminals and bandiit bat rash indict-