The record-union., 1898-04-12

sailors and marines, and two officers
of our navy, reposing in the fancied
security of friendly harbor have been
hurled to death grief and want
brought in their homes and sorrow to
the nation
That the, naval court of inquiry
| which it is needless to say commands
the unqualified confidence of the Gov
ernment, was unanimous in it's conclu-
sion that the destruction of the Maine
was caused by an exterior explosion
! that of a submarine mine. 1t did not
assume to place the responsibility That
remains to be fixed.
In any event, the destruction of the
Maine, by Watever exterior cause, is a
patent and impressive proof of a state
of things in Cuba that is intolerable
That condition is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish Government can
not assure safety and security to a
vessel of the American Navy in the
harbor of Havana on mission OF
peace and rightfully there.
Further referring in this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence, a
dispatch from our Minister to Spain
of the 18th ultimo contained the state
ment that the Spanish Minister for For
eign Affairs assured him positively that
Spain will do all that the highest honor
and justice requires in the matter of
the Maine. The reply above referred
to of the 31st ultimo also contained an
| expression of the readiness of Spain to
submit to arbitration all the differences
which can arise in this matter which
| is subsequently explained by the note
of the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton of the 10th instant, as follows:
AS to the question of fact which
| springs from the diversified views be-
! tween the report of the American and
/ Spanish boards, Spain proposes that
the facts be ascertained by an impair
tial investigation by experts, which de-
cision Spain accepts in advance" To
this l have made no reply.
A LONG STANDING MENACE.
President Grant, in 1875, in discuss
i ing the phases of the contest as it
then appeared, and it's hopeless and ap-
parent indefinite prolongation, said:
In such event / am of opinion that
other nations will be compelled to as
sumo the responsibility which devolves
upon them. and to seriously consider
the only remaining measures possible,
mediation and intervention Owing,
perhaps to the large eXpanse of water
separating the island from the penin-
sula, the contending parties appear to
have within themselves no depository
of COMMON confidence to suggest wis
dom when passion ard excitement have
their sway, and thus assume the part
of peacemaker. In this view, in the
earlier days of the contest, the good
/ offices of the Un ted States as the me-
/ diator We're rendered in good faith,
without any selfsf purpose in the in
terest of humanity and in sincere
friendship for both parties, but were
at the time declined by Spain, with
the declaration, nevertheless. that at a
future time they would be indispensa-
| bic. No intimation has been received
that, in the opinion of Spain, that time
has been reached. And yet the strife
continues Nlth al .ts dread horrors,
and all its injL.frs TO the United States
! and of other nations Each party
seems quit. capable of working great
injury to ,he other, as we'll as to all
the rela lions and interests dependent
on the existence of peace in the island,
but they seem incapable of reaching
any adjustment. and both have thus
faI failed Of achieving any success
whereby one hardly shall possess and
control the island to the exclusion of
the other. Under the circumstances,
the agency Of others, either by media
tion or by intervention, seems TO be
the other alternative which must, soon
er or later, be invoked for the termina-
tion of the strife 7.'t
In the last annual message of my i'm
mediate predecessor during the pend
ing struggle 1t was said. when the in
ability of Spain to deal successfully with
the insurrection had become manifest,
and 1t was demonstrated that her SOW
ereignty is extinct in Cuba for all pur-
poses of it's rightful existence, and when
a hopeless struggle for it's re-establisfp-
ment has degenerated into the strife
which means nothing more than the use
less sacrifice of human life and the ut
ter destruction of the very subject mat
ter of the conflict, situation will be pre-
sented in which our obligation to the
sovereignty of Spain will be super
seded by higher obligations which we
can hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge"
! In my annual message to Congress in
December last, speaking to this ques-
. L
onstrate whether the indispensable con-
dition of righteous peace just alike to
the Cubans and Spain, as we'll as equit-
able to all our interests, so intimately
involved in the welfare of Cuba, is
likely to be attained. If not, the ext
gency of further and other action by the
United States will remain to be taken.
When that time comes, that action will
be determined in the line of indisputable
right and duty. 1t will be faced with
out misgiving or hesitancy in the light
of the obligation this Government owes
to itself, to the people who have confided
to it the protection of their interests and
honor, and to humanity. Sure of the
right, keeping free from all offense
ourselves, actuated by upright and pat
riotic considerations. moved neither by
passion nor selfiShness. the Govern
ment will continue its watchful care over
the rights and property of American cit
liens, and will abate none of its efforts
to bring about by peaceful agencies a
peace which shall be honorable and en-
during If it shall hereafter appear to
be a duty imposed by our obligations to
ourselves to civilization and to hui
manity to intervene with force, 1t shall
be without fault on our part, and only
because necessity for such action will
be so clear and to command the support
and approval of the civilized world. =
CUBA MUST BE PACIFIED.
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire of in
surrection may flame or may shoulder
with varying seasons, but 1T has not
been and it is plain that it cannot be