Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-04-14

I pear to have within themselves no de-
pository OF common confidence, to sug-
gest wisdom when passion and excite.
ment have their sway, and thus as
sumo the part of peacemnker. In this
view. In the earlier days OF the con-
test, the good offices of the United
| States rs the mediator We're rendered
In good faith, without any selfish p,ir-
pose. In the interest of humanity and
In sincere friendship for both parties.
but were mt the time declined by Spain
with the declaration. nevertheless. that
| at n future time they would be indis-
pensable. No intImntlon has been re-
ceived 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. as well as to all the relations
and interests dependent on the exist
ence of peace In the island, but they
seem incapable OF reaching any adjust
ment, and both have thus far failed OF
achieving any success whereby one
party shall possess and control the is
land to the exclusion of the other. I'm
der the circumstances the agency OF
others. either by mediation or by in
tcrvention. seems to be the only alter
native which must. sooner or later, be
invoked for the termination of the
strife"
In the last annual message of my i'm
mediate predecessor during the pend
Ing struggle. it was said:
when the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrectlon has
become manifest. and II demonstrated
that her sovereignty Is extinct In Gu
ba for all purposes of Its rightful cN-
istence, and when n hopeless struggle
for Its re-establishment has degenerat-
ed into strife which means nothing
more than the useless sacrifice Of hui
man life, and the utter destruction Of
the very subject matter of the conflict
situation will be presented In which
our obligations to the sovereignty Of
Spain will be superseded by higher OBJ
legations which we can hardly hesitate
to recognize and discharge"
In my annual message to Congress,
December last, speaking to this ques-
tion. said: "'rhe near future will
demonstrate whether the indispensa-
BILE condition of n righteous pence, just
alike to the Cubans and to Spain, as
well as equitable to all our interests so
intimately involved In the welfare of
Cuba, is likely to be attained. II not.
the eXigcncy of further and other ac-
tion by the United States will remain
to be taken. When that time comes
that action will be determined In the
line of indisputablc right and duty. II
will be faced without misgiving or hes
itnncy. In the light of the obligation
this government owes to itself. to the
people who have confided to 1t the pro-
lection of their interests and honor,
and to humanity.
=. Sure of the right. keeping free from
all ofrense ourselves. nctuated by up
right and patriotic considerations.
moved neither by passion nor selfish
ness. the government will continue Its
watchful care over the rights and prop
erty of American citizens, and will
abate none of its efforts to bring about
by peaceful agencies n peace which
shall be honorable and enduring. If, it
shall hereafter appear TO lie duty i'm
posed by our obligations to ourselves
to civilization and TO humanity. to in
tervcne with force. it shall be without
fault OH our part. and only because the
necessity for such action will be so
clear as to command the support and
approval of the civilized world"
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has wnged the
war cannot be attained. The fire of
insurrection may flame or may smould
er with varying seasons. but 1t has not
been. and 1t Is plain TINT 1t cannot be
extinguished by present methods. The
only hope of relief and repose from q
condition which cannot longer be en-
dured IL the enforced pncification Of
Cuba.
In the name of humanity, in the
name of civilization, in behalf of en-
dangered American interests, which
give us the right and the duty to speak
and to act. the war In Cuba must
stop.
In view of these facts and these con-
siderations, ask the Congress to au-
thorize and empower the President to
take measures to secure full and
the government of Spain and the peo-
pie of Cuba, and to secure in the island
the establishment of stable govern
ment, and recognizing its international
character and tranquility and the Sc
curity of its citizens, as well rs our
own, and to use the military and naval
forces of the United States as may be
necessary for these purposes.
And in the interest of humanity and
to aid in preserving the lives of the
starving people of the island, I recon.
mend that the distribution of food and
clothing be continued until peace be
secured, and that an appropriation be
made out of the public treasury to sup
plement the charity of our citizens.
The issue is now with the Congress.
1t is n solemn responsibility. l have
exhausted every effort to relieve the
tat .,r,, i,,s,
at our doors.
Prepared to execute every obligation
imposed upon me by the constitution
and the law, await your action.
Yesterday and since the preparation
of the foregoing message official in
formation was received by me that the
latest decree of the queen regent of
Spain directs General Blanco in order
to prepare and facilitate peace, to pro-