The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-31
Branch Under THE JEFFERSON HOTEL.

TO do go was welcomed 10 the harbor by
the public authorities and directed 10
be moored I'm a place picked out by tho
Government. Suppose that while she
was I'm this position some miscreant
hoated down a torpedo and Intentionally
destroyed her and her precious cargo OF
humanity. and that some failure or
watcAfulness on the part OF the officers
I'm charge Of mines and torpedoes In the
bottom of the harbOr. and the means by
which they were 10 be exploded enabled
or allowed opportunity 10 a Spanish citi-
zen. whether a lOyalist. a rebel, or an
uutonomist. bu, all equally subject 10 the
mower of Spain TO fire the mine or torpe-
do2 In either case | think there Is n
clear right 20 demand indemnity apology
and reparation 10 it's fullest extent. we
ore not without precedents Of our own
and other nations which have some re-
lation to the question. Although they do
not relate to damage 10 war vessels.
they contain "a principle as 10 reparation
which tends TO Illustrate international
law upon such questions.
I'm the present condition Of Cuba there
would seem 10 be no occasion for such
a defence OF the harbor of Havana
against the revolving citizens. The In
surgents have no fleet and have never
threatened an attack by sea, and. even II
Spain had the right 10 use such means
of defence against her own citizens. she
had no right 10 use them until actual
danger was imminent when such use was
liable to occasion injury TO the vessels OF
other nations. can &c Doe for "a moment
supposed that with large and disci-
plned Spanish army I'm Havana, prepared
&. of In Ia n
war. with accomplished officers I'm COM
mand. with the shore Of the harbor un-
der guard against the possibility of In
surgent attack upon its own anchored
vessels. that the Spanish Government by
exercising what the treaty demands
all means I'm its power could not have
protected and defended the Maine against
such "a danger 3s ia now believed 90 have
caused her loss? For II has been deter
mined bv the Court of Inquiry that the
loss was due 10 external causes. Upon
that finding Of an able ana impartial
court our Government Is bound to, and
surely WILL predicate IT'S future action.
without submission to the findings OF
any Spanish court or officials upon the
question of cause.
'But It does not follow because Spain
Is bound 20 make reparation for the neg
ligent acts Of her officials or the wiltul
acts of private citizens that war must
necessarily result. II IL had been clear
that the destruction Of the Maine was
the intentional oct of a public official or
of a private citizen with the approval
of the Government. this of itself would
be an act Of war and equivalent 10
public declaration OF war. In such a
case there would be no question of in
demnity or reparati0n and no ulumatum
TO war. No nation could afford 90 permit
the deliberate and intentional destruction
% it's public war vessels and the sacrifice
IT'S citizens without follOWingi it mp with
omen and immediate war. To act other
wise would destroy our national SELF
respect and gain the contempt or the
world. Happily this condition Is not III
volved. The report Of the Court OF IN
ouirv has set a. rest so horrible sug-
gestion In recent message 90 Congress
President Mckinley has already stated
the present condition Of Cuba. Senator's
Proctor and Gallinger. who recently vis-
tied cuba. have publicly stated that
10000 Cubans have died as a result OF
the policy OF Spain.
we may congratulate ourselves that
in the present grave posture OF our az
fairs there is at the head Of our Govern
ment fl'1lutHL WIN CREAMY tN1li-'a
the responsibility which rests upon him.
Ills recent words will long remain in
tho memory OF tine world. War will
not be declared except FOR "a cause that
all the people Of the United states and all
European nations and God Almighty will
approve
while the relations between the
United states and Spain arc strained.
the slow and deliberate consideration
OF the questions involved has given each
country time for thought The more
we deliberate the less likely is the result
of such elaboration 10 be war, which
General Sheridan declared 70 be hell
New York sun.