The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-17

AAe question as 10 the right OF one nation
TO intervene in a domestic conflict or civil
war of another depends largely on the cir
cumstances and conditions of the case and
the motive of the Intervention. The first
question to be answered is, what is a do
nestle conflict? Can one be SO called that
interferes materially and disastrously with
the commerce of another nation and inf1icts
heavy losses on its people? Such a conflict
certainly is not domestic one In the sense
that its consequences are confined to the
enc nation. Other questions to be consid-
cred are locality, the character and duration
OF the conflict, it's attendant features. the
probability of its speedy ending etc. All
these considerations make the question of
intervention a peculiar one, to be settled in
each case and by each nation for itself. The
United States would not think of interven-
ing in the war now going on in the Philip
pine islands if it were to continue fifty
years, nor would there be any more ground
for Intervention by any European power
In the war now going on in Cuba Remote
ness from or proximity to the scene of con-
fiict has direct bearing on national inter-
No man, however brave or humane, would
think Of travelling hundred miles to inter-
vene for the protection of an abused wife,
but he would be very apt to intervene to
prevent the daily and continuous whipping
of a woman in an adjoining house or back
yard. This relates to the humanitarian side
of the question, but the business side is
CT fxA;1
trade, direct and indirect, by the present
war in Cuba. have been enormous. A little
more than month ago the New York
Chamber of Commerce adopted a memorial
in which it was stated:
The war in Cuba during the last three
years has resulted in a yearly average loss
and the United States of $l0o OOO, 600 In this
sum is not included the heavy sums ire
trievably lost by the destruction of Ameri-
can properties in Cuba and property sup
ported by American capital, such as sugar
factories, railways and tobacco plantations,
and in respect to trade and capital the
stated to be far greater than those of all
other parties concerned, not excepting Spain
herself: Like its two predecessors the sugar
crop of 1898 is virtually lost. Only about
10 per cent of the sugar factories of the
island were operated last year, and so
per cent. of our entire trade with Cuba de-
ponds upon the sugar crop of the island it
is readily seen that commercial bust
ness cannot be restored until actual peace
is established.
Thus, business as we'll as humanitarian
considerations growing out of proximity,
furnish reasons for Intervention by the
United States in the Cuban war which do
not exist in the case of any other country.
If the United States should decide to in
tervene the object and scope of the move
ment should be made clear to other nations.
We would only be justified in intervening
to bring the war to an end-not to liberate
Cuba, and still less to capture or acquire
the island, but only to pacify it. If the
Maine disaster does not furnish cause of
war or for such 9. demand upon Spain as
will itself constitute a new policy, then the
pacification of Cuba should become at once
the leading object of the policy of the
possible, but anyhow promptly and effect
lively, should be the keynote of the policy
of this government as soon as e shall ap-
pear that the Maine incident is not going to
lead to war. The present situation has con-
tinued until it is no longer endurable. No
other country in the world would have sub
mitted to having so barbarous and hopeless
a warfare prosecuted under it's very eyes
for three years at loss/t to its people of
at least $1OO,O0000O year, without having
interviewed to stop it, especially if the suf-
fering country were so strong and the Of
Tending country so weak as in this case.
President Cleveland and President McKin-
ley have both declared in substance that il
Spain failed to restore order in Cuba within
a reasonable time the United States would
feel called upon to intervene for the estab-
lishment of peace. If war does not grow
out of the Maine affair the time for inter-
vention will have come. If we escape war
we must intervene for peace.