The Springfield herald., 1898-04-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TURNS THE CUBAN QUESTION OVER TO CONGRESS-.
Mr. Mckinley Says the Present Situation is ntoerabe and
Asks that Power be Given Him to Terminate Hos
tites.

end of November, not single person
entitled in any way to our protection
remained in II Spanish prison.
| In my annual message of December
last said:
"Of the untried measures there re-
mains only recognition of the insur-
gents as bclligcrcnts. recognition of
the independence of Cuba, neutral in
| tcrvention and forciblc annexation.
Now, as then annexation is not to be
thought Of 1t is recognized fully that
declaration of neutrality. by which
bclligercncy would be recognized,
would of itself accomplish nothing"
Turning to the question of rccogniz-
ing Mt this time the independence of
the present insurgcnt government in
Cuba we find safe preccdcnts In our
own history from an early day. They
are well summed up in President
Jacksons message to Congress, De
cember 81. 1886 on the subject of the
recognition of the independence of
Texas. He said: 1T has thus been
made known TO the world that the
uniform policy and practice of the
United States is to avoid all interfer-
ence in disputes which merely relate
to the international government of
other nations and eventually to recog-
nize the authority of the prevailing
party without reference to our partic-
ular interests and views or to the mer
its of the original controversy"
In the contest between Spain and the
revolted colonies we stood aloof and
waited not only until the ability of
the new states to protect themselves
was fully established, but until the
danger of their being again subjudi-
Gated had entirely passed away. Then
/ Il
niZed.
Nor on the standpoint of expedicnce
do l think it would be wise or pru-
dent for this government to recognize
at this time the independence of the
| so-called republic. Such recognition is
| not necessary in order TO enable the
| United States to intervene and pacify
| the island. To commit this country
now to the recognition of any particr-
| lar government in Cuba might subject
us TO embarrassing conditions of inter
national obligation towards the or
| ganiZation so recognized In case of
| intervention our conduct would be sub
! ject to the approval or disapproval of
| such government. and we would be re-
quired to submit to its direction and to
assume TO it the more than relation of
n friendly ally.
| tervention to end the war. either by
impartial neutrality. imposing ra-
| tional compromise between the contest
ants. or as the active ally of the one
! party or the other.
AS to the first it is not to be forgot
| ten that during the last few months
| the relations of the United States has
virtually been one of friendly inter
| vention in many ways, each effort of
| itself being conclusive. but all tend
| ing to the cXertion of n potential influ-
ence toward an ultimate pacific result
Just and honorable TO all interests CON
cerned. The spirit of all our acts hith-
erto has been earnest. unselfish desire
for peace and prosperity in Cuba. un-
furnished by differences between the
United States and Spain and unstained
by the blood of American citizens.
The forciblc intervention of the
United States as II neutral nation to
stop the war. according to the larger
dictates of humanity and following
many historical precedents where
neighboring states have interfcred to
check the hopeless sacrifice of life by
conflicts beyond their borders. is justi-
fable on II rational ground. 1t in
wolves, however. constrnint upon both
| the parties TO the contest as well as to
enforce truce as to guide the event
ual settlement. The grounds for such
Intervention may be briefly summar-
iZed us follows:
First-In the cause of humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities, star
walton and horrible miseries now eX-
listing there.
Second-We owe it to our citizens
in Cuba to afford them that protection
and indemnity for life and property
which no government there can OF
will afford.
Third-Right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce. trade and business OF
our people and by the wanton destruc-
tion of property and devastation of the
island.
Fourth-And which is the most spe
cific: The present condition of af.
fairs is constant menace to ouI
peace and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense.
With such n conflict wagcd for years
i'll the island so near us and with
which our people have trade and bust
ness relations-when the lives and lib
erty of our citizens are in constan,
danger and their property and them
selves ruined-wheD our trading YES
sells are liable to seizure and are seized
at our very door. by warships of Il for
eign nation, the expeditions of tilibus
tering that we N" powerless to pre-
vent altogether. and the Irritating
questions and cntanglements thus aris
ing-all these and others that l neeG
not mention with the resulting strained
relations, are n constant menace tC
our peace and compels us to keep OF
a semi-war with the nation with which
we are at peace.
Those elements of danger and disOr
der already pointed out have beel
strikingly Illustrated by n tragic even
which has deeply and justly moved
the American people-the destruction
, of the battleship Maine.
: l have already transmitted to Con
gress the report of the naval court oi
inquiry. This board, which had tn,
5 unqualified confidence of the govern
) ment, was unanimous in its verdic
that the Maine was blown up by al
) exterior cause-that of n submarin,
: mine. 1t did not assume to place tn,
responsibility. That remains to b,
: fixed. In any event the destruction o
the Maine, by whatever exterior cause
is a patent and impressive proof of