Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-04-12
THE MESSAGE.
coNTrsuED FROM FIRST PAGE.

|
afford them that protection and indemnity for
life and property which no government there
| can or will afford and to that end to termin-
ate the conditions that deprive them OF legal
| protection.
Third The right to intervene may pe justi-
fed by the very serious injury to the COM
| merce. trade and business of our people and by
| the wanton destruction OF property and dovas-
| tatton of the island.
Fourth. and which is CT the utmost i'm
| portance. The present condition of affairs in
Cuba is a constant menace to our peace, aad
entails upon this government an enormous ex-
| pense
These elements of danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingiy illus
/ trated by tragic event which has deeply and
justly moved the American people. 1 have
already transmitted to congress the report of
the naval couri of inquiry on the destruction
of the battle ship Maine in the harbor OF
Havana during the night OF the 18TH OF Fehru-
AIRY. The destruction Of that noble vessel has
filled the nation Il heart with inexpressiole
horror. Two hundred and afry -eight brave
sailors and marines and two officers of our
| navy reposing in the fancied security of u
friendly harbor. have been hurled to death,
grief and want brought to their homes and sor-
row to the nation.
The naval court of inquiry. which. it is need
less to say. commands the unqualified conf
dence of the government. was unanimous in its
COuCluSlOu lldL lut utSJ!uCLlOu OI InS AlllHe
was caused by an exterior explosion, that of Il
submarine mine. 1t did not assume to place
responsibility. That remains to be fixed.
In any event. the destruction of the Maine.
| by whatever exterior cause, is y pate-t and
| impressive proof OF state OF things in Cuba
that is intolerable That co ditioa is thus
shown to be such that the spanish government
can not assure safety and security to vessel
| of the American navy in the hGrbor OF Havana
on mission of peace and rightfully there.
| Further referring in this connection to re-
| cent diplomatic correspondence, dispatch
from our minister to Spaia. of the Goth ultimo,
contained the statement that the Spanish min
| lister for foreign affairs assured him posi-
| lively that Spain will do all that the highest
| honor and justice require in the matter OF the
| Maine. The reply of the 3ist ultimo also con-
| tanned an expression of the readiness of Spain
to submit TO an arbitration all the differences
which can arise in this matter which is subse-
| quently explained by the note OF the Spanish
| minister at Washington CT the 10th instant, as
| follows
"As to the question of fact which springs
from the diversity of views between the report
of the American and Spanish boards Spain
proposes that the fact be ascertained by an i'm
partial investigation by experts whose decis-
sion Spain accepts in advance"
To this have made no reply.
President Grant, in 1875, after discussing the
phases OF the contest al it then appeared and
ton. said: In such event. 1 am of opinion
that other nations will be compelled to assume
the responsibility which devolves upon them
and to seriously consider the only remain
ing measures possible, mediation and inter-
vention. Owing. perhaps, to the large ex-
panse OF water separating the island from
the peninsula, the contending
parties appear to have within themselves
no depository Of common confidence to suggest
wisdom when passion and excitement have
their sway, and to assume the part of peace
maker. In this view, in the earlier days OF the
contest the good offices Of the United States
as mediator were rendered in good faith.
without any selfish purpose, in the interest 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 Indispensable No
"dcation has been received that in the opin-
I'm of Spain that time has been
reached. And yet the strife contin-
ues with all its dread horrors, and
all its injuries to the interests OF the
United States and OF other nations Each
party seems quite capable OF working great in
jury and damage to the other, as well as all the
relations and interests dependent on the exist
ence OF peace in the island; but they seem in
capable OF reaching any adjustment, and both
have thus far failed OF achieving any success
whereby one party shall possess and control
the island to the exclusion OF the other. I'M
utr Tue circumstances Ln6 agency OF OLlerS
either by mediation or intervention, seems TO
be the only alternative which must. sooner or
later, be invoked for the termination of the
strife.
In the last annual message OF my immediate
predecessor during the pending struggle, it
was said:
when the inability OF Spain to deal success
fully with the insurrection has become mani
fest, and 1t is demonstrated that her Soyer-
eighty is extinct in Cuba for all purposes OF its
rightful existence, and when a hopeless strug-
gle, for its re-establishment, has degenerated
into strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice Of human life and the
utter destruction of the very subject matter of
the conflict, situation will be presented in
which our obligations to tfE sovereignty of
Spain will be superseded by his obligations.
which we can hardly hesitate to recognize and
discharge"
In my annual message to congress- Decem-
ber last, speaking OF this question, said:
THE near future will demonstrate whether
the indispensable condition OF u righteous
peace. just alike to the Cubans and to Spain,
as we'll as equitable to all our interests, so in
timately involved in the welfare OF Cuba Is
likely to be attained. II not. the exgency 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 ndisputable right and duty 1t will be
faced, without nlsgtviag or hesitancy in the
light OF the obligation THIS government owes TO
itself, TO the people who have conided to it the
protection OF their interests and honor, and to
| humanity
Sure OF the right, keeping free from all Of
| fense ourselves. actuated only by upright and
patriotic considerations, moved neither by pas
sion nor selfishness, the government will con-
tinue its watchful care over the rights and
property of American citizens, and will
abate none of its efforts TO bring about by
| peaceful agencies peace which shall be honor.
able and enduring II 1t shall hereafter appear
| to be duty imposed by our obligations to our
| serves, 10 CIVILIZATION ana humanity to inter.
vene with force, 1t shall be without fault or
Our part and only because the necessity f.
| such action will be SO clear as TO command thl
| support and approval OF the civilized world"
The long trial has proved that the object To-
| which Spain has waged the war can not be at
tanned. The fire OF insurrectioa may fiame o.
may shoulder with varying seasons, but IL ha
not been and IL is plain It can not be extin
guishei by present methods. The only hop
CT relief and repose from condition which
can no longer be endured Is the enforced paci
tcation OF Cuba. In the name OF humanity II
the name OF civilization. in behalf OF eadan
Gered American interests which give US tn
right and the duty to speak and to act, the wa
in Cuba must stop