The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-18
A CT AkANTEEs-
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. FED. H.
SPANS REsp0NsiBiLIiN.


The American people Lave shown re-
markable seif-possesslpn In presence OF
an incident which. had 1t taken place
a, tn. coat Of one Of the Latin nations.
would have produced almost revoin-
ton. There would have been riots
cries of down with this. that and the
other; there would have been marching
in the streets IN mad excitement
which neither understood the cause nor
was capable Of thinking out the steps
necessary to follow. There is no doubt
that the later news from Havana Is OF
the most serious character ana VIII
call for good Judgment and possible
patriotism in dealing with a nation
which must be held accountable IL 1t
shall he shown that the sinking OF the
Maine was due to any other cause than
an accident On board the ship. The
most significant expression made upon
the subject In the way Of suggesting
possible explanation f. that In the let
ter from . gunner. who says that the
ship was surrounded by torpedoes and
could not leave the harbor without the
consent and direction Of the Spanish
authorities. The accidental firing of
one OF these could have caused the de-
struction. but the responsibility VIII
rest with the Spanish government for
not protecting friendly visitor from
such dangers.
At this time. when the news Is so
conflicting. II would be almost unjust
TO point suspicion In any direction; but
the mind will naturally run In the chan
mel guided by weli-known landmarks
OF information. Setting aside the theory
that the explosion was due 10 an acct
dent on board. there are three clues to
b. followed 4 clockwork internal ma
chine might possibly have been carried
on board by visitor and left 10 do its
deadly work IN that event. every
trace or tho instrument would b gone.
and We must content ourselve. with
pretending e believe that It was the
Names own magazine which rent her
e. pieces.
II the work was doue BY n havhor
torpedo. the motive will have to be
sought. While there Is an intense anti
American feeling among the SpanlardS
Ia
thoFlties are particularly interested in
preserving good relations with the
United States az this time. II is - the
interest of the Cubans 10 sits up M
will between the two countries, and
the ingenuity which devised the steal
ing Of the he LONE letter woaid Be Joy
fully employed In THO creation az such
sensational incident The Cubaas
have their spies IN Havana, they have
their friends in the army: they have
sccompiices every where. The presence
and location q tho tcrpr3oea in the
harhor would - known - ghe Ciibans.
on the other hard. there is 4 RANGER
Gus hatred 90 Americans on abe part
Of the Spanish rahhle. they possess to
a very considerable degree the treach-
ercus disposition 81 Some CuhauS X
would seem Ike an act az national glory
10 sink that proud Varship With
spanish torpedo.
Upon Spain now comes hack THE PEN
atty for preventing recognition u
CuhAa helnservnev. stree thar govern
naent insists that there is only civn war
In Cuba The Spanish government as
surnes entire Sovereignty over the c..
bans and becomes responsible fer their
actions
All speculation mast - ieft fnca-ss-
plete unia the testimony Is obtalnatle
The Spanish government the cabinet
al MsGrid-nas; Re overcome v{.h
anxiety a. the un;oWarl catastrophe
II en'y lends erabarra ~sss,~st - the
situation giving uethrr nat.ea the
least advantage NJ event in a san-
1ress years has oeesrs,d between ma
sions in any Way slsausr e. tlsts. Il yfis
fax the sssao.ty - he Uultea stats.
government 10 steer bs;wuea lngassses
81: Indignation SPAN is helpless. sAs