Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-04-13

tating questions thus arising-all these
and others are constant menace to our
peace and compel us to keep on a semi
war footing with that nation with which
we are at peace.
The Tragedy of the Maine.
The elements of danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingly
Illustrated by tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American
people.
/ have already transmitted to congress
the report of the naval court of inquiry
on the destruction of the battleship
Maine in the harbor of Havana during the
night of the 18th of February. The de-
strCct.on of that noble vessel has filled
the national heart with inexplicable hor-
ror; 25S brave sailors and marines, two
officers of our navy. reposing in the fan
cied security of friendly harbor have
been hurled to death, grief and want
brought to their homes and sorrow to the
nation.
The naval court of inquiry which. 1t Is
needless to say commands the unquali-
fled confidence of the government. was
unanimous In its conclusion that the de-
structlon Of the Maine was caused by an
exterior explosion: that of submarine
mine. 1t did not assume to place the re-
sponsibility. That remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine. by whatever cause, Is a patent
and impressive proof of a state of things
In Cuba that is intolerable. That condi-
tlon is thus shown to be such that the
Spanish government can not assure safety
and security to a vessel of the American
navy In the harbor of Havana on mis-
sion of peace and rightfully there.
Spain Wants Arbitration.
Further referring. in this connection, to
recent diplomatic correspondence, a dis
patch from our minister to Spain Of the
26th ult. contained the statement that the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs assur-
ed him positively Spain will do all that
the highest honor and justice requires In
the matter of the Maine. The reply above
referred to of the 3lst ult. also contained
an expression of the readiness of Spain
to submit to arbitration all the differ
ences which can arise in this matter,
which is subsequently explained by the
note of the Spanish minister at Washing
ton of the 10th inst as follows:
"As to the question of fact which
springs from the diversified views be-
tween the report of the American and the
Spanish boards. Spain proposes that the
fact be ascertained by an impartial IN
vestigation by experts which decision
Spain accepts In advance"
To this have made no reply.
President Grant Quoted.
President Grant in 1875, in discussing
the purposes Of the contest as 1t appeared
then and Its hopeless and indefinite pro-
longation said:
other nations will be compelled to as
sumo the responsibility which devolves
upon them and to seriously consider the
only remaining measures possible, media
ton and Intervention. Owing perhaps to
the large expanse 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 ex-
citement have their sway, and thus as
sumo the part of peacemaker."
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 purposes, In the
interest of humanity and sincere friend
ship for both parties. but were at the
time declined by Spain with the declara-
ton, nevertheless, that at a future time
they would be Indispensable.
No intimation has been received that in
the opinion of Spain that time has been
reached; yet the strife continues with
all of its dread horrors and its injuries to
the United States and other nations. Each
party seems quite capable OF working
great injury and damage to the other as
well as to all the relations and interests
dependent on the existence OF peace In
the island. but they seem incapable OF
reaching any adjustment. and both have
thus far failed of achieving any success
whereby one party shall possess and con-
troll the island to the exclusion of the
other.
What Cleveland Said.
Under the circumstances the agency u
others, either by mediation or by inter-
vention. 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 pre-
decessor. during the pending struggle. 1t
was said:
when the inability Of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has be-
come manifest, and 1t is demonstrated
that her sovereignty Is extinct in Cuba,
for all purposes Of Its rightful existence,
and when a hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has degenerated into the
strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice of human life and
the utter destruction of the very subject
matter of the conflict. a. situation will
be presented in which our obligations TO
the sovereignty of Spain will be superced-
ed by higher obligations which We can
hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge"
From the Previous Message.
In my annual message to congress De-
cen.ber last. speaking to this question. i
said
"The near future will demonstrate
whether the Indispensable condition OF a
righteous peace just alike to the Cubsns
and Spain as well as equitable to all our
interests SO intimately convolyed in the
welfare of Cuba, Is likely to be attained.
II not further and other action by the
United States will remain to be taken
When that time comes action will be de-
termined In the line of indlsputabIe right
and duty; It will be faced without mis-
giving or hesitancy in the light Of the OBJ
legation this government owes to itself.
to the people who. confided to IL the pro-
lection of their interests and honor. and
to humanity; sure of the right, keeping
free from all offense ourselves, actuated
by upright and patriotic considerations.
moved neither by passion nor selfishness.
the government will continue its watch
full care over the rights and property OF
American citizens and will abate none OF
it's efforts to bring about. by peaceful
agencies. a peace which shall be honor
able and enduring. IL II shall hereafter
appear to be a duty imposed by our OBJ
to ations to ourselves. to civilization and
shI humanity. to intervene with force IL
ontl be without fault on our part and
tioy because the necessity for such ac-
sum will be so clear as to command the
wdpport and approval of the civilized
aid"
The War Must Stop.
long trial has proved that the ob-
which Spain has waged war can
attained. The fre of insurrection
ne or may shoulder with varying
but IL has not been and II Is
at II can not be extingulshed by
methods. The only hope of re-
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