The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-19

Denver Post: At this distance and witt
the meager information now at hand, Il
seems utterly impossible to get awaJ
from the suspicion that there was crooked
work at Havana While the authorities
there are row offering all sorts of con
ISOLATION and doing everything in then
power to mitigate the calamity and re
lieVe the distress, everybody viii stu
/ recollact that De Lone wrote his wretchec
letter TT the very moment that he was
! fawning al the feet of Mckinley and par
: taking of mis- hospitality. No mere sx-
! pressions of apology and regret must be
accepted this time by our complaisant au-
thorities.
Boise Statesman: Nothing more seems
to be known than that there was an sX-
| plosion- There is. however, the suspicion
in nearly every mind that the explosion
was the result of design While Spanish
officials are profuse in expressions OF
regret, accompanied by assurances that
/ 1t was an accident, the thought cannot
| be restrained that some Spanirds may
know more about the wreck than they
would dare to tell.
Butte Miner: If designedly done the
/ loss of the Maine shows the uselessness
| of such great masses of armor against
the cunning and treachery of man; and
/ that treachery and cunning can do open
warfare can multiply until the mind may
hardly grasp the terrible destructiveness
/ of modern gunnery. If not deSignedly
done then it shows that carelessness is
fully as destructive, perhaps more de-
structive to those handling large warships
than the weapons of the enemy.
Denver News: If it should prove that
guilt can be fastened upon responsible
officers of the Spanish crown. We doubt
If any apology or any reparation would be
sufficient War is a terrible thing. but
war to avenge brutal and cowardly muir
der and heinous insultsto the flag would
cause the continent to tremble with the
tread of a million volunteers.
Denver Republican: If the investigation
should result in developing facts which
would reasonably justify the belief that
the explosion was not an accident. the
duty of the United States would be clear.
Spain should be called to the strictest ac-
countability, and not an iota of an ex-
cuse should be permitted to ii. If any
thing could ever justify war. such das-
tardly act as the blowing up of warship
of friendly nation. resting at anchor in
a harbor. would certainly do so, and the
people of the United States would with
practical unanimity uphold such declar-
There should be no further tempOriZing
with Spain even for an instant
Butte Inter Mountain: The blowing up
of the United States cruiser Maine is the
naval horror of the century. Public judg
ment must be suspended as to the causes
leading up to the great calamity until
more of the facts are known. Naturally,
suspicion points to Spanish intrigue. De
Lomes disgusting professions of regret
and love for the psople of the United
States giving it force. But the indications
are that it was purely an accident.
Helena Independent: Prior to the horror
of Havana harbor the relations between
the United States and Spain were
strained, and the De LONE incident of a
week ago added much to the tension If
it should be shown that the Spaniards are
in any way responsible for the Maine dis
Ill oil - 4fnA
vested interests would be unable to
prevent clash. Nothing but the most
absolute freedom of Cuba would satisfy
the people of the United States under the
circumstances stated.
Anaconda Standard: The disaster has
other phases that directly interest the
public. The idea that Spanish treachery
was the cause of the catastrophe will find
advocates. although that suspicion Will
probably not be widely entertained. If
the explosion was the result of an acct
dent, the public will wonder where the
blame lies. Accidents will happen, of
course yet the public has been led to
believe that the vigilance and discipline
absolutely to preclude the possibility of
an accident of the kind that IS now as
sured to account for the explosion.
Chicago Dispatch: II is time for this
government to show prompt courage and
vigorous action The harbor of Havana
should be the port of every battleshiD
available. The investigation of the Names
destruction should be conducted under the
shotted guns of the United States nen-of-
war, and If a Spanish plot shall be dis
covered Havana should be shelled and
Cuba taken as reprisal for the treachery.
Omaha. Bee: 1t is gratifying TO know
that the officers of the Maine acted with
sslf-possession and bravery, while the
prompt efforts on the part of the Spanish
authorities. by direction of General
Blanco. to render such service as they
could to the survivors OF the disaster will
and undoubtedly will be duly acknowl-
edged by this government.
Omaha World-Herald: So far as the
Maine disa ster is Immediately concerned.
it will be we'll for public opinion to be
reserved until 1t shall have been ascer-
tanned whether the explosion was due to
an accident or was the deliberate work
of Spanish assassins. While reserVinS this
opinion Ii is not necessary that the people
should lose sight of other features that
go TO make the relations between Spain
and the United States of grave concern
to the patriotic mind.
Kansas City Star: Was this by design?
was the first question to arise to every
lip when the disaster to the battl eShiD
Maine was made known in this country.
Whether just or unjust. the general i'm
pulse was to attribute the explosion to
theory is opposed the absolute denial of
General BlancO and of all classes in
and, what is of moro signifi-
canoe. the conduct of the captain general
his officers and the Spanish people gen.
orally in doing everything possible to
rescue and provide for the survivors Of
the. Maine Had the evil work been
planned by Spaniards, it may be justly
they would hardly have been
able to conceal their rejoicings al the
of its execution.
San Francisco Examiner: 1t is hardly
likely that the Spanish government would
or permit such a murderous
outrage. and yet 1t is not impossible that
some malignant subordinate. having his
hand on the torpedo machinery of the
harDor. may have caused the explosion.
II is not pleasant theory to contemplate
and we may hope that there is nothing in
x. We know that the evil passions of the
Spanish loyalists in Cuba are highly ex-
cited and that they bitterly resented the |
presence Of the Maine at Havana. and yet
we cannot accept this theory of the ex-
plosion except on convincing evidence
San Francisco Chronicle: The best pos
sible course for the American people to
take now is that advised by Captain Sigs-
bee-to suspend judgment until there is !
more news. In any event. there is not |
likely to be war so long as the Spanish I
stands ready, in case any subject Of Spain |
blew M the ship to make adequate |
STATE PRESS COMMENT.
Provo Enquirer: The Salt Lake Tribune |
linked its fortunes with the Deseret News |
n the recent municipal fight and did not |
profit thereby. Just as soon as that eiec-
ion was over, the Tribune took NJ the |
-efrain that the church was against the |
public school system. evidently to cater /
o old customers. which it knows TO be |
,alse. Its structures on the Deseret News