The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-01
THE RIGHT OF INTERVENTION.


| 1t is clear that the overwhelming SEN
timent of the country faveors interVen-
ton that will lead to the independence
of Cuba. The sympathies of the peo-
pie naturally go out to an oppressed
nation fighting for nothing but me ma
ienable right of self-government. Inc
fact that during the past thirty years
the Cnbans have given thirteen ana
half wears to fighting for independence
commands the admiration of the descen-
dants Of the men who fought for Wash
;noton tn establish this Republic.
Added to these natural reasons why peo-
nile of the United States pray for the
success of the insurgents are the horrible
butchery and barbarous starvation IN
flicted by the Spaniards. The narrowing
accounts of the suffering and death OF
the men herded in the cities has touched
the heart of every humane man and
woman in the country The murder of
the sailors and: officers of the Maine,
the undoubted work of Spaniards in au-
thority kindled an Indignation from
Maine to California which demands that
Spain will quit this continent and that
Cuba shall be free.
Not a few of our best men, feeling
fully the force of these impelling mo-
tives. have felt that under international
law and precedent this country could
not afford to make these things a cause
of war with Spain. They have asked
for basis of a war for Cuban indepen-
dence that would stand in the forum of
the world.
The answer to this is found in the
ablest argument that has yet been made
against intervention. Hon. Edward j.
Phelps. ex-Minister to England, now a
lecturer in Yale, in a letter addressed
to Levi p. Morton, in answer to the
question whether there should be inter-
vention for humanity's sake, says:
at is true that international law
recognizes as the sole and rare exception
to the rule above stated in respect to
intervention. that q nation may inter
fere where to prevent unjustitiable
slaughter and outrage in another coun-
try it becomes absolutely necessary. But
this exception, which has very rarely
been acted on, applies only in extreme
and very clear cases, and has no appll-
cation whatever to this case"
Mr.. Phelps proceeds to argue that no
condition of affairs exists in Cuba JUS
tifying the application of the law of in
tervention on grounds of humanity, His
opinion on that point is not worth much
because he has not had the oppor-
tunity of knowing the condition in.
Cuba. 1t is his legal opinion that "a
nation may intervene to prevent unjuns-
tifiable slaughter and outrage in an
other country when sit becomes alb
solutely necessary" and then 'only in
extreme and very clear cases" that viii
have weight everywhere. Senator Proc
tor and the other able public men, news
paperS correspondents. and consuls who
have been on the spot have told of the
situation i'm Cuba. Their statements
have convinced the people that the con-
ditions existing in Cuba are such as.
according to Mr.. Phelps, make it JUS
tifiable and absolutely necessary" for us
to intervene ITO prevent unjustifableI
slaughter and outrage
1t is upon the view of the right as
presented by Mr. Phelps that Congress
and the people favor intervention that
will make Cuba free. His legal opin-
ion ought to satisfy all who believe
Senator Proctor's description of the hor-
rors in Cuba that there is warrant in
law for us to Intervene to prevent un
UNSUITABLE slaughter and outrage"