The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-11
ID interests of the United states with


impartial neutral by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants or
as the active ally of the one party or
the other.
AS to the first, it is not to be forgotten
that during the last few months the
relations of the United States has vir-
tually been one of friendly Intervention
in many ways, each not of itself con-
elusive, but all tending to the exertion
of a potential influence toward an ulti-
mate pacific result just and honorable to
all interests concerned. The spirit of all
our acts hitherto has been an earnest,
unselfish desire for peace and prosperity
in Cuba, untarnished by differences be-
tween us and Spain and unstained by
the blood of American citizens.
The forcible Intervention of the United
States as a neutral, to stop the war, ac-
cording to the large dictates of humanity
and following many historical precedents
where neighboring States have interfer&d
TO CnGck Tie HUptlcSS odSiiii ~ -
by internecine conflicts beyond their bor-
ders, is justifiable on rational grounds.
1t involves, however, hostile constraint
upon both the parties to the contest, as
well as to enforce a truce as to guide
the eventual settlement.
The grounds for such intervention may
he briefly summarized as follows
First. In the cause of humanity and to
put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed,
starvation and horrible miseries now ex-
isting there, and which the parties to the
conflict are either unable or unwilling to
stop or mitigate. 1t is no answer to say
this is all in another country belonging TO
| another nation, and is, therefore, none OF
our business. 1t is specially our duty, for
ii is right at our door.
Second. We owe it to our citizens in
Cuba to afford them that protection and
| indemnity for life and property which no
| government there can or will afford, and
| to that end to terminate the conditions
that deprive them of legal protection.
Third. The right to intervene may be
| justified by the very serious injury to the
| commerce, trade and business of our peo-
| pie and by the wanton destruction of
property and devastation of the island.
Fourth-And which is of the utmost i'm
! portance. The present condition of af-
| fairs of Cuba is a constant menace to
our peace, and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense. With such a
near us and with which our people have
such trade and business relations-when
! the lives and liberty of our citizey are
/ in constant danger and their prop fty de-
/ stroyed and themselves ruined where
/ our trading vessels are liable to seizure
and are seized at our very door, by war
tions of filibustering that we are power
less altogether to prevent and the irri-
| tating questions and entanglements thus
arising; all these and others that need
not mention with the resulting strained
/ relations are constant menace TO our
| peace and compel us to keep on semi
war footing with war nation with
| which we are at peace.
/ These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been strikingly
illustrated by tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American
people. 1 have already transmitted to
/ Congress the report of the Naval Court
of Inquiry on the destruction of the bat
tleship Maine in the harbor of Havana
during the night of the 18th of February.
The destruction of that noble vessel has
filed the national heart with inexpressible
horror. Two hundred and ffty-eight
brave sailors and marines and two Off
GERS of our navy reposing in the fancied
security of friendly harbor, have been
hurled to death, grief and want brought
/ to their homes and sorrow to the ma
tion.
The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it
/ is needless to say, commands the unquali-
fed confidence of the Government was
unanimous in its conclusion that the des-
truction of the Maine was caused by an
exterior explosion, that of submarine
mine
It did not assume to place the response
bility That remains to be fixed.
In any event, thel destruction Of the
Maine. by whatever exterior cause, is a
patent and impressive proof Of a state
s of things in Cuba that is intolerable. That
condition is thus shown to be such that
4 the Spanish Government cannot assure
safety and security to a vessel of the
American navy in the harbor of Havana
on q mission of peace, and rightfully
there.
Further referring in this connection to
recent diplomatic correspondence, dis
patch from our Minister to Spain of the
26th ultimo, contained the statement thai
the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs
assured him positively that Spain will
do all that the highest honor and justice