The Monte Vista journal., 1898-04-16

First-ln the cause Of humanity and
to put an end TO the barbaritles, blood
shed. starvation and horrible miSeries
now existing there. md which the par
ties to the conflict nre either unable or
unwilling to stop or mitigate. II IL no
answer TO say that this Is all in anoth-
er country, belonging to another ma
tion, and is therefore. none Of our bus
iness. 1t ID especially our duty. for It
10 right Mt our door.
SecOnd-We owe 1t to our citizens
In Cuba to afford them that protection
and indemnity for life and property
which no government there can or
will afford.
Third-The right to intervene may be
justitie<l by the very serious injury 70
tho commerce. trade md business Of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
tion OF property and dcvartation Of the
Island.
FOurtli-And which IL the most i'm
pOrtant: The present condition Of af-
fairs Ia \ constant menace to our
peace and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense.
With such conflict wnged for years
In the island so near us and with
which our people have trade and bust
NJ ss relatlOns-when the lives and lib
crty OF our citizens are In constant
danger and their property and them
selves ruined-when our trading ves-
sells nre linble to seizure and are seized
nt our very door. by warships Of for
eign nation. the expeditions OF filibus-
tering that we are pOwerlcss TO pre-
vent altogether. and the Irritating
questions and cntnngiements thus aris-
ing-nll these and others that I need
not mention with the resulting strained
relations, nre constant menace to
our peace and compels us TO keep on
semi-war footing with the nation
with which we are at pence.
Those elements Of danger and disor-
der already pointed out have been
strikingly Illustrated by n tragic event
which has deeply and justly moved
the American people. I have already
transmitted to Congress the report OF
the naval court OF inquiry on the de-
struction Of the bnttleship Maine In
the harbor Of Havana during the night
of the 18th OF February. The destruc-
tiOn of that noble vessel has filed the
national heart with inexprcssnble l,or-
ror. Two hundred and fifty brave
sailors and marines and two officers of
our navy, repOsing in the fancied re-
curity OF friendly harbor, have been
hurled to death-xrief and want
brought to their homes and sorrow TO
the nation.
The naval court Of inquiry. which. II
liz needless to say. commands the un-
qualified confidence OF the government
WAS unanimous In Its conclusion that
the destruction OF the Maine was caus-
cd by an exterior explosion. that of II
submarine mine. II did not assume to
place the responsibility. That remains
to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of
the Maine. by whatever exterior cause.
is n patent and impressive proof of n
state Of things In Cuba that is intol.
erabic.
That condition is thus shown TO hc
such that the Spanish government can.
not assure safety TO n vessel In the Hn-
vana harbor on n mission Of peace and
riRhtfuliy there.
Further referring In this connection
10 recent diplomatic correspondence. n
from our minister to Spain
VI the 18th ultimO. contained the state
nent That the Spanish minister for for
rign affairs assured him positively that
Spain will do all that the highest hon.
or and Justice require In the ma tier Of
the Maine.
The reply above referred TO ON the
3ist uliimo also contained mn exprcs-
sion OF the readiness Of Spain 10 submit
To an arbitration all the differences
which can nrise In this matter, which
is subsequently explained by the note
Of the Spanish minister nt Washing
ton Of the 10th inst, ns follows:
AS to the question Of fact which
springs from the diversified views lpc.
tween the report Of the American and
Spanish boards. Spain proposes TINT
the fact he msccrtaincd by M impnr-
tin1 Investigation by experts. which de.
cision Spain accepts In advance To
this ! have made no reply"
President Grant In 1875. In discussing
the phases NJ the contest ns II then M.
rnrcd. and It's hopeless AMI apparent
Indefinite prolongation. said:
''ln such event I am Of the opinion
that other nations Will bc compelled TO
assume the responsibility which de-
wolves upon them and to seriously con.
slider the only remaining measures pos.
siblc. mediation and Intervention. Ow-
water separating the island from the
peninsula. the coniendiug parties MP
pear to have within themselves no de-
Iository of common confidence. TO sug.
gcst wisdom when passion nnd excite
mcnt have their sway. and thus ar
sumo the part Of Ieaccmakcr. In thia
view. In the earlier days Of the con.
test. the good offices Of the United
States as the mediator were tendered
In good faith. without any selfish pur.
pose. In the interest of humanity and
In sincere friendship for both parties.
but were nt the time declined by Spain
with the declaration. nevertheless. that
nj future time they would isc inslis-
pcnsablc. No intimnii0n has been ~
cclvcti that. In the opinion Of Spain
that time has been reached. And yet
the strife continues with all It's dread
horrors. and NIL Its injuries TO the
United Stntes and Of other nations.
Each pnriy rscms quite capable Of
working grcat injury md damage TO
the other. ns well as 10 MI the relations
nnd Interests dependent on the exist.
rncc of pence In the Island. hut they
scem incapable Of reaching nny adjust
mcni. and boih have thus far failed Of
achieving any success whereby one
party slinll lrOsscss md control the ID.
lind 10 the exclusion Of the other. Tin.
der the circumstances the agency of
Others. either by mediation or by In.
tcrvcntion. seems 10 be the only alter.
native which must. sooner or later. le
invoked for the termination Of the
strife
Ia.