Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-04-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

it the President recommends armed
Intervention on the part of the United
States to put an end to the war in
Cuba, but is opposed to the recognl-
ton of the Cuban republic. He sub
mits the facts in the case to Congress,
and leaves with that body the respon-
sibilty of taking action.
The message is very temperate
and conservative document. The
President starts out by reviewing the
war between Spain and the Cubans,
and tells in graphic language Of the
horrors Of the inhuman methods OF
warfare. The once prosperous island
of Cuba has been reduced to ruined
and desolate waste; American capital
invested in business there has been
lost and our trade has suffered. The
iuhuman policy of concentration IS re-
ferred to, by which all the country
people were driven to the towns, where,
without opportunity to make living
they have persisted by thousands from
starvation and disease. The Presl-
dent says that this was not civilized
warfare it was determination.
The efforts Of our government to re-
lieve the situation and end the war by
friendly intervention are reviewed,
showing that they have been unceas-
iugly pressed by the United States
from the Cleveland administration to
the present time. These efforts have
all been futile, owing to Spain S refusal
to comply with our suggestions. With
the failure of our last attempts to bring
about peace, negotiations with Spain
cease, and our government must now
act, if it acts at all, upon its own re-
sponsibility. The President says that
of the measures that may be now con-
sidered are these Recognition Of the
insurgents as belligerents recognition
of the independence Of Cuba ; neutral
intervention to end the war by impos-
ing rational compromise between the
contestants and intervention in favor
of one or the other party. 81 speak
not of forcibIe annexation, for that
cannot be thought of. That, by our
code of morality, would be criminal
aggression"
After reviewing these various prop
ositions the President gives it as his
opinion that neutral Intervention is
the best method of procedure, and
says:
THE forcible intervention of the
United States as a neutral to stop
the war according to the large die
tates of humanity, and following many
historical precedents where neighbor-
ing States have interfered to check
the hopeless sacrifices of life by inter-
necine conflicts beyond their borders,
is iustihable on rational grounds. 1t
involves, however, hostile constraint
upon both the parties to the contest,
as well to enforce truce as to guide
the eventual settlement.
"The grounds for such Intervention
may be briefly summarized as follows:
First. In the cause of humanity
and to put an end to the barbarities,
bloodshed, starvation and horrible
miseries now existing there, and which
the parties to the conflict are either
unable or unwilling to stop or miti-
gate. 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 it is right at our door.
Second. We owe it to our citi-
zens in Cuba to afford them that pro-
lection 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 people, and by the wantou de-
struction Of property and devastation
of the island.
Fourth. Aid which is Of the ut
most Importance. The present condi-
ton of affairs in Cuba is a constant
menace to our peace and entails upon
this government an enormous expense.
The President refers to the destruc-
ton of the Maine by saying that the
court of inquiry was unanimous in its
conclusion that it was caused by a
submarine mine. And while the re-
sponsibility has not been fixed, the &C.
currence is an impressive proof Of a
state Of things in Cuba that is intol-
cradle.
The President concludes his message
as follows
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire of
instruction may flame or may smoul-
der with varying seasons, but it has
not been and it is plain that it cannot
be extinguished by present methods.
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