The times., 1898-01-14

The startling news of Wednesday s
lioting i'm Havana, conveyed to wash
ington people through The Times yes
terday, occasioned considerable uneasi-
ness here early in the day, owing to
the fact that at the time the dispatch
WAS sent the American citizens in the
Cuban capital were believed to be in
great danger. Happily later in the day
dispatches came saying that the mob
had been dispersed. and the Americans
in Havana had not been harmed.
Nh. Cannon, of Utah, recognizing the
Importance of the Government acting
promptly for the protection OF its sub
iects on the island, introduced into the
Senate the following resolution:
Resolved, That the President is re-
quested it, in his opinion, not incompat-
ible with the public interests. to trans
init to the Senate at his earliest con
Nenience a statement showing what
measures are in force by this Govern
ment in the island of Cuba. and in wa
ters contiguous thereto TO protect the
lives, liberty and property of Ameri-
can citizens now dwelling in Cuba
MI, Cannon asked tna Immediate
consideration OF the resolution. and il
Was passed without q word Of protest
Whether the President will reply to IL.
or whether he VIII eNade a direct re-
Sponse is question that cannot now
o. be answered. The resolution. at all
events, is pertinent to the situation i'm
that island, and brings vividly before
the President the urgent necessity for
prompt and speedy action on his part
1t is in the nature of rebuke to the
do-nothing policy of his Administration
in this great question.
Discussing his resolution with
reporter Of The Times. Mr.. Cannon said
that it was not intended to precipitate
but to avert. war.
Everybody knows" said Mr. Can
non, that if we had sent warship to
the harbor of Havana early in this
outbreak the present situation on the
island would have been vastly different,
Rnd there would have been no possibili-
ty Of war between the United States
end Spain as result of such action on
our part. Had we acted promptly ana
sent one of our warships to the island
with the distinct understanding with
Spain that it was there fer the protec-
tion of the lives and property of Amer
lean citizens, that government could
not have entered any protest The
sending of such a ship at this late day
however, may cause our purpose TO be
miseonstrued by the Spanish govern
ment. But. however that may be, it is
our duty to protect the lives and prop
eIty Of our citizens and if war results
therefrom, we must take that chance.
Our people are entitled to the same pro-
lection as is afToIied by Spain TO the
subjects of Great Britain. or Germa-
ny. or France. or any other first-class
power and those governments have
not hesitated to insist upon such pro-
Il,
American sentiment today IS only
smouldering and the least overt act OF
pillage. an attack on an American citi-
zen or United States consul. resulting
i'm injury or less Of life. will fan the
American sentiment into such flame
Of Indignation that no power viii be
able to stop it, and the President Will.
Of course. be compelled - do that
which will inevitably bring about Var
between this country and Spain. We
simply want to know if the citizens cf
the United States are to be protected:
We want to know what assurances
Spain has given in that direction. If
satisfactory assurances have not been /
given. and if they are not TO be pro-
tected, then we think the President !
should take such action as will enable 1
this country to protect its own people 1
on the island of Cuba Many public |
men do not believe that such protection |
is being given by Spain and we ought |
TO know what measures the President
Of the United States is taking TO pro-
vide for the safety of the lives of Amer
ican citizens, and the prevention of the
destruction of their property.
The resolution is harmless in itself.
1t seeks only information and the in
suguration Of such steps as should have
been taken long age. No nation having
a proper regard for the rights of others
can take exception to the suggestions
found in the resolution; if they do the
results growing out of such exceptions
viii be accepted by the American peo-
pie. Our first duty is to protect our
people wherever they may be. and we
have done so in the past, Nth the
single exception of the present war in
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