The herald., 1898-04-10
AN OPEN LETTER
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To Senator Perkins, Washington, d. G
Sir: am a. union veteran officer, and !:
we are going to defend ourselves agains
Spain am willing to do anything car
for my country. The destruction of the
Maine was an overt act of war. M
formal declaration of war by congress IL
needed. The president at once shoult
have ordered our fleet to capture ant
hold Havana until Spain had indemni'
fled us and apologized. Congress has
nothing to do but to provide the sinews
OF war@money, men and ships. Permit
| me to express my cordial admiration o1
your speech in congress in favor of Gu
ban independence and armed interven-
ton by the United States. Our govern
ment, two years ago, should have put
an end to the Imprisonment and starva-
tion of innocent on-combatants. Presi-
dent Cleveland's conduct was criminal
The consular reports of Spanish cruelty
were withheld from the public-yes. from
congress. March, 1896. congress resolved
that In the opinion of congress state
of public war exists in Cuba, the parties
to which are entitled to belligerent
rights"
1t was the duty and the function of
the executive to at once carry into effect
this congressional resolution. Moreover,
he had the power, and it was his duty
to take the initiative and recognize the
Cuban patriots as belligerents. On the
contrary, President Cleveland, with the
evidence Of Spanish inhumanity care
fully concealed in the office of the Sec
retary of state, with that eloquent and
touching appeal Of the Cubans to us for
help before him, issued his infamous
proclamation of June IL, 1896, saying that
whereas, said civil disturbances and
armed resistances to the authority of
Spain, power with which the United
States is on terms of peace and amity"
ETC.: characterizing the American friends
of Cuba as "conspirators" and "violators
Of the neutrality laws" and "solemnly"
warning them, ETC., and enjoining United
States officials to perform their duties
in prosecuting the criminals who should
violate "the neutrality laws"
Mr.. Olney knew, If President; Cleve-
land did not, that inter arma silent leges;
that the moment ne performed his duty
and gave effect to the resolution of con-
gress the neutrality laws became mop
erative as between the United States and
Spain; that the moment the Cuban pa
triots were invested with the rights of
belligerents it was lawful for Americans
to aid the Cuban patriots in any manner,
subject to the unquestioned legal right
of Spain to capture any vessel bearing
supplies and munitions Of war in aid OF
the insurgents.
President Grover Cleveland, for his
crime and misdemeanor in deliberately
ignoring and disregarding the express
will of congress, should have been i'm
peached and removed from the office he
unworthily held. Andrew Jonhnson's
crimes, in comparison with Grover
Cleveland's. were trivial.
But for years our presidents both
Democratic and Republican, have wait
ed with patience-for what? In the
name of the God of Humanity, for what
have our chief magistrates waited :?
They have waited for Spain to finish her
darnnable work of exterminating the Gu
ban patriots, until half million of inno-
cent non-.umbatants nave ueen -
dered, and until our brave sailors of
the Inflated Maine were sent to eternity
without moments warning.
Did not President Mckinley believe
that the explosion of the Maine was a
hostile act? Was it not possible at once
to have sent our fleet to capture Ha-
vana and let Spain prove the destruction
of the Maine to have been an accident
Was it not possible, long before the
Maine tragedy, Mr.. Senator. for the pres
ident, as chief magistrate and gallant
soldier and lover of liberty and justice
to have done that which Mr.. Grover
Cleveland, when he was chief executive
refused to do? If we were not ready to
fight, why did we not begin to prepare
for it as soon as Mr.. McKinleNwas in
augurated? Had not congress expressed
It's Mill2 Was the nre esidant waiting for