The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-04-23

! fed by tho very serious injury to the com,
me,ee. trade and business OF our rd peog,e and
by the wanton destruction OF properly ""~
devastation of the island. - TIM
Fourth-And which is Of the utmost IN.
p%crtance. The present condition OF a nnn and
entails upon this government an enormous a er
penre. with such a conflict waged for years
on an island so near US and with whicn ous
people have such trade and business reiatlons
when the lives and liberty. OF our ciIlzens
are in constant danger, and their prop@ ~
trading vessels are liable to seizure and ar
rest at our very door by war vessels OF otnea
nations. the expeditions Of hlibusterlng that We W.
are powerless to prevent altogether, ana tns
Irritating questions and entanglements mus
arising-all these and others that neea no.
mention with the resulting strained Ee,a 49,
are a constant menace to our reace. ana coi"-
pei us to keep on a semi-war footing Win d
nation with which we are at peace.
Wreck of the Maine.
These elements of danger. and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingiy MUS
trated by a tragic event which has deeply
and justly moved the American people. nave
already transmitted to congress the report o.
the ma naval n.t court Of inquiry inquiry On in the the d harpor Of
Havana during the night of the 10th OF FEB,
ruary. The destruction of that noble vessel
has filled the nations heart n WITH aftv lnene
brave sailors and marines and two oincers ol
our navy were reposing in the fancied security
OF a friendly harbor. when hurled to death.
: okAS ""N N"A
sorrow to the nation.
The naval court Of inquiry, which Is need
of the government, was unanimous IN ls con-
clusion that the destruction of the Maine was
caused by an exterior explosion, That Of a sub
marine mine. 1t 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 a patent ana
impressive proof of a state of things In cuba
that is intolerable. That condition Is thus
shown to be such that the Spanish govern
vessel Of the American navy in the harbor
Of Havana, on d mission OF peace ana right
fully there.
Further referring in this connection to recent
diplomatic correspondence. a dispatch from
our minister to Spain, of the 26th ultimo, con-
tanned the statement that the Spanish minis
that Spain will do all that the highest honor
and justice require In the matter OF the
Maine.
Arbitration Proposed.
The reply above referred to, of the 31st ul-
timo. also contained All expression of the read.
mess of Spain to submit to an arbitration all
the differences which can arise in this matter,
which is subsequently explained by the note
OF the Spanish minister at Washington OF the
10th inst, as follows:
LAS to the question of fact which springs
resentatlves Of the American and Spanish
boards, Spain proposes that that fact be ascer-
tanned by an impartial investigation by ex-
perts, which decision Spain accepts in adj
vance,
To this 1 made no reply.
President Grant, in 1875. after discussing the
phases of the contest as 1t then appeareu, ana
its hopeless and apparent indefinite prolonga-
tioL, said:
I'm such event, I am of opinion that other
nations will be compelled to assume the re-
sponsibility which devolves upon them, and to
seriously consider the only remaining meas
ures possible-mediation and Intervention.
owing perhaps, to the large expanse of water
separating the island from the peninsula. the
contending parties appear to have within them,
oa1,,1- ~ IaoOctf0rxy n aomm0n rnnh12nre. 10
| suggest wisdom when passion and excitement
have their sway, and assume the part OF peace
maker. In this view, in the earlier Gays ot tne
as a mediator were rendered in good faith.
without any selfish purposes, in the interest
OF humanity and in sincere friendship for both
parties, but were at the time declined by
Spain, with the declaration, nevertheless, that
at a future time they would be ldispensapte
No tntimation has been received that, In the
| opinion of Spain, that time has been reached;
| And yet the strife continues with all its dread
horrors and all its injuries to the interests o.
party seems quite capable OF WORKING great
injury and damage to the other. as well as to
all the relations and interests dependent on the
existence of peace in the island: but they seem
incapable Of reaching any adjustment. ana
both have thus far failed Of achieving any
success whereby one party shall possess and
control the island to the exclus:on of the other.
Under the circumstances. the agency. of others.
either BY mediation nn,al aies,n or ~, by mhtah must' s seen.S
or later, be invoked for the termination OF tue
strife"
Cleveland Quoted.
In the last annual message of my imme-
date predecessor during the pehoihs stius-
gle, it was said:
"When the inability of Spain to deal sue
c%essfully with the insurrection has become
sovereignty is extinct in Cuba for all purposes
of its rightful existence and when a hopeless
struggle for its re-establishment has degen-
Grated into a strife which means nothing more
than the aseless sacrifice of human life and
the utter destruction of the very subject mat
ter of the conflict. a situation Will De pre-
scented in which our obligations to the sover-
eighty Of Spain will be superseded by higher
obligations, which we can hardly hestitate
to recognize and discharge. nooon,her
In nv annual message to .ccagress, december
last, speaking on this question, I said:
..The near future will be demonstrate wheth-
err the Indispensable condition OF q righteous
neace. lust alike to the Cubans and to Spain.
as we'll as equitable to all our interest,", SO
intimately involved in the welfare of cuba, Is
further and other action by the United States
will, remain to be taken. When that time
comes that action will be determined IN the
line of indisputable right and duty. It VIII
he faced without misgiving or hesitancy IN the
light Of the obligation this government owes
to itself, to the people who have conhded TO II
the protection OF their interests anu ho'o1'
and to humanity.
sure NJ the right. keoninG from all az
tense ourselves, actua,ea only by upright and
passion nor selfshness. the government VIII
continue its watchful care over the rights
and property of American citizens and Will
abate none Of its efforts to bring about by
peaceful agencies a peace which shall be
honorable and enduring. II 1t shall hereafter
appear to be a duty imposed by our obligations
to ourselves, to civilization and humanity to
intervene with force, 1t shall be without fault
on our part, and only because the necessity
for such action will be so clear as to COM
mand the support and approval of the civilized
world"
The long trial has proved that the object for
1 -..f-t = 49, y~oo Tho w0N 0QnnnS Va ar.
tanned. The fire of Instruction may flame or
may shoulder with varying seasons, but 1t
has not been, and 1t is plain that 1t cannot be
extlnguished by present methods. The only
which cannot longer be endured. Is the en-
forced pacihcation of Cuba In the name OF
humanity. in the name Of civilization, In be.
half of endangered American interests which
give us the right and the duty to speak and
to act.
The War I'm. Cubs Must Stop.
In view of these facts and these consldera-
lions, I ask the congress to authorize and en-
powa- the president to take measures to Sc
cure a full and complete Termination OF hos.
/ Titles between the government Of Spain and
the people Of Cuba, and to secure in the island
the establishment OF a stable government, cap
able Of maintaining order and observing its
international obligations, ensuring peace and
tranquility and the security Of its citizens; as
naval forces Of the United States as may be
| necessary, for these purposes.
And in the interest Of humanity and to aid
in preserving the lives Of the starving people
Of the island, I recommend that the distribution
Of food and supplies be continued and that an.
to supplement the charity of our citizens.
H. The issue Ia row with the congress-. It ia a,