The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-30
COMMITTED TO INTERVENTION.

| trated in that island are not the concern
of tbe limited States. Those who take
this view are perfectly consistent in fa-
yoring the present Fabian policy that
characterizes the administration.
Right or wrong. Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. Mckinley have claimed the right OF
the United States to intervene under
certain conditions which have all been
fulfilled.
In his last annual message to Con-
gress, Mr.. Cleveland said;
when the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has be-
come manifest, and it is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes of its rightful existence,
and when a hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has degenerated into a
strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice of human life, and
the utter destruction of the very subject
matter of the conflict. situation will
be presented in which our obligations
to the sovereignty of Spain will be super
seeded by higher obligations, which we
can hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge"
The conditions pointed out by Mr..
Cleveland as necessary before "our obi
cations to the sovereignty of Spain will
be superseded by higher obligations" has
arrived 1t win not be contended by
anybody that the sovereignty of Spain
is not extinct in C,rba for all purposes
of it's rightful existence" when thou
sands of men, women and children are
huddled together to starve, and when
an American war ship is blown up in
the harbor of Havana. No sovereignty
''of rightful existence can be said to
hold sway where the resources of the
island are destroyed and the utter de-
struction of the very subject matter of
the conflict is imminent. If the policy
of Mr. Cleveland is 10 be carried out,
the time has now arrived when ''our
obligations to the sovereignty of Spain"
have been superseded by higher obliga-
tons which we can hardly hesitate TO
proposed to repudiate the policy outlined
in Mr.. Cleyeand's message, feed the
Cubans until October. while Spain makes
ready for more butchery, and let the
murder of the officers and sailors on the
Maine go unavenged.
In his message to Congress last De-
cember, Mr. Mckinley followed exact
ly along the line of Mr.. Cleveland 5
message. ybe President declared that
the cruel policy of concentration, mi
tiated in February, 1896, has utterly
failed as war measure. 1t was not
civilized warfare-it was extermina-
ton" Against this abuse of the rights
of war; says the President, he on re-
peated occasions entered the firm and
earnest protest of this government
Spain was asked to make proposals that
would end the war. No solution was
proposed to which the slightest idea of
humiliation TO Spain could attach, =
and 1T was said that we could not CON
template an indefinite period for the
accomplishment of this result" The
President says Spain agreed that ''the
Spanish government is bound by every
consideration to change of policy that
would satisfy the United States and pa
city Cuba within reasonable time.
To this end, Spain has decided to put
into effect the political reforms hereto
fore advocated by the present premier,
without hating for any consideration in
the path which in its judgment leads to
peace. The military operations, it is
said, will continue, but will be humane
and conducted with all regard for pri-
yate rights, being accompanied by polti
cal action leading to the autonomy of
Cuba while guarding Spanish soyer-
eighty.
"The policy of cruel rapine and ex-
termination that has SO long shocked
the universal sentimeaS of humanity has
been reversed. Broad ,lemency is prof
fered; measures have been taken to re-
lieve the horrors of starvation.
The power of the Spanish armies, ut
is asserted, is to be used, not to spread
ruin and desolation, but to protect the
resumption of peaceful agricultural pur-
suits and productive industries. That
past methods are futile to force a peace
by subjugation is freely admitted, and
THAT ruin without cancellation must in
eyitably fail to win for Spain the fidelity
of Il contented dependency"
The President then told Congress that
Spain ought to be given "a reasonable
chance to realize her expectations and TO
prove rhe asserted efficiency of the
new order of things to which she stands
irreyocably committed and he added:
''She has recalled the commander
whose brutal orders inflamed the Ameri-
can mind and shocked the civilized
world. She has modified the horrible
order Of concentration and has under
taken to care for the helpless and per-