Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-13
dnuaastir Ia ~

tain repeated intervention during the pres
emit century no law has been invoked. They
have been acts Of necessity or policy. This
statement is corroborated by the creation
and existence Of two policies, one OF Eu-
rope. the other Of the United States. each
Of which Is based distinctly upon the as
sertion of an intention to intervene under
certain circumstances. We refer to the
principle of the balance Of power and to the
Monroe doctrine Each is distinct and
arbitrary policy Of Intervention, to be ef-
fected In certain contingencies in further
ance of national policies, and to justify
which no canon Of International law was
ever invoked. The former has profoundly
affected the relations of the European
states and the independence of many of
those sovereignties.
The latter has kept the powers of Europe
out OF the American continents ever since
1t was promulgated. 1t was a distinct an
nouncement that the United States would
intervene, under certain expressed cir
cumstances, in the affairs of every Central
American and South American state The
United States did intervene by threat and
snow OF force in the affairs of Mexico and
france, and compelled the evacuation OF
that republic by European power. whose
own prior intervention in Mexican affairs
Rad overthrown republic and established
a monarchy upon it's ruins. No pubIicist
mas ever asserted that either Of these poll
cles IS part of the law of nations.
justification for Intervention is strength
ened in such cases as the present, where
the expressions by a state of its subjects
nave been so fnveterate, atrocious and san
culinary as to require Intervention by other
nations in the interests of humanity and
the peace of the world for the purpose of
OVerthroWing that government and esta h.
HshinS or recognizing another in its place
as me only means of extirpating an other
wise lncurable and dangerous evil.
The Case Of Turkey.
The conduct of the European powers re-
specting Turkey has been pursuant 70 the
policy which imrels one nation to inter-
vene in the affairs of another state to stoD
cruelty and massacre, and, If necessary to
cepose it from sovereignty. That state be-
came member of the commonwealth of
european powers by the treaty of Paris Of
1886 The Integrity and sovereignty of the
ottoman empire were guaranteed. 1t has
stood ever since upon an equality with
Spain in all respects. And yet Turkey has
oeeh tne subject OF repeated interventions
since 1856, which have restrained her SOW
ereignty, usurped her domestic administra-
ton. depressed her cruelties and partially
dismembered her empire.
the people of her several Danubisn pro-
Vinces oppressed by her misgovernment
rose in rebellion. A scene of massacre fol-
lowed. which stooG without precedent I'M
TIL 1t was made to seem merciful by the
atrocities perpetrated by Spain upon her
subjects in Cuba. Europe protested at the
conference of Constantinople and suggest
ed reforms and concessions in favor of the
oppressed people, which Turkey promised
TO grant In part. but vitiated that promise
by evasions and subterfuges as to some
most material requirements. Upon this
Europe ceased to represent. remonstrate
and imDlore Russia interviewed by force.
Her military successes produced the treaty
OF San Stefano between that power and
Turkey, which established the political
status of the revolted provinces But in
the opinion of the other European powers,
Russia herself had obtained too much nm
der that treaty
The consequence was the interposition of
the great powers of Europe in the affairs
of Russia and Turkey. 1t was substantial
~ an intervention, though otherwise de-
nominated, which compelled Russia and
Turkey to take part in the congress of
Berlin, held in 1873 They did SO because
they were constrained by the certainty of
Intervention by force in case they should
refuse. The result of that congress was
the partial dismemberment of European
Turkey. and the establishment of new
states therein, some partially autonomous
others entirely independent The cause of
these great interventionS was the cruelty
of Turkey toward her own subjects. The
result was that the interventions secured
their independence.
The cases of the Danubian provinces are
so similar to that of Cuba as to be nearly
identical. The fact that the wrongs were
inflicted by Mohammedans upon Chris
tians does not mitigate the responsibility
of Spain or make Intervention as to her
any less rightful. Surely Christian Spain
from the fact that she is a Christian stare,
Is not given greater warrant to extermin-
ate her subjects than Mohammedan Tur-
key possessed to extirpate hers
Great Britain interviewed as to Egypt
rpon financial grounds. and is now admin
fstering the revenues and finances of that
province.
The recent intervention of the European
powers In favor of Turkey and against
in har
insurgents is familiar history So also
is the Intervention of the same powers
which checked the advance of the armies
OF Turkey into Greece.
The United States Attitude.
The attitude Of the United States toward
the present question has been based upon
the right of Intervention and the intention
to exercise it in certain contingencies
President Cleveland, in his message of De-
cember Z, 1896. declared that:
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would constrain
us 10 object 10 the acquisition of the island
or an interference with its control by any
other powe
1T should be added that it cannot be
reasonably assumed that the hitherto ex-
pectant attitude of the United States will
be indefinitely maintained. While we are
anxious to accord all due respect to the
sovereignty Of Spain, we cannot view the
pending conflict in all it's features and
properly appreheLd our inevitably close
relations TO it, and it's possible results
without considering that by the course
OF events we may be drawn into such an
unusual and unprecedented condition as
Will fix limit to our patient waiting for
Spain to end the contest, either alone and
in her own way, or with our friendly CO.
operation.
When the inability of Spain to deal sue
cessfully with the Instruction has become
manifest, and it is demonstrated that her
sovereignty is eXtipct in Cuba for all pur-
poses of its rightful existence, and Wien q
hopeless struggle for its re-estabIishment
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 situa-
ton will be presented in which our cbiiga.
tiors to the sovereignty of Spain will be
superseded by higher obligations, which we
can hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge. Deferring the choice of ways and
methods until the time for action arrives
We should make them depend upon thu pre-
else conditions then existing; and they
should not be determined upon without Civ
ing careful heed to every consideration in
voiVfng our honor and interest or the In
ternatioral duty We owe to Spain. Until
We face the contingencies suggested, or the
situation is by other incidents imperatively
changed, we should continue in the linz of
conduct heretofore pursued, thus in all cir
cumstances exhibiting our obedience to the