The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-04-16


We are at peace.
The Tragedy Of the Maiae.
The elements Of danger and disorder al
ready pointed out have been strikingly
llinhtrated BY TRAGIC event which has
deeply ana justly moved the American
] have already transmItted to congress
the report Of the naval court OF inquiry
on the destruction OF the battleshIp
Maine in the harbor Of Havana during the
night Of the 18th OF February. The de-
stFref.0n Of that noble vessel has filled
the national heart with inexpiicable hor-
ror; - brave sailors and marines. two
ofnceFs Of our navy. Feposing in the FAM
eieO security Of a friendly haFb0r. have
been hurled 20 death. grief and want
brought 70 their homes and sorrow 10 the
nala0n.
The naval court OF inquiry which. II Is
needless 10 say. commands the unqnal.-
ned confidence OF the government. was
UNANIMOUS In its conclusion that the de-
strnetton Of the Maine was caused by an
exterior explosion: that OF q submarine
mine. II did not assume 20 place the re-
sponsibtiity. That remains 10 be fixed.
IN any event the destruction OF the
Maine, ~ whatever cause. Is a patent
AID impressive proof OF state OF things
In Cuba that Il tntoierable. That condi-
tioE u thus shown 10 be such that the
&tFAtAAAl EA4 aut AhHnEe safety
AMI security 10 vessel Of the American
nnty In the harbor Of Havana ON . mis-
sion Of peace and Ftghtfuify there.
bpain Wants Arbitration.
Further referring. In this connection, 20
recent diplomatic correspondence, a dis
patch from our minister TO Spain OF the
18th ult- contained the statement that the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs assur-
90 him positively Spain VIII do ali that
the highest honor and Justice requires in
TIE matter Of the Maine. The reply above
referred 10 OF the sist uit- also contained
an oppression o. the readiness Of Spain
10 submit 20 arbitration all the differ
ences which can arise In this matter.
Nhleh Is subsequently, explained by the
note OF the spanish minister at Washing
ton of the 10th Inst Aa follows:
AS 10 the question Of fact which
spsinsn from the diversified views be.
tween the report OF the American and the
bph nish boards. Spain proposes that the
fact BE- ascsFtnined b. an impartial m
MttAkAtion ~ experts which decision
Spain Aeepsa in advance"
To this ! have made ne reply.
Presidents Gsass 0ssted.
President Grant In lG76. in discussing
the purposes % me contest As Il appeared
Thea and Us hopcaeas and indsfnite pro
iong1tioa. said;
Ia such erenl am OF the oplnIon tina,
other nations will ~ compelled 10 as
ausna the responsibility which devolVes
upon them add 10 seriously consider The
only remaining measures possible. media,
ton and intsfNentioa. Owing perhaps 10
ahr Large ezpAnne Of water SEPARATING the
island from the penlnaaia. the contendinE
parties appear 70 have within themHeivey
no DEPOSITORY OF common confidence 70
suggest wisdom. when passion and ca.
eiiemeni have their sway. and thus as
sulDa the part % pcaeemaker"
In this stsW. IN the cartier days OF the
oontest. the good ofiAces % the United
States as mediator werS rendered IN good
faith. without any selfish paFposea IN ths
interest Of humanity and sincere friend.
ship for both parties. but were at the
time declined BY spain with the declara.
ton. nevertheless. that Al a future t1snp
they would be indiapsnsabie.
No intimAtton has been received that in
the opinion % Spain that time has been
reached: yet the strife continpeA win
all OF its dread horrors and ita injuries 70
the United States and other nations. Each
party ecema quite cAf'able of working
great injury and damage 10 the other a.
well a. 10 all tho relations and interests
dependsni on the existence Of peace in
the Island. bat they seem incapable OF
reaching any adjustment. and both have
thus far failed Of achieving any success
Sherchy one party shall possess ana con-
HNt NnS seAAao " tue eAeioAioa o. the
other,
what Cleveland said.
under the circumstances the agency 81
others. either by mediation or by inter
Ncntion. seems 60 Be the oaiy alternative
which must sooner or later be invoked
for the termination OF The strife. In the
last annual message Of my immediate pre-
decersor dsraaH the pending struggle. IL
waA said:
when the Inability Of spain to deal
successfully with the instruction has be-
come manifest. and IL h demonstrated
that her Sovereignty u extinct In Cuba,
for all purposes Of It's righttui existence,
and when = hopeless struggle for It's re-
establishment has deEcnerated into the
strife which means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice OF human life and
the utter destruction % the very subject
matter Of the conflict. a situation win
be presented In which our obligations 10
the sovereignty OF Spain will be superced-
I'd by higher obligations which We can
hardly hesitate to recognize and dis-
charge
Frem the Prevssas Message.
In my annual message 60 congress De-
censbcr last, speaking 10 this question,
aaid;
The near future viii demonstrate
whether the Indispensable condition OF q
righteous peace just alike 10 the CubAns
atstA GAsAAn ~ NNA - GQulAaDlC 10 AAA our
Interests 80 Intimately convolved In the
welfare Of Cuba. IL likely 10 be attained
" not further and other action by the
United States viii remain TO be sakens
When that time comes action will be de.
termsned In the line OF indlsputahle right
and duty: u will be faced without mis-
giving or hesitancy In the light OF the OBJ.
legation this government owes TO itself.
to the people who confided to Il the pro-
lection Of their interests and honor, and
to humanity; sure OF the right, keeping
free from all oftense ourselves. Actuated
ny upright and patriotic considerations.
moved neither by passion nor selflshness,
the government will continue its watch
tul caro over the rights and property Of
American cltiEens and will abate none Of
itE efforts to bring about, by peaceful
agencies, peace which shall be honor
able and enduring. II Il shall hereafter
appear 10 be a duty imposed by our OBJ
legations 10 ourselves. to civilization and
TO humanity. 10 intervene with force II
shall be without fault on our part and
only because the necessity for such &C.
ton will be 90 clear AZ 20 command the
support and approval Of the civilized
world"
TAe War Must step.
The long trial has proved that the OBJ
icct for which Spain has waged war can
not he attained. The ERE OF Instruction
may name or may shoulder with varying
seasons. but u has not been and Il IL
plain that Il can not BE- extlnEuiEhed by
present methods. The only hope OF re-
lief and repose from a condition which
can not longer be endured Is the enforced
paclncation OF Cuba.
In the name OF humanity. In the name
Of civilization. IN the behalf OF endan-
gered American Interests. which give us
the right and the duty to speak and to
act. the war In Cuba must stop,
In view OF these facts and these consid-
eratlons, I ask congress 10 authorize and
empower the president to take maaaurna