The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-14

tons on the Cuban situation was made
by Senator Davis, chairman of that
committee, and was a very thorough
review of the entire situation. and a
strong presentation OF the facts which
has led the committee TO its conclu-
sions. The report takes up the Maine
disaster as the leading topic for con-
sideration, and plunges into that ques-
ton in its first sentence, which is as
follows:
THE MAINE.
THE destruction of the battleship
Maine, of-two of her officers and of 264
of ner crew in the harbor of Havana,
on the night of Feb Is, 1898, excited
to an unprecedented degree the COM
passion and resentment of the Ameri-
can people"
Continuing, the report says: Man
ifestations of that resentment were sus-
pended, although the feeling was not
allayed By the self-restraint of our
people, who determined to hold their
judgment in suspension concerning
their ultimate action until an official
court should disclose the cause of that
great disaster. and enable them, by di-
rect or circumstantial testimony to
impute the responsibility therefor.
That investigation has been made
1t was conducted with judicial thor
oughness and elaboration. The diff
Guilty of demonstrating by conclusive
proof the efficient personal cause of
that sinister event was the usual one II
exposing plOtter and mysterious GRIN "A
Il
its official and responsible cause"
The committee says that the explo-
sion itself was linked with series
of precedent transactions which cannot
in reason be disconnected from it.
ANIMUs OF SPAIN.
with animus by Spain, so plainly ap-
parent that no one can even plausibly
deny its existence. is merely one rea-
son for the conclusion to which the in
Vestigating mind must come in cOnsid-
ering the entire subject of the rela-
lions of the United States with that
government. 1t is the opinion of your
C9mmittee that the destruction of the
MSine was cCmpassed either by the
off cial act of the Spanish authorities or
made possible by a negligence on their
part, so willing and gross, as to be
equivalent in culpability TO positive
criminal action.
When property and life are destroy
ed by an act which the exercise OF dill
gence by the person whose duty it is
TO use it could have prevented the hap
pening of such an event, is sufficient
proof that the diligence was not en-
ployed.
s-The time Of the explosion itself"
says the report, must have been cal
culated, for the moment when the
Maine should swing within the destruc-
tive radius of the mine"
CRUELTY OF CHARACTER
Concluding this portion of its presen-
tation, the committee says:
The Guplicity, perfidy and cruelty of
the Spanish character, as they always
have been, are demonstrated still to
continue by their manifestations during
the present war in Cuba All these cir
cumstances, considered cumulatively
warrant the conclusion that the de-
struction OF the Maine was compassed
either by the official act of the Span
ish authorities (and the ascertainment
of the particular persons is not ma
teriaD, or was made possible by a neg
ligence on their part, so willing and
gross, as to be equivalent in culpabil-
ity to positive criminal action
INDEPENDENCE.
In taking up the more general sub
.cts the committee expresses the Opin-
ion that the United States ought at
once to recognize the independence OF
the people OF Cuba and also ought to
intervene to the end that war and its
uneXampled atrocities shall cease and
that such independence shall become a
settled political fact at the earliest
possible moment. by the establishment
by the free action of the people of Cuba
when such action can be had of a gov
eminent independent in fact and form
The committee asserts that the cause
OF Spain has continually grown weaker.
while the cause of the insurgents had
grown stronger and says that the few
reinfoTcsmeats now being sent to Cuba
do Tot supply 4 1.-THE of SPANS losses
caused 10y battle and disease. The
western portion of the island is spoken
of IS = desolation created by Spain in
which portion of the island alone she
exercises a sovereignty.
Calling attention TO the policy OF
Spain. the committee says that over
100000 persons have been killed as a
result of this action and adds
PROTRACTED MASSACRE.
seX or age in this protracted and tor
turing massacre. The children u the
reconcentrado have been starved 10
death and the immolatiou Of woman
hood has destroyed the possibility of |
posterity.
The opinion is expressed that it was
the intention of the contriver of this /
policy TO depopuiate the island and
repeople ii with Spaniards.
1t is also asserted that the Spanish !
government has violated the laws Of 4
civilized warfare in the slaughter Of
the prisoners and the massacre of sick !
and wounded.
The committee discusses at some /
length the two propositions for the |
recognition of the independence of Gu I
bans and of Intervention.
ATTITUDE OF AMERICA.
They say that because, of the attitude /
of the United States this government
has placed itself in concurrence with
the acts Of Spain ever since the begin /
ming OF the war and that we have in |
spirit of forbearance submitted to many
barbarities perpetrated by Spain upon /
our own citizens which under recosni- /
ton would have had no warrant il in I
ternational law and would have af- /
forded just ground Of procedure by this I
government. Hence it is claimed that /
there has been no real neutrality 4
throughout The entire war. as Spain /
has had free rights of purchase in this /
country while the Cubans have hot |
had such rights.
OUR EXPENSE. /
The committee places the cost of our