Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-15

United States to intervene and pacify
the island. To commit this country
now to the recognition of any par
ticular government in Cuba might
subject us to embarrassing condit-
ions of international obligations to-
ward the organization so recognized.
In case of Intervention our conduct
would be subject to the approval OF
such government; we would be re-
quired to submit to its direction and
to assume to it the mere relation of
friendly ally. When it shall appear
hereafter that there is within the
island a government capable of per-
forming the duties and discharglng
the functions of separate nation,
and having, as a matter of fact, the
proper forms and attributes of ma
tionality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and
the relations and interests of the
United States with such nation adj
iusted. There remains the alterna-
tive forms of intervention to end the
war, either as an impartial neutral by
imposing a rational compromise be-
tween the contestants, or as the ac-
tive ally of the one party or tho
other"
This action, he believes, would be
on the grounds of humanity, duty to
ourselves and the Cubans, and the
removal of a menace to our own
peace. The President in abiding to
the destruction of the Maine says;
"The naval court of inquiry, which
lit is needless to say commands the
unqualified confidence of the govern
ment, was unanimous in its conclus-
ion that the destruction of the Maine
was caused by an exterior explosion,
that of a submarine 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 q
patent and impressive proof of a state
of things in Cuba that is intolerable.
That condition is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish government
cannot assure safety and security to a
vessel of the American navy in the
harbor of Havana on mission OF
peace and rightfully there"
He refers to this act as corobera-
tive of the picture he has drawn of
affairs in Cuba, which shows the in
ability of Spain to protect a neutral
vessel in the harbor of Havana.
The President then quotes General
Grant as saying that other nations
would evidently have to interfere
and stop bloodshed i'll Cuba, and
under present conditions, the Presi-
dent says, the agency of other out
side of Spanish and Cuban, either by
mediation Intervention seems to be
the only alternative which must,
sooner or later, be invoked for the
termination of the strife.
The President concludes his mess
age as follows:
In view of these facts and of those
considerations, | ask the Congress to
authorize and empower the Presi-
dent to take measures to secure a full
and final termination of hostilities
between the government of Spain
and the people of Cuba, and to secure
in the Island the establishment of a
stable government capable of main
tanning order and observing its IN
ternational obligations, insuring peace
and tranquility and the security of
its citizens as well as our own, and
to use the military and naval forces
of the United States as may be nee
essary for those purposes.
And in the interest of humanity
and to aid in preserving the lives of
the starving people of the island, |
recommend that the distribution of
food and supplies be continued, and
that an appropriation be made out of
the public treasury to supplement
the charity of our citizens.
The issue is now with Congress.
1t is a solemn responsibility. | have
exhausted every effort to relieve the
intolerable condition of affairs which
is at our doors. Prepared to execute
every obligation imposed upon me
by the Constitution and laws, await
your action.
Yesterday, and since the prepare
ton of the foregoing message official
information was received by me that
the latest decree ofthe Queen Regent
of Spain directs General Blanco, in
order to prepare and facilitate peace,
to proclaim a suspension OF hostlIltles
the duration and details OF which
have not yet been communicated to
me.
A. ..o-t.,,