The San Francisco call., 1898-02-18
THE SHIP AND THE NATION.


 open, they cannot refuse recognize this as more than possibility. The theory of accident has fewer followers than at first That the most rigid examna- ton must be made and every fact brought to light IS
 proposition concerning which there can be only one opinion Meantime final judgment will be held in abeyance
 If the battleship was wrecked through an accident purely the importance of establishing this cannot be overestimated It will demonstrate that there IS something woully faulty in naval methods that yes sels go laden with material for their own destruction and that squadron full panoplied for battle would have more to fear from itself than from any toe But only on the establishing beyond shadow of oouot that the disaster was caused by explosion inside the vessel of munitions properly there suspicion be averted from Spain.
 There are many reasons for distrusting that coun- try Spanish hostility of late has taken the form ot generations shouted in the streets of Madrid against all Americans. The of De Lome long known yet unrebuked the tagging of the expected note of regret due for his slanderous letter recalled now with new significance The press ot Spain has been clanorng for chance to try our mettle and really to entertain the absurd idea that to whip the United States would be an easy and profitable task It is true that to blow up ship at anchor the ship belonging to an officially friendly nation, would be 
 that it would not be markedly contrary than the conduct of Spain since she undertook the futile scheme of subduing Cuba There men, women and children have been butchered starved. The wounded have been bayoneted in their beds, and nurses fleeing from the burning hospitals have found the red cross no protection. Moans coming from the dungeon of torture have stirred the heart ot the world Such are the generazatlons.
 To be more specific, Captain Sgsbee knew he was in danger On the arrival of the Maine at Havana there was rage among the royalsts. They chose to regard the presence of the ship little short of vasion, and that they looked upon 1t as an afront there was Yet 1t had perfect right to be there the ship of any other nation. The harbor was known to be studded with torpedoes. These were of course under control of the Spanish. Not only did the charts of the War Department show the location of each one but the appliance designed to lease the fatal mechanism must have been familiar to but trusted few It does not appear that there was any excuse for sending the Maine to anchor in fanced security above of these internal machines and for any catastrophe growing out of the crcum- of such anchorage Spain be held directly responsible If enthusiast fired by mistaken | zeal has done this awful thing he drew his inspiration from Spanish sentiment, and, despite official dis avowa, to Spanish sentiment he will look, and not
 
 with tragedy long series of abuses.
 There international questions which may be subject arbitration; the fixing of boundary the seizure of poacher, the award of damages. In this catastrophe there is nothing which honor can submit to the adjudication of any tribunal Either Spain is the victim of untoward circumstances which may be explained away she has so grossly violated every principle of comy, outraged neutral people, so l wantonly added murder to her long list of crimes, to make the demand for war imperative There is middle course Either the hypothesis of accident must be accepted that of deliberate and appalling assassination If the latter prove correct no apology could do more than emphasize the enormity of the offense, and offer of indemnity would be unpardonabe insult following an injury past all forgiving.
 If unjust suspicion falls now upon Spain the fault is her own. fading monarchy rotten to the core living the traditions of glory half forgotten the memory of strength which once set afoat the | Armada, she has watched with bitterness and envy her possessions falling off and peoples sprnging to greatness in lands where she once held sway For treachery and for brutality Spain has become by word with all the world. The very fact that in the present instance she is charged even by insinuation with this unspeakable deed shows her standing The sinking Of the Maine may the sinking of a | throne and the bones of that gallant craft may bleach in a harbor belonging to free Cuba.
 Recollection harks back to other days when Span sh cruelty placing bloody stains the pages of history. No Apache indulged in atrocities more horrible than common in the long war with Cuba. It during this in 1873 that the affair of the Virginus occurred That fendish outbreak of savagery is still unpunished The Virgnius was cap tured while flbustering expedition but it was flying the American flag and was for the most part manned by Americans, many of whom did not know the object of the trip large proportion of them being under 20 years of age. When taken there was nothing inor1minatng on board not arms. Yet the prisoners carried to Santiago de Cuba and four Cubans among them shot without trial The next day the rest given mockery of trial and twentyour hours later Captain Fry and thirty six of his men shot After the marines had fired one volley they rushed upon the writhng victims blowing out their brans rioting in butchery Alter this the