The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-05
Aiacchnx, FahlCs.
Real Significance
Of The Maine HffdiP

CD HERE are those who think that the
Maine disaster ought to be settled
with, on it's own merits, first, and
the question of Cuban liberty af-
forwards. These reasoners have,
therefore. reduced the Maine affair to a
question of money indemnity to be de-
mandcd of Spain. 1t is justly charged
that the Americans are a commercial pa-
tion, and are quite in the hanit of casting
up pretty much everything into dollars
and cents. And yet this predisposition 10
monetary valuations does not entirely ac-
count for the popularity OF the money in
demnity idea. 1t is probably. for the
most part the cloak for that peace SEN
timent that wealth and vested interests
not less than philanthropy and Christian
furbearance naturally ensendcr. III true
patriotism the Americans are not lacking,
and all alike, rich and poor, those who
may have to fight and those who may
reasonably hope to stay at home, PROB
ably desire their country's honor to he
maintained. But on the question of
whether that honor has been imperilled
and what steps the laws of nations and
of eternal Justice impel us to take TO
maintain it unsullied, Americans differ
widely.
Ours mas not been a bellicose nation.
War, IL is true, gave birth to our ma
ticnal entity, war followed an insult to
and yeak, war took us to the semi
tropics to defend the rights of our south
ern outposts, and war bloody past the
former comprehension of man occupied
the generation, many of whose heroes we
have with us stil, when the question of
human slavery was forever settled. Bor-
der warfare. too, has until recent years
tried the temper of our brave sons, from
the earliest times. But war. as it is un-
derstood on the ChCssboard of European
politics, we have carefully refrained
from; nor have our diplomats much less
our people, been constantly engaged in
| this or that Formulation of nicely bal
anced adjustments between nations, any
| disarrangement of which would naturally
| lead to war. Hence it is that our people
| are not familiar with the application of
| those principles of international right and
wrong that dictate the casus belli; and
while the sense of shame mantles to the
| brow of every American as he reads of
| the dastardly deed rerpetrated ON those
| wearing his country's uniform. he IS at
a loss to pronounce with confidence on
| his own right to feel the martial fire. and
| seek blood atonement for the shedding
| of the innocent blood OF his country's
| brave defenders.
| Should the court of inquiry find indis-
putable evidence of the connivance of
| high Spanish officials in the blowing up
| of the Maire, it will be plain to every
| mind that the United States need not dc.
| clare war; for war will already have been
| declared by the act of Spain. Prompt
disavowal, coupled with equally prompt
| and condign punishment Of the guilty,
| might indeed change the situation
somewhat. And yet the right of the
| United States to proceed to any military
| measures we might deem eXpedient would
| not be questioned. The cause for war
| w ct reDnnin if VI chose n regard
it so, no matter how abject Spain's apol-
ogy or how ample her promises of retri-
| button against offenders and indemnity
to those injured.
But we will assume that only one of the
rumors in regard to the cause of the dis
aster which have gained wide circula-
ton was true. That rumor is to the eff
| feet that certain Spaniards, their rank
| not even guessed at, hired certain des-
peradoes to proceed from disused
wharf, night after night, in diving suits,
to the vicinity of the Maine, and con-
struct a mine which at the appointed
time was touched off by an electric BAT
terry operated from the unused wharf.
We will assume that these Spaniards
were not men of authority and that their
acts were entirely unknown to the Span
ish rulers, military and civil. "It is the
case of the Italians mobbed at New Or
peace al any cost, But it is not that case.
1t is far from that case. II differs from
that case in those very respects that are
vital to a nations dignity.
| O.
| The Italians had gone to Louisiana to
settle. and presumably to do as so many
of their fellow countrymen have done
i'm the north, establish homes for them
selves, and become citizens of the repub-
lie. But their habits. or the wages they
| were willing to accept, or q msconceptiOn
of their customs and pursuits, made them
obnoxious to their neighbors, much as
negroes have been obnoxious to whites
in the SOUTH and as Poles and Hunga-
rians have been offensive to the people OF
| Pennsylvania. There was no feeling
against the kingdom of Italy, and Ital,
ian majesty and dignity We're not thought
of when the mob arose and murdered
, neighbors who had become obnoxious per-
, sonally. The Maine anchored in Havana
harbor I'm pursuit of a peaceful mission
1t represented while there the power and
dignity and honor of the American peo'
, pie. She lay where an authority which
policed the harbor and assumed to guar
antee her peace had placed her. To every
: Spaniard, whether officer, soldier, ol
: civilian, that vessel represented the
. United states. To endanger the lives ol
those whom the United States had SEN
there in her commission was TO imperi
; the peace of nations, and every prece