Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-04-14
CLEVElAND'S VIEWS.
The President Quotes From One of His
Predecessors Message.


Predecessors Message.
In the last annual message of my i'm
mediate predecessor, during the pend
ing struggle. it was said:
When the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has
become manifest and it is demonstra-
ted that her sovereignty is extinct in
Cuba for all purposes OF it's rightful ex-
istence, and when hopeless struggle
for its re-establishment has degener-
ated into strife which means nothing
more than the useless sacrifice Of hu-
man life and utter destruction Of the
very subject matter of the conflict q
situation will be presented in which
our obligations to the sovereignty OF
Spain will be superseded by higher OBJ
legations which we can hardly hesi-
tate to recognize and discharge"
In my annual message to congress,
December last, speaking to this Ques-
ton, said: THE near future will dem
onstrate whether the Indispensable
condition of righteous peace, Just
alike to the Cubans and Spain. as well
as equitable to all our interests, 30 init
mately involved in the welfare of Cuba
is likely to be attained. If not, the ex-
igency of further and other action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes that ac-
tion will be determined in the line of
fndisputable right and duty. It will be
faced without misgivng or hesitancy in
the light of the obligation this govern
ment owes to itself, to the people who
have confided to it the protection of
their interests and honor, and to hu-
manity.
Sure of the right, keeping from all
offenses ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion or selfish
ness, the government will continue it's
watchful care over the rights and prop
erty of American citizens and will
abate none of it's efforts to bring about
by peaceful agencies a peace which
s3ll be honorable and enduring. If it
shall hereafter appear ito be duty i'm
posed by our obligations to ourselves.
to civilization and humanity to inter-
vene with force, it shall be without
fault on our part and only because the
necessity for such action will be so
clear as to command the support and
approval OF the civilized world"
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire of
insurrection may flame or may smoul-
der with varying seasons. but 1T has
not been, and 1t is plain that it cannot
be extinguished by present methods.
The only hope Of relief and repose from
condition which can no longer be en-
dured is the enforced pacihcation OF
Cuba. In the name of humanity, in
the name of civilization, in behalf OF
endangered 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 of these
considerations, ! ask the congress to
authorize and empower the president to
take measures to secure a full and
final termination of hostilities between
the government Of Spain and the peo-
pie of Cuba, and to secure in the island
the establishment of a stable govern
ment capable of maintaining order
and observing it's international obli-
cations, insuring peace and tranquility
and the security of it's citizens as well
as our own, and to use the military
and naval forces of the United States
as may be necessary for these pur-
poses.
And in the interest Of humanity ana
to aid in preserving the lives of the
people of the island l recon-
mend that the distribution of food and
supplies be continued and that an ap-
be made out of the public
treasury to supplement the charity of
our citizens.
The issue is now with the congress.
It is a solemn responsibility. / have ex-
lausted every effort to relieve the in
.olerable condition of affairs which is
1t our doors. Prepared to execute
svery obligation imposed upon me by
he constitution and the law, I await
sour action.