The San Francisco call., 1898-04-12

Intolerable Conditions tf the large expanse z: Exist, Yet Spain the the pc peninsula, the the contending parties Pr oloses Arbitration appear to have | no depository of common confidence to suggest wisdom when passion and excitement have their sway, and thus assume the part of peace | maker. In this view, in the earlier days or the contest, the good offices of the | onted states as mediator were rendered Tn good faith, without any selfish purpose | III the interest of humanity and in sincere friendship for both parties. but were at the time declined by Spain with the declarauon, nevertheless, that at a future | tune they would be indispensable. No in- | tlmatfon has been received that in the opinion of Spain that time has been reached And yet the strife continues Jur1es to the United States and of other nations Each party seems quite capable or working great injury and damage to the other, as well to all the relations and interests dependent on the existence or peace in the island; but they seem in- capable of reaching any adjustment and any success whereby one hardly shall possess and control the island to the ex- clusion of the other. Under the circum- stances the agency of others, either by mediation or by intervention, seems to be the only alternative which must. sooner or later, be invoked for the ter.
 
 In the last annual message oI my i'm, mediate predecessor, during the pending struggle, rug gle, it it. was s, said said; x . successfully with the insurgents has be- come manifest, and it is demonstrated that t, her sovereignty ef is in Cuba is extinct and when hopeless struggle for it's re. establishment has degenerated into the strife which means nothing more than the useless sacrifice of human life and the utter destruction of the very subject matter Of the conflict situation will ba presented in which our obligations to tha l sovereignty of Spain will be superseded | by higher obligations which we can hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
 In my annual message to Congress, December last, speaking to this question. strate whether the indispensable condi- | t1on of a righteous peace, just alike to the Cubans and Spain, as well as equita- ble to our interests. so intimately in- volved in the welfare of Cuba, is likely to be attained. If not, the exigency of fur ther and ,,9 other action by the United that time comes that action will be de- termined in the line of indisputable right giving or hesitancy in the light of the obligation this Government owes to 1t. self; to the people who have confided to 1 it the protection of their interests and honor, and to humanity.
 Sure of the right, keeping free from all offense ourselves, actuated by up right and patriotic considerations, moved neither by passion nor selfishness, tho Government will continue it's watchful American citizens and m will will abatee bee none G of its efforts to bring about by peaceful | agencies peace which shall be honora- ble and enduring. If it shall hereafter appear to be a duty imposed by our obli- gations to our
 sis5neS tion and s9 fS'l5a to ha Spain Is Helpless, ! manity and to in
 tervene with force. America | 1t shall be with
 | out fault our Mre+ No,, Jn4o-r.n. l part and only be- muoS A'o" Antoi' 'oho' 1 cause the neces-
 sity for such action will be so clear as to | 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 smolder with varying seasons, but it has not been and it is plain that 1t cannot be extinguished by present methods. The only hope of relief and repose from condition which can- not longer be endured is the enforced pacifcation of Cuba. In the name of humanity, in the name of civiliza- tion, in behalf of endangered Ameri- can 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 these considerations ask the Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full ter imitation of hostilities between tho Government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a stable govern ment capable of maintaining order and observing its international obli- gations, insuring peace and tranquil lity and the security of it's citizens as we'll as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes.
 And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of the starv- ing people of the island, I recommend that the distribution of food and supplies be continued and that appropriation be made out of the public treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens.
 The issue is now with Congress. It is solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve tho intolerable condition of affairs which is at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon me by the constitution and the law I await your action.
 Yesterday and since the preparation of the foregoing message, official informa- tion was received by me that the latest decree of the Queen Regent of Spain directs General Blanco, in order to pre- pare and facilitate peace, to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, the duration and details of which have not yet been com municated to me.
 This fact. with every other pertinent consideration, will, I am sure have your | just and careful attention in the solemn deliberations upon which you are about | to enter. If this measure attains a suc- cessful result, then our aspirations as a Christian, peace-loving people will be realized. If it fails. it will be only an- other justification for our contemplated action. WILLIAM MCKINLEY
 Executive Mansion, April H.
 Cuba. now denounced with such phari-