The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-15

Illustrated by a tragic event which has
p peepie A 1 have have already transmitted to
congress the report OF the naval court
or inquiry on the destruction OF the bat
during the night OF the 18th of February
The destruction of that noble vessel has
filled the national heart with inexpressi.
brave sailors and marines and two or
ficers or our navy. reposing IN the
fancied security Of friendly harbor
want brought to their homes and sorrow
The naval court of inquiry. which 1t q
needless to say. commands she unqualt
fed confidence of the government, wm
unanimous in its conclusions that the de.
struction of the Maine was caused by ar
mine. 1t did not assume to place the res
sponsibility. That remains to be liked. M
In any event, the destruction or the
patent and impressive proof Of a state. 81
things in Cuba that Is intolerable. Th4
condition is thus shown to be sucn ina,
safety and security to vessel Of the
American navy in the barbor or aavano
on a mission OF peace and righuuily
there. k
Further referring in this connection. q
recent diplomatic correspondents, dis,
patch from our minister to SPAIN OF int
2sth Slmo the aa
assured him positively that ep2in WI
do all that the highest honor ana 3ustics
require in the matter Of the MAINE; tns
also contained an expression OF the read
mess of Spain to submit TO an aroitra.
ton all the differences which can ARISE
planned by the note of the Spanish min
lister at Washington OF the 10TH instant
as follows:
springs from the diversity Of views be:
tween the report Of the American ano
Spanish boards. Spain proposes nat the
vestigation by exports whose deoisior
Spain accepts in advance"
To this have made no reply: ~
the phases Of the contest al. it then APP.
indefinite prolongat!cn. said:
other n sass svsn Si 10
the responsibility which devolves upon
them, and to seriously consider the only
and Intervention. owing. perhaps. to the
large expanse Of water separating the -
land from the peninsula the contendine
parties appea: to have within , tnemseives
suggest wisdom when passion and excite
ment have their sway, and to assume the
carrier Of N s the
fees Of the United States as q mediator
were rendered in good faith. without any
selfish purpose, In the interest OF human,
parties, but were at the time declined by
Spain with the declaration nevertheless
that at a future time they would be tn.
dispensable. No intimation has been yel
ceived that in the opinion of Spain that
time has been reached. And yet the strife
continues with all its dread horrors, and
ed States and Of other nations. Nacf
party seems quite capable Of wording
great injury and damage to the other, as
well as to all the relations and interests
nvi ~ N ha
island; but they sem incapable Of reach
ing any adjustment. and both have thu.
far failed OF achieving any success where:
the island to the exclusion Of the other
Under tho circumstances, the agency OF
others, either by mediation or by inter
which must, sooner or later. be invoked
for the termination OF the strife"
In the last annual message, of my I'm.
mediate predecessor during the pending
when the inability Of Spain to deal sucE
cessfully with tie insurgents has be:
THAI her sovereignty is extinct in Cubs
for all purposes, of Its rightful existence,
and when a hopeless. struggle for its re-
strife which means nothing more than thu
useless sacrifice OF human life and the
utter. destruction Of the very subject mat
scented in which our obligations to the
sovereignty Of Spain will be superseded
by higher obligations, which we can
hardly hSId hesitate to recognize and dis
In my annual message to congress, De
cember last. speaking to this question
THE near future will demonstrate
whether the indispensable conditions Of
a righteous peace, Just alike r. the Gu,
and to as well as
ed .d in the vel IRE Of Cuba, is likely to be
S1S r 9nsf a &c Ss ta BY the ted
the line Of indisputable right and duty
a w be be Ss Yth Of the or
government owes to itself. to the people
who have confined to 1t the protection Of
| their interests and honor, and to humans
"Sure of the right, keeping free from all
offense ourselves, actuated only by up.
right and patriotic considerations moved
neither by passion or selfishness. the gov
eminent will continue its watchful Care
over the rights and property OF American
citizens and will abate none OF its efforts
to bring about by peaceful agencies q
peace which shall be honorable and en-
during. II Il shall hereafter appear to be
a duty imposed by our obligations to our
selves, to civilization and humanity to in
tervene with force, II 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 OBJ
ject for which Spain has waged war cam
not be attained. The fire Of insurrection
may flame or may shoulder with varying
seasons, but 1t has not been and It is
plain that It cannot be extinguished by
present methods. The only hope OF relief
and rspose from condition which can
no longer be endured is the enforced pa
cification Of Cuba. In the name Of hu-
mainly, in the name of civilization, in be-
half 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 or these facts and OF these
considerations I ask the congress to au-
thorjze and empower the president to
take measures to secure full and flna1
termination of hostilites between the
government Of Spain and the people OF
Cuba and to secure in the island The es-
| Enlistment of stable government ca
| pable of maintaining order and observ-
| Ing tts international obligations, ensur-
| ing peace and tranquility and the secur-
ity or its citizens as well as our own and
| TO use the military and naval forces OF
the United States as may be necessary
Tor these purposes.
And in the interest Of humanity ana to
ala in preserving the lives of the starv-