The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18

ACaA0CAo II AA0OAC " BO 4tACH1ltCQ Vi 1lE
freedom of action, nor does it impose
upon states the obligations of preventing
either ordinary barbarity on the part of
its neighbors, or that special kind of in
humanity which takes the form of re-
igious prosecutions.
**
Lawrence says: "An intervention
to put stop to barbarous and abomin-
able cruelty is "a high act of policy above
and beyond the domain of law 1t is
destitute of technical legality, but it
may be morally right and even praise
worthy to a high degree"
Lawrence is careful TO lay down the
general rule with reference to all inter-
ventions that leach case must be judged
on its own merits" He is careful to ex-
plain that 'sthere is a great difference
between declaring national act to be
legal, and therefore part of the order
under which states have consented to
live, and allowing, it to be morally
blameless as an exception to the ordinary
rules
So
The question the United States is call
ed upon to decide forsitself is whether or
not it is justified in interfering in Span
ish Cuban affairs on the broad ground of
humanity. Fortunately we are not
without precedent created by three of
the principal European powers. The
case in point is that of the interference
of Great Britain, France and Russia on
behalf OF the Greeks in 1927 and the fol-
lowing years. 'sThe contest between
them and their Turkish oppTessors had
gone on for years" says Lawrence. land
had been marked throughout by the
most horrible barbarities. 1t seemed as
if it would end in the determination of
THE whole Greek race"
This description of the Grecian
Struggle for independence from the
turkish yoke needs only change of
words, 'Turkish" to Spanish" and
k'Greek race to ''Cuban people," faith
Kully and accurately to describe the
Cuban situation to day. The result of
the Intervention was the establishment
of the present kingdom of Greece. The
result Of the intervention by the United
States in Cuba will be the establishment
ofSthe Cuban Republic. The interven-
tioH<pf the powers named in behalf of
Greece<was based on three grounds:
First, in order to comply with the re-
quest of one of the parties.
Secondly, on the grounds of humanity
in order to stay the effusion of blood.
Thirdly; in order to put stop to
piracy and anarchy.
These grounds, like these on which the
United States will base its right to inter-
vene in Cuba, were technically illegal
under the rules of international law, yet
they were morally right. Speaking of
this event, Sir W. Harcourt, an English
writer of repute on international law, in
his celebrated historical letters, says:
ssThe emancipation of Greece was a
high act of policy above and beyond the
domain of law. AS an act of policy it
may have been and was justifable; but
it was not the less hostile act, which,
if she dared, Turkey might properly
have resented by war"
1t follows from this precedent that, SO
far as international law is concerned,
the Intervention of the United States on
behalf of the Cubans will be high act
of policy above and beyond the domain
of law. AS an act of policy it may be
and will be justifable; but will be not
the less hostile act, which, if she dare,
Spain may properly resent by war.
~
An effect of the Intervention of Great
49, q
the Greeks is that it estops them from OBJ