The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-04-14

+ exp slng ported and mysterious
or mes. No such difficulty, however,
4" Scures Its official and responsible
cause"
Culpably Negligent at Least.
The committee say that the explosion
| itse Of the Maine, was linked with a
series of precedent transactions, which
taunot III reason be disconnected
| tr III it.
With animus by Spain so plainly
| apparent that no one Can even plausibly
son for the conclusion to which the in
vestigating mind must come in consid.
ering the entire subject of the relations
of the United States with that govern.
ment. 1t is the opinion of your com.
mittee that the destruction of the Maine
was comprised either by the official act
of the Spanish authorities or was made
possible by negligence on their part
SO willing and gross as to be equivalent
in culpability to positive criminal &C.
tiol."
when property and life are de.
stroyed by an act which the exercise of
due diligence by the person whose duty
it is to use it could have prevented the
happening Ct such an event is sufficient
proof that that diligence was not en-
p.oyed."
"The time of the explosion" says the
report, "must have been calculated for
the moment when the Maine should
swing within the destructive radius of
the mine"
Concluding this portion of it's pres
entation the committee says: 1.-The
dupliclty, perfdy, and cruelty of the
Spanish character, as they always have
been, are demonstrated still to continue
by their manifestations during the
present war in Cuba. All these Cir
cumstances, considered cumulatively,
warrant the conclusion that the de-
struction of the Maine was compassed
either by the official act OF the Spanish
authorities (and the ascertainment of
the particular person is not materially
or was made possible by negligence
on their part, so willing and gross as
to be equivalent in culpability to posi-
tive criminal action"
In taking up the more general sub
jects the committee expresses the opin-
ion that the United States ought at
once to recognize the independence of
the people of Cuba and also ought to
intervene to the end that the war and
its unexampled atrocities shall cease
and that such independence shall be-
come settled political fact at the
earliest possible moment, by the estab-
lishment, by the free action of the peo-
pie Of Cuba, when such action can be
had, OF government independent in
fact and form.
The Slaughter of Non. Combatants.
The committee asserts that the gov
eminent of Spain has grown weaker
grown stronger and says the few rein
forcements now being sent to Cuba do
not supply a 1.-THE of Spain's losses
caused by battle and disease. Calling
attention to the policy of Spain the
committee says that over 100000 per-
sons have been killed as result of this
action and adds: ''There has been no
distinction OF sex or age in this pro-
tracted and torturing massacre. The
children Of this generation have been
starved to death and the immolation of
womanhood has destroyed the possibil-
ity OF posterity'' The opinion is ex-
pressed that it was the intention of the
contriver of this policy to depopulate
the island and repeople it with Span
iards.
Violated All Rules of Warfare.
1t is also asserted that the Spanish
government has violated the laws of
civilized warfare in the slaughter OF
prisoners and the massacre OF sick and
wounded The committee discusses at
some length the two propositions for
the recognition of the independence of
the Cubans and of intervention. They
say that because of the attitude of the
United States, this government has
placed itself in concurrence with the
acts of Spain ever since the beginning
of the war and that we have in spirit
of forbearance submitted to many
atrocities perpetrated by Spain upon
our own citizens, which, under recogni.
ton, could have had no warrant in
international law and would have af.
forded just ground of procedure by
this government. Hence it is claimed
that there has been no real neutrality
throughout the entire war, as Spain has
had free right to purchase in this coun-
try while the Cubans have not had
such rights.
Al to KntervontiOn.
On the subject Of Intervention the
committee says:
Classification for intervention is
strengthened in such cases as the pres
ent, where the oppression by state of
its subjects have been so inveterate,
atrocious and sanguinary as to require
intervention by other nations in the
interests Of humanity and the peace of
the world for the purpose of overthrow.
ing that government and establishing
or recognizing another in its place, as
the only means of extirpating an other.
wise incurable and dangerous evil
The autonomy scheme which was
promised, and which was alluded to by
President Mckinley in his last annual
message. is pronounced ''specious and
illusory."
HEADING STRAIGHT FOR WAR