The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-04-16

Peace in Cuba Proposed by tnls
Government, and Says Foreible
Intervention of the United States
as Neutral is Nee essary.
President Mckinley sent his long an
nounced message to Congress on Monday
II was rather long and gave in detail the
efforts of this government toward stopping
the s:inhuman' war in Cuba. The Presl-
dent quoted largely from the messages OF
Presidents Jackson and Grant, as to recoS-
milton of states in insurrectlon, jackson
dealing with the question OF recognizing
Texas and Grant with Cuban affairs.
The message, in effect, declares tor
neutral Intervention in Cuba to stop the
war. and asks congress for power to use
the land and naval powers of the govern
ment to secure the pacification OF Cuba.
This intervention, says the President, IN
wolves '.hostile constraint upon both the
parties to the contest As Spain had
previously granted an armistice upon
its part, and the insurgents declining to
accept it. if the President : policy Is car
ried out the United States will have to
use it's forces to constrain the insurgents.
Following is the most important part OF
the message
FORCIBLE INTERVENTION.
The forcible intervention of the | mted
States as Il neutral to stop the war, ac-
cordino to the large dictates of humanity
and following many historical precedents
where neighboring States have intertered
to check the hopeless sacrifices OF life by
intenecine conflicts beyond their borders.
is Unsuitable an rational grounds. 1t IN
wolves however. hostile cOnstraint upon
both the parties to the contest, as well to
enforce truce as to guide the eventual
settlement.
The grounds for such intervention may
be briefly summarized as follows:
GROUNDS FOR ACTION.
First. In the cause Of humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed.
starvation and horrible miseries now exist
ING there. and which the parties to the
conflict are either unable or unwilling to
stop or mitigate. 1t is no answer to say
this is all in another country. belonging to
another nation, and is, therefore. none OF
our business 1t is specially our duty. t"r
it is right at our door.
Second We owe it to our citizens IN
Cuba to afford them that protection and
indemnity for life and property which no
Government there can or will afford. and
to that end to terminate the conditions
that deprive them of legal protection.
Third. The right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to the
commerce trade and business of our peo-
pie. and by the wanton destruction OF
property and devastation of the island.
Fourth-And which is of the utmost
importance The present condition ct al
fairs in Cuba is constant menace to our
peace and entails upon this Government
an enormous expense. With such CON
fict waged for years in an island 50 near us
and with which our people have such trade
and business relationS-when the lives and
liberty of our citizens are in constant dan
ger and their property destroyed and them
selves ruined-where our trading vessels
are liable to seizure and are seized at our
very door by warships Of foreign nation,
the expeditions of flibustering that we are
powerless altogether to prevent, and the
irritating questions and entanglements thus
arising-all these and others that | need
not mention. with the resulting strained
tn lIIT
peace and compel us to keep on Il semi
footing with nation with which we are at
peace.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE
These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been strikingiy
illustrated by a tragic event which has
deeply and justly moved the American
people have already transmitted to
Congress the report of the Naval Court of
Inquiry on the destruction of the battle
ship Maine in the harbor Of Havana during
the night of the 18th of February. The
destruction OF that noble vessel has filled
the national heart with inexpressibls hor
ror Two hundred and fifty eight brave
soldiers and marines and two officers of our
Navy, reposins in the fancied security of
friendly harbor, have been hurled to
death, grief and want brought to their
homes and sorrow to the nation.
The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it
is needless to say, commands the wnquali-
fed confidence of the Government. was
unanimous in its conclusion that the de
struction of the Maine was caused by an
exterior explosion, that of a submarine
mine. 1t did not assume to place the re-
sponsibility That remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine, by whatever exterior cause, is Il
patent and impressive proof of a state of
things in Cuba that is intolerable. That
condition is thus shown to be such that the
Spanish Government cannot assure safety
and security to a vessel of the American
Navy in the harbor of Havana on mission
of peace and rightfully there. =