Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21
Washington to make q statement before
The proper authorities.


NV W FSS ID -lhc ooi
vivors OF TIE battle ship who are at the
barracks and Marine Hospital are dong
nicely today.
The torpedo boat Ericsson sailed this
morning for the Tortugas with mail for
the warships there. Admiral Sicard is ne
sotiating with the Merritt Wrecking Com
pany for the services of the tug Right Arm,
which arrived here yesterday to tow
leaking vessel north
The Maine court of inquiry will probably
be at Havana che week.
QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.
EN-Sccretnry Robert r. Lincoln Dis
cussc. the Maine Disaster.
CHICAGO. February 21.-The question of
responsibility which might attach to the
government OF Spain in case the Maine ex-
pIosion was due to mine in the harbor
of Havana. and was the work OF fanatic,
or an accident. has become a subject Of
discussion among lawyers. International
Law is "a matter LARGELY of precedent. and
mine explosion in fortified harbor in time
OF peace has no precedent. All unite in
saying thar if such event was by design
IL would be the cause for war.
Robert T Lincoln, Secretary of War I'M
der Presidents Garfield and Arthur and
former minister to England. is positive that
in case IF accident. or if the mine was ex-
piodad by a Spanish fanatic, Spain would
not i,s b-irdered with any legal responsible
ity Mir. Lincoln said: In neither case
would the slightest liability attach to Spain
Assuming mine exploded by fanatic or
b.. accident that would be the end Of the
affair Giving international law the widest
latitude and stretching presidents to their
limit, there would be TO liability against
the gny-rnrne mt of Spain.
LAW In the Case.
TT is an elementary principle Of inter-
rational law that government Is In no
way responsible for the acts of private
citizens. II il were not so, complications
would be arising continually which would
keep nations in a turmoil and arbitrating
continually.
1T is another primary principle that no
ration Is responsible for accidents.
AS TO the right of nation to fortffy
its harbor rs il sees tit. there cannot be
the slightest doubt. This right is a con-
ceded and is exercised by all nations.
Whenever Il vessel, therefore. enters the
harbor of IL foreign power. it is with no
tice of such defenseS and with an aSSump-
ton of the chances they involve. 1t would
not do to say that one nation Is bound
To give the ship of another NATION infor-
nation as to where and how its harbor
defenses ara arranged. and the result of
such rule would be obvious. In entering
the harbor of Havana the Maine did
with full knowledge that it was forti-
fled harbor and took all the chances Of
accident the acts which might be done
by those for whom Spain is not response
BILE
Sermons on Patriotism.
Patriotism in some way the theme
of many sermons delivered Sunday in Chi
cago pulpits, and in several instances pa
triotic societies swelled the congregations
with their presence. George Washington
the Cuban war and the attitude and duty
of thu United States government therein
and the disaster TO the battle ship Maine
supplied the topics on which lessons of the
highest patriotism were built, and intense
interest in the themes was noticeable in
each congregation.
DR. p. S. Henson at the First Baptist
Church spoke of The Women of Peace and
tine Men of War" Rev. J. Q. A. Henry of
the Lasalle Avenue Baptist Church touched
at the Stewart Avenue Universalist Church
spoke on the De LONE letter, the Maine dis
ester and the Cuban war.
Rev. VIM. E. Danforth at Washington
Park Congregational Church spoke on
George Washington and War Clouds"
Dr. John II. Boyd of the First Presbyterian
Church of Evanston addressed his congre-
cation OH the subject, What Christ
Thought and Said About Disasters Like
That of the Maine" Rev. ]. l. Garfield at
St. Pauis took for his theme George
Washington. Large delegations Of the So
cieties Of Sons of the Revolution, Sons of
the Revolution were present. Rev. w. NJ.
Burch of the South Park Avenue n. E.
Church spoke on George Washington