The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-09
Our Legal Right TO
Intervene in Cuba
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.

From the Chicago Inter-Occan.
n INTERNATIONAL law is not. and
II never can be, codified. A code enum-
III crates and defines the rights of per-
III sons and of things, and preScribeS
remedies for injuries inflicted by in
fringement upon those rights. and or
dains punishment for those who disobey
its commands. The best code is impcr-
feet. The wit Of man never has been able
to enumeratc all the rights inherent and
all wrongs possible to mankind at large
Hence the common law courts and courts
of equity forever are making new appli-
cations of an old principle. For the prin-
Ciple of all law is substantial justice. In
tCrnational law, even more than domestic
law continually is called upon TO APP
ply it's fundamental principle to new
cases. 1t is guided reverently by prece-
dent where precedent exists; where preCe-
dent does not exist it acts with regard
to the equities. 1t is alike true of domcs-
tic and of international law that the gen.
eral welfare is its supreme rule OF action.
Upon this principle the United States is
justified in the act of Intervention on be-
half of Cuba. The peaceful DEVELOPMENT
of the civilized world requires the sub
stitution of a free and independent gov
ornment In Cuba for the stupidity tyrannic
despottsm of Spain.
But we are not without precedent
Russia, Prussia and Austria believing.
wisely OF unwisely, truly or untruly. in
lU2 that the perpCtuatiOn of an inde-
pendent and often turbulent monarchy in
Poland threatened the peace OF Europe,
dismembered that ancient kingdom. The
belief may have been pretentious, the ac-
ton may have been unjust. but the plea
OF Intervention for the public welfare en-
dures, ana is precedent that must
cstop each and all of those intervening
powers from protest against United
states Intervention in Cuba. Between l772
and 1893 there have been instances too
numerous for reCapitulatiOn of armed in
tervention, often accompanied by armed
disintegratiOn, in the affairs of one ma
tion by the government of another, but
there are instances pertinent to ourselves.
During our own war Of independence
France tnterfcred against Great Britain,
During tho Franco Austrian occupation
of Mexico in the interest of Macmillan
We threatened to interfere, and so maSsed
our troops as 10 have all the effect of ac-
tral interference. Since then we have
seen the great powers of Europe inter-
vene between Turkey and Greece, Turkey
and Egypt, and Turkey and Crete 1t is
useless TO multiply precedents that can
be multiplied indefinitely.
Lord PalmerstOn. who lived i'm very
stormy times, and who guided Britain to
Il harbor of vantage through all of them
laid it down as rule of action that when
civil war exists foreign power may deal
with the conflicting forces as though they
were separate nations, and may take sides
with the one or the other, according to
the sympathi2S or interests of its own
people. PalmerstOns rule never has been
called seriously into question. It rests
| well on reason and on justice. War be-
tween the Cubans and Spain exists-none
Is SO insane as to deny this, The war
disturhs the commerce of the world, and
specially that of the United States. our
trade is diminished by at least 800 900, 600
a year. Our citizens have been molested
our COnsuls have been harassed, and one
of our warships has been destroyed and
nearly 800 American seamen have been
killed. Murder. rapire, plague, pestience
and famine hold high carnival in Cuba.
and Cuba almost is in sight of our coast
| To interfere for a restoration of law and
| order, based on a free government. will
be in accordance with precedent and in
| teTnational law.