The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-14

Indemnity for life and property which n.
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 prop
erty and devastation of the island.
Fourth (and which is of the utmost I'M
portancel The present condition OF aHaifS
in Cuba is constant menace TO our peace
and entails upon this government an enor,
nous expense. With such a conflict waged
for years on an island so near us ana Win
which our people have such trade ana
business relationS--when the lives ana NO
erty of our citizens are in constant danger
and their property destroyed ana tnem-
selves ruined; where our trading vessels
are liable to seizure and are seized at oui
very door by warships of a foreign nation,
the expeditions of filbustering that we are
powerless altogether to prevent, ana tne
irritating questions and entanglements
thus arising-all these and others that 1
need not mention. with the resultlng
strained relations, are constant menace
to our peace and compel us to keep on a
semiwar footing with nation with which
we are at peace.
The Destruction of the Maine.
In reference to the destruction of the
United States battleship Maine in Ha-
vana harbor he says:
These elements of danger and disorder
already pointed out have been strikingly
/
deeply and justly moved the American
people. | have already transmitted to con-
gress the report Of the naval court OF in
quiry on the destructiVl Of the battieship
Maine in the harbor of Havana during the
night Of the 18th of February.
The destruction of that noble vessel has
nlied the national heart with inexpressible
horror. Two hundred and fifty-eight brave
sailors and marines and two officers OF our
navy, reposing 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 unqualified
confidence of the government, was unani-
nous In the conclusion that the destruction
OF the Maine was caused by an external
explosion-that of a submarine mine. 1t
did not assume to place the responsibility.
That remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine, by whatever cause, is patent and
impressive proof of such state of things
in Cuba that is intolerable.
That condition is thus shown to be such
that the Spanish government cannot as
sure safety and security to a vessel OF the
American navy in the harbor of Havana
on mission of peace and rightfully there
All Left to Congress.
In conclusion the president says:
The long trial has proved that the OBJ
iects for which Spain has waged the war
cannot be attained. The fire of insurrec-
ton may flame or may smolder with va
rying seasons, but it has not been and 1t is
plain that ii cannot be extinguiShed by
present methods The only hope of relief
and repose from condition which can no
longer be endured is the enforced pacifica-
tion of Cuba In the name of humanity,
in the name of civilization, in behalf of en-
dangered American interests which give
us the right and duty to speak and to act,
the war in Cuba must stop.
In view of these facts and of these con-
siderations l ask congress to authorize and
empower the president to take measures to
secure full and final termination OF hos
tlities between the government of Spain
and the people of Cuba, and to secure in
the island the establishment of a stable
government capable of maintaining order
and observing its international obligations,
insuring peace and tranquility and the Sc
eurity of it's citizens as well as our own,
and to use the military and naval forces
of the United States as may be necessary
for these purposes.
And in the interest of humanity and to
aid in preserving the lives of the starving
people of the island l recommend that the
distribution of food and supplies be con-
tinued and that an appropriation be made
out of the public treasury to supplement
the charity of our citizens.
The issue is now with congress. 1t Is a
solemn responsibility | have exhausted
every effort to relieve the intoerable con-
dition of war which is at our doors
Prepared to execute every obligation upon
me by the constitution and the law, again
ask your action.
message official information was received
by me that the latest decree of the queen
regent of Spain directs General Blanco in
order to prepare for and facilitate peace, to
proclaim a suspension of hostlities. the
duration and details of which have not yet
been communicated TO me- This fact, with
every other pertinent consideration. will.
am sure, have your just and careful atten-
ton in the solemn deliberations upon
which you are about to enter. If this
measure attains result then our aspira-
tions as a Christian. peace loving people
will be realized. If 1T fails, 1t will be only
another justification for our contemplated
action.