The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-30
SENATOR RAwLINS' REsoLU-
TION.

Senator Rswlins, resolution recognize
ing the independence of the republic of
Cuba and declaring war against Spain,
is the most important resolution yet
introduced in congress on the Cuban
| question: it is direct and to the point,
and leaves no room for doubt as to
its purpose. 1t was promptly referred
to the foreign relations committee
what its fate there win be no one can
say. The report CT the board of inquiry
into the cause of the destruction of the
| Maine was referred to the same COM
| mittee Monday, and that will probably
be reported on before Senator Raw
Inns is.
Senator Rawlins' resolution is in line
with the course indicated by two pres
idents as proper for this government to
pursue towards Spain and Cuba, though
not as to a declaration OF war, for then
no casus belli had arisen. In his last
annual message to congress, in Decem-
Der, 1896. President Cleveland said:
It should be added that 1t cannot be
reasonably assumed that the hitherto
eXpectant attitude of the United States
will be indefinitely maintained. While
we are anxious to accord all due re-
spect to the sovereignty of Spain, we
cannot view the pending conflict in all
its features, and properly apprehend
cur inevitably close relations to it, and
It's possible results, without considering
that by the course of events we may
be drawn into such an unusual and I'M
precedented condition as will fix limit
to our patient waiting for Spain to
a
CWn way, or with our friendly cooper
ation. When the inability of Spain TO
deal successfully with the insurrection
Las become manifest. and it is demon
strated that her sovereignty is extinct
| in Cuba for all purposes of its rightful
existence, and when hopeless struggle
for its establishment has degenerat-
ed into a strife which means nothing
more than the useless sacrifice of HUI
man life and the utter destruction of the
very subject matter of the conflict,
situation viii be presented in which our
obligations to the sovereignty of Spain
will be superseded by higher obiga-
tions which. we can hardly hesitate to
recognize and discharge.
President Mckinley was in full SYM
pathy with this declaration of policy, so
much in sympathy with it that he con-
tinued Consul General Lee in office at
Havana. In his first message, President
Mckinley said:
The near future will demonstrate
whether the Indispensable condition of
a righteous peace, just alike to the
Cubans and Spain. as well as equitable
to all our interests so intimately in
Volved in the welfare of Cuba, is likely
! to be attained. If not, the eXigency of
further and other action by the United
States will remain to be taken. When
that time comes that action will be de-
termined in the line of indisputable
right and duty. It will be faced without
misgiving or hesitancy in the light of
the obligation this government owes to
itself, to the people who have confided
to it the protection of their interests
and their honor, and to humanity. If 1t
shall hereafter appear to be duty i'm
posed by our obligations to ourselves,
to civilization and humanity. to inter-
vene with force. it shall be without
fault on cur part. and only because the
necessity for such action viii be so
clear as to command the support and
approval of the civilized world.
Senator Rawlins' resolution is but a
demand for the recognition of that con-
dition of affairs anticipated by two
presidents, and which all know exists
answer TO the report of the board of
inquiry into the cause of the Maine dis
aster The time for dilly-dallying has
passed, and that for action has arrived.
To send aid to the Cubans imprisoned
within the Spanish lines is not char
ity, so long as the Spanish government
is permitted to concentrate them and
reduce them by the slow and tortur-
ing process of starvation. There can be
no real relief for them until the cause
of their suffering is removed, and that
cause is Spanish misrule. The propo-
sition to appropriate half a million dol
lars for Cuban aid would be to place
the Cubans in the same condition that
Tantalus was. Give the Cubans per-
manent relief, or cease to profess So
licitude for their welfare. Things are
row in the impossible state; let it cease
to he.