The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-04-15

The wreck OF the EattleshIp Maine.
These elements Of danger and disorder a.
ready pointed out have been strlkinElT illus
trated By q tragic event which has deeply and
justly moved the American people I have Al
ready Transmitted 70 congress the report OF the
naval court Of inquiry the destruction q the
battleship Maine in the hsrbor Of Havana dur
ing the night q February IS. The destruction
OF that noble vessel has flied the national
heart with ineXpressible horror Two hun
dred and ffty-sIsht 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
70 their homes and sorroW 20 the nation
The naval court OF inquiry which. il IS need
less 70 say, commands the unqualified cOnh-
dence Of the government, was unanimous in its
conclusion that the destruction Of the Maine
was caused b. an exterior explosion. that Of 9
submarine mine It did not assume 70 place
the responsibility That remains 20 be fixed
In any event the destruction Of the Maine. By
whatever exterior cause, is q patent and i'm
pressiVe proof OF a state OF things In Cuba that
IS intOlerable- The condition is thus shown %
be such that the Spanish government cannot
assure safety and security 70 vessel Of the
American navy in the harbor OF Havana On q
mission OF peace and rightfuIlv there
Further referring in this connection 70 recent
diplomatic correspondence. q dispatch from
our minister 70 Spain Of the 18th uitimO, con-
tanning the statement that the Spanish minis
that Spain win do al that the highest honor
and justice requires in the matter Of the Maine
The reply above referred 70 OF the 3ist ultimO
also contained an expression Of the readiness
Of spain 70 submit 70 an arbitration all the
differences which can arise in this matter,
which IS subsequently, explained By tho note
Of the Spanish minister At Washington on the
10th inst. as follows As to ths question Of
fact which springs from the diversity OF views
between the report Of the American and Span
ISL boards, Spain proposes that the fact be as
certained BY an impartial investigation By ex-
perts which decision Spain accepts in advance
To this have made no reply.
Gen Grants Opinion
President Grant, in 1873, after discussing the
phases Of the contest as II then appeared and
the hopeless and apparent indefinite prOlOnga-
tiOn, said: IN such event, am Of the opinion
that other nations viii be compelled 20 assume
the responsibility which deFolEes upon them,
and to seriously consider the only remaining
measures possible. mediation and interVen-
ton Owing, perhaps 70 the large expanse Of
water separating the island from the peninsula,
the cOntsnding parties appear TO have within
themselves no depository Of common conf
dence to suggest wisdom when passion and eL-
element have their sway and assume
the part Of peacemalzer. In this view
in the earlier DAYS OF the contest,
the good oflces Of the United States as q me
diatOr were rendered in good faith, without any
selfish purpose, in the interest Of humanity
and in sincere friendship for both parties, but
were at the time declined by Spain with the
declaration, nevertheless, that at q future time
they would be Indispensable No intimatiOn
has been received that in the opinion Of Spain
that time has been reached And yet the strife
continues with all its dread horrors and all its
injuries to the United States and Of
other nations Each party seems quite
damage TO the other IS well as
to all the relations and interests dependent on
the existence Of peace in the island: but they
seem Incapable OF reaching any adjustment
and both have thus far failed Of achieving any
success whereby one party shall possess and
control the island to the exclusion OF the other.
Under the circumstances. the agency Of others.
either by mediation or 6y interTcetion. seems
to be the only alternative which must, sooner
or later, be invoked for the termination Of the
strife"
President Cleveland Quoted.
In the last annual message OF my immediate
predecessor. during the pending struggle, It
was said: When the inability Of Spain 70 deal
successfully with the tnsurreetiOn has become
manifest and It is demonstrated that her
sovereignty is extinct in Cuba for all purposes
Of its original existence, and when hopeless
struggle for its re-estahlishment has degen-
Grated into a strife which means nothing more
than the useless sacrifice o. human life and the
utter destruction Of the very subject matter Of
the conflict. a situation will be presented in
which our obligations to the sovereignty Of
Spain viii be superseded by higher obiga-
tiOns, which We can hardly hesitate 70 recOg-
nize and discharge
What Mr. Mckinley Previously Stated
In my annual message TO congress, December
last. speaking 70 this question. said- The
near future viii demonstrate whether the in
diSpensable condition Of q righteous peace, just
alike 70 the Cubans and to Spain. IS well as
equitable 70 all our interests 50 Intimately in
volYed in the welfare Of Cuba. IS Likely 70 be
other action BY the United States viii remain
20 be taken When that time comes that action
viii be determined in the line Of indisputable
right and duty It wiz be faced without mis-
giving OF hesitanCy in the H-ht Of the
Obligation this governments owes 70 Itself
20 the people who have c5nhded TO
IL the protection Of their interests
and honor, and TO humanity. Sure Of the right,
keeping free from ali onense ourselves. actu-
ated only BY upright and patriotic considera-
lions, moved neither By passion nor selfish
ness, the government viii continue its watch
full care over the rights and property Of Amer
lean citizens and viii abate none OF its efforts
10 bring about by peaceful agencies a peace
which shall Be honorable and enduring. II Il
shall hereafter appear 70 be . duty imposed BIZ
our obligations TO ourselves. 20 civilization and
humanity 70 intervene with force. 1t shall be
without fault On our part and only because the
necessity for such action viii be so clear as q
command the support AM approval OF the civ
1l1Z5d world
The long trial has proved that the object for
which Spain has waged the war cannot be At
tanned The IRE OF fnsurrectioa may fame OF
may shoulder With varying seasons but IL has
not been andzE is plain that II cannot be ex-
tinguished bT present methods The only
hope OF relief and repose from q condition
which cannot longer be endured Is fhe enforced
pacifcation Of Cuba In the name Of humanity.
in the name Of civilization in behalf OF endan-
gered American interests which gives Us the
right and the duty % speak and % act, the wal
IN Cuba must stop
Power asked TO Terminate HOstfIfties-
In view Of these facts and these considera-
lions, ask the congress to authorize and en-
power the president 70 take measures 70 secure
q full termination OF hostfIilities between
the governments OF Spain and the people Of
Cuba, and 70 secure in the island the establish
msnt OF stable government capable Of main
tafninz order AMI observing its in
ternatioual obligations fnsuring peace
and tranquility and the security OF its citizens
as vel as our own. and 70 use the military and
naval forces Of the United States IS may be
Necessary for thess purposes. and in the inter
est Of humanity and 90 aid IN preserving
the lives q the starving people q the
Island I recommend that the distrfbu-
ton Of food and supplies bs continued
and that an appropriation De made out OF the
public treasury 70 supplement the charity a
our citizens The issue IS nov With conEress
II IS . solemn responsibility I have exhaust
ed every effort 20 relieve the iHtoIerable con6i-
ton Of Affairs which is a. our doors Prepared
70 execute every Obligation imposed upon ne
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