The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-12

Iispatcn s,osss SPAN, Oh
the 18th .ult,, contained the. statement
that the Spanish minister for foreign
AFFAIRS assured him positively that
Spain will do all that the highest honor
and Justice required in the matter OF
the Maine. The reply above referred
to of the slst ult. also contained an
expression of the readiness of Spain to
submit to an arbitration all the diff
ferences which can arise In this mat
ter, which is subsequently explained
by the note of the Spanish minister at
Washington Of the 10th inst, as fol-
lows:
Quotes From President Grant.
las to the question of fact which
springs from the diversity of views be-
tween the report of the American and
Spanish boards. Spain proposes that
the fact be ascertained by an impartial
investigation by experts, whose deci-
sion Spain accepts in advance"
To this I made no reply.
President Grant, In 1875, after dis
cussing the phases Of the contest as Il
then appeared and its hopeless and ap-
parent indefinite prolongation. said:
In such event 1 am Of opinion that
other nations will be compelled to as
sumo the responsibility which devolves
upon them. and to seriously consider
the only remaining measures possible.
mediation and Intervention. Owing.
perhaps. to the large expanse of water
! IN fc1n nd ha nopir.
sula, the contendng parties appear to
have within themselves no depository
Of common confidence, to suggest wis
dom when passion and excitement have
their sway, and to assume the part Of
peacemaker In this view. In the earlier
days of the contest the good offices Of
the United States as mediator were
rendered in good faith, without any
selfish purpose. In the interest Of hu-
mainly and in sincere friendship for
both parties, but were at the time
clined by Spain. with the declarAt
nevertheless. that at a future time
would be indispensable. No intimat.
has been received that In the opinion
Of Spain that time has been reached.
And yet the strife continues with all
lie ultuu anu oil lto ~
the interests of the United States and Of
other nations. Each party seems quite
capable Of working great injury and
damage to the other. as well as to all
the relations and interests dependent
on the existence of peace in the ISL
and. but they seem incapable Of reach
ing an 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 media
ton or by Intervention, seems to be the
only alternative which must. sooner or
later. be invoked for the termination Of
the strife"
Quotes President Cleveland.
In the last annual message of my
immediate predecessor. during the
pending struggle, it was said:
When the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has
become manifest, and 1t is demonstrate
ed that her sovereignty is extinct in
Cuba for all purposes of its rightful
existence, and when a hopeless strug-
gle for its re-establishment has de-
generated into strife which means
nothing more than the useless sacri-
fee of human life and the utter de-
struction Of the very subject matter
Of the conflict, the situation Will be
presented in which our obligations to
the sovereignty of Spain will be super
seeded by higher obligations, which we
can harly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge"
In my annual message to congress. |
December last, speaking to this ques- |
ton. said:
1.-THE near future will demonstrate |
whether the Indispensable condition of |
a righteous peace, just alike to the Gu
bans and to Spain as well as equitable
to all our interests, SO intimately in
volved In the welfare of Cuba, is likely |
to be attained. II not. the exigency of |
further and other action by the Uni |
ted States will remain to be taken. |
When that time comes that action will |
be determined in the line Of indis-
putable right and duty 1t will be |
faced. without misgiving or hesitancy. |
in the light of the obligation this gov
eminent owes to itself, to the people
who have confided to It the protection
Of their interests and honor, and to
humanity.
Sure of the right, keeping free from
all offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion nor SELFISH
ness, the government will continue its
care over the rights and prop
10 rt1 1ta
abate none of its efforts TO bring about
by peaceful agencies a peace which
shall be honorable and enduring.
IF 1t shall hereafter appear to be a
duty imposed by our obligations to our
selves, to civilization and humanity to
Intervene with force, 1t shall be with
out fault on our part and only because
the necessity for such action will be
so clear as to command the support
and approval of the civilized world"
Spain Cannot Suppress Cuba.
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged war
be attained. The fire of insur
rection may flame or may shoulder
with varying seasons, but 1t has not
been and it Is plain that 1t cannot be
by present methods. The !
only hope Of relief and repose from a
which can no longer be en-
lured is the enforced pacifcation of
Cuba. In the name of humanity. in the
lame Of civilization, in behalf of en-
langered American interests which
rive us the right and the duty to speak
md to act the war in Cuba must stop.
In view of these facts ard of these
considerations ask the congress to au-
horize and empower the president to
AXE measures to secure full and
inal termination of hostilities between
he government Of Spain and the peo-
lie of Cuba, and to secure in the ISL
nd the establishment Of a stable gov
rnment, capable Of maintaining order
nd observing its international obliga-
ions, ensuring peace and tranquility
nd the security Of its citizens as well
3 our own, and to use the military and
avail forces of the United States as
nay be necessary for these purposes.
And in the interest of humanity and
0 aid in preserving the lives of the
papnle of tho island roc.