The state herald., 1898-04-15

shed, starvation and horrible iniserles
now existing there, and which the pnr-
ties to the conflict are either unable or
unwilling to stop or mitigate. 1t Is no
answer to say that this Is all in anotli-
err country, belonging to another I'M
tion, and is therefore, none of our bus
mess. II is especially our duty, for 1t
is right at our door.
Second-We owe II to our citizens
in Cuba to afford them that protection
and indemnity for life and property
which no government there can or
will afford.
Third--Thc right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce. trade and business of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
tlon of property and devastation of the
island.
Fourili-And which Is the most i'm
portant; The present condition of af-
fairs is constant menace to our
peace and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense.
With such n conflict waged for years
in the island so near us and with
which our people have trade and bust
ness relations-when the lives and lib
crty of our citizens are in constant
danger and their property and them
selves ruincd-when our trading ves-
sells are liable TO seizure and are seized
at our very door, by warships of for
elgn nation. the expeditions of flibus-
tering that we are powerIess to pre-
vent altogether. ana the irritating
questions and entanglcmcnts thus aris-
ing-all these and others that | need
mnnfinn wifi Ia In nj lin, ,t,.,, ,t,,n Il
relations. are constant menace to
our peace and compels us to keep on
a seml-war footing with the nation
with which we are at peace.
Those clements of danger and dlsor-
der already pointed out have been
striklngly Illustrated by tragic event
which has deeply and justly moved
the American people. | have already
transmitted to Congress the report of
the naval court of inquiry on the de-
struction of the battleship Maine In
the harbor of Havana during the night
of the 10TH of February. The destruc-
tion of that noble vessel has filed the
national heart with incxpressablc hor-
ror. Two hundred and fifty brave
sailors and marines and two officers of
our navy. rcposing in the fnncied Sc
curity of n friendly harbor. have been
hurled to death-gricf and want
brought TO their homes ana sorrow to
the nation.
The naval court Of inquiry. which. 1t
Is needless To say. commands the un-
qualified confidence of the government
was unanimous in its conclusion that
the destruction of the Maine was caus-
ed by an exterior explosion. that of n
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 exterior cause,
is patent and impressive proof of
state of things In Cuba that is intol-
erablc.
That condition is thus shown 10 be
such that the Spanish government can
not assure safety to a vessel In the IIa-
vana harbor on n mission Of peace and
rightfully there.
Further referring In this connection
To recent diplomatic correspondence. Il
dispatch from our minister TO Spain
of the 26ih uliimo, contained the state
mcni that the Spanish minister for for.
clgn affairs assured him positively hat
Spain win do all that the highest hon
or and justice require In the matter of
the Maine
The reply above referred to on the
3lst nliimo also contained an express
sion of the readiness of Spain to submit
To an arbitration all the differences
which can arise In this matter. which
IL subsequently explained 10y the note
of the Spanish minister NJ Washing
ton Of tile 10th Inst, as follows:
AS TO the question OF fact which
springs from the diversified views he.
tween the report OF the American and
Spanish boards. Spain proposes that
the fact be- nsccrtnlncd by an Impair
tinl investigation 10y experts, which de
cision Spain accepts In advance. 10
this have mnde no reply"
President Grant In 1915. IN discussing
the phases Of the contest ms II then ap.
pcnrcd. and It's hopeless and apparent
Indefinite prolongatlon. said:
I'm such event nm of the opinion
that other nations VIII he compelled TO
assume the responsibility which lie.
wolves upon them ana to seriously con
slider the only remaining measures pos
slblc. mediation and Intervention. Ow-
lng, perhaps. Ia the large expnnse of
water separating the island from the
peninsula. the cnnicnding parties np-
pear to have within themselves nc de
posltory Of common confidence. Ia sug.
gcst wisdom WHEN passion and excite
mcnt have their sway. aud thus as
sume the part OF peacemnker. In this
View, In the earlier days of the con.
IlNft DAA1 ..nl..... ~ lao
States rs the mediator were rendered
In good faith. without amy selfish pur-
pose. IN the Interest OF humanity and
IN sincere friendship for both parties.
hut were NJ the Time declined by Spain
with the declaration. nevertheless. that
NJ future time they would he indis-
pcnsnble. No intimatlon hns been r..
coired ihni. Ia the opinion of Spain
that time has been reached. Aud yet
the strife continues with all lis dread
horrors, and all Its injuries To the
United States and of other nations.
Each pnriy seems quite capable OF
working great Injury nnd damage 10
the other, ns well ns To all the relations
nnd Interests dcpcndcn, on the exist.
oncc of peace In tile island. hut they
seem Incapable of reaching amy adjust
mcni, nnd both have thus fur fniird of
achieving any success whereby one
party shall Possess nni control the is.
lnnd to the exclusion Of the other. I'm.
der the circumstances the agency OF
others, either Icy mediation or by In.
iervcniion. seems To he the only alter.
nnilve which must, sooner or later. bc
invoked for the termination OF the
strife"
IN 'b" Inst annual message Of my In.