The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-04-19


pear hereafter that theFs is within the island
a government capable of performing the duties
nation, and having. as a matter % fact, the
proper forms and attributes of nationality, such
government can be promptly and readily rec
ognfzed ana the relation of and interests OF
the United States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms of inter
ventioh 20 end the war. either as an Impartial
neutral BY imposing 4 rational compromise pc
tween the contestants or IS the active ally of
the one party or the other.
AS % the first it is not to be forgotten that
during tie last few months the relation Of the
United States has virtually been one OF friend
ly Intervention iii h&ny ways, each not OF
itself conclusive but all tsh9ing to the exsf-
ton of a potential influence tb@srd an ult1-
mate pacific result, just and hondfablS TO all
interests concerned. The spirit OF all our Sats
hitherto has been an earnest, unselhsh desire
f6f PEACE and prosperity in Cuba, untarnished
by differences between US and Spain and IN
stained by the bfood of American citizens.
The ForeiB1e Intervention
of tho Tinted STATES as 8 Neutral to stop the
war, according to the fafge dFctaees OF hu-
mainly and following many NisJeflGal prece-
dents where neighboring states havS fnteFtered
to check the hopeless sacrifice of life Ny inter-
necene conflicts beyond IL cir borders, IS 5dstf-
fable rational grounds II Involves, hoWeVsf,
hostile constraint upon one OF the partes 10
the contest as we'll to enforce a truce as 10
Guide the eventual eettlement.
iii. grounds for such intervention may De
briefly summarized as follows:
First-1R the cause of humanity and to put
an end 50 the bdTbarites, bleodshed, starva-
and which the parties TO the conflict are either
unable or unwilling t6 "t6p or mitigate. 1t is
no answer to say this is all III another country,
beicrg to another nation, ana IS therefore
none of our business. 1t isespec1aHy our duty
for it is right at our door.
Second-We owe 1t TO our citizens in CUBA 20
afford them that protection, indemnity for
life ard property Which no government there
can or will afford, and in ths end to terminate
the conditions that deprive thefe o. legal pro-
lection. 80,
Thrd-The right to intervene may Pc 5ustl-
fed by the very serious injury to the COM
me- CO. trade and business of our people Shd
by the wanton destruction of property ana
devastation of the island
Fourth--And which is of the utmost I'M
pcrtanee. The present condition of affairs III
Cuba is a constant menace to our people anu
entails upon this government an enormous eX-
pense. With such a conflict waged for years
on an island so near and with Whlch our
people have such trade and business reiauons
when the lives and liberty OF our citlzen N
are in constant danger, and their property
destroyed and themselves ruined-Where Our
trading vessels are liable to seizure ana ar
lest at very door by war vessels OF other
nations, the expeditions Of i1ibusteTlng that we
are powerless to prevent altogether, ana tne
irritating questions and entanglements thus
arisng-al1 these and others that | need not
mention with the resulting strained EeIati'I0
are constant menace to our peace, and COM
pei us to keep on a sem-war footing with
nation with which we are at peace
wreck of the Maine.
These elements of danger and disorder al
trated by a tragic event which has deeply
and justly moved the American people. nave
already transmitted to congress the report Oh
the naval court of inquiry on the destruction
of the battleship ''Mane' in the harbor of
Havana during the night of the 10Th of Feb
ruary The destruction of that noble vessel
has filled the nations heart with mex
pressibl horror. Two hundred and nifty -nlne
brave sailors and marines and two officers OF
our navy were reposing in the fancied security
of a friendly harbor, when hurled to death
grief and want brought to their homes ana
sorrow to the nation.
The naval court of inquiry which is need
less to say, commands unqualified confidence
of the government, was unanimous in its con-
clusion that the destruction of the Maine was
caused by an exterior explosion, that of a SUD
marine 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 a patent ana
impressive proof of state of things in CUBA
that is intolerable. That condition is thus
shown to be such that the Spanish govern
ment cannot assure safety and security TO a
vessel of the American navy in the harbor
of Havana, on mission of peace and right
fully there.
Further referring in this connection to recent
diplomatic correspondence, a dispatch from
our minister to Spain, of the 26th ultimo, con
tanned the statement that the Spanish minis
ter for foreign affairs assured him positively
that Spain will do all that the highest honor
and justice require in the matter OF the
Maine
Arbitration Proposed.
The reply above referred to, of the 31st ul-
timo, also contained expression of the read
mess of Spain to submit to an arbitration all
the differences which arise in this matter,
which is subsequently explained by the note
OF the Spanish minister at Washington Of the
10th inst, as follows:
from the diversity Of views between the rep
resentatives Of the American and Spanish
boards, Spain proposes that that fact be ascer-
| tanned by an impartial investigation by eX-
perts, which decision Spain accepts IN ad-
vance.
41,;, ,,,oda no rap1v
President Grant, in 1875 after discussing the
| phases of the contest it then appeared and
| its hopeless and apparent indefinite prolonga-
| ton, said:
| I'm such event, I of opinion that other
| nations will be compelled to assume the re-
| sponsibility which devolves upon them ana TO
! seriously consider the only remaining meas
| ures INSTRUMENTATION and Intervention.
! Owing perhaps, to the large eXpanse or water
separating the island from the peninsula, the
! contending parties appear to have within them
! selves no depository of common confidence, to
suggest wisdom when passion and e1cit !aen
| have their sway, and assume the part of peace
| maker. In this view, in the earlier days OF the
| contest the good offices of the United States
! as a mediator were rendered IN good IaltIi,
| without any selfish purposes, in the interest
| of humanity and in sincere friendship Tor poth
| parties, but were at the time decllneu ny
| Spain with the declaration, nevertheless, that
! at a future time they would be indispensable.
| No intmation has been received that, IN the
| opinion of Spain, that time has been reached.
| And vet the strife continues with all it's dread
| horrors and oil its injuries to the interests OF
| the United States and of other nations Each
| naTtv seems quite capable of working great
| injury and damage to the other, as well as to
| ali the relations and interests dependent on the
existence of peace in the island; put they seem
| incapable of reaching any adjustment and
both have thus far failed of achieving any
! success whereby one party shall possess ana
| ontrol the island to the exclusion of the other.
| Under the circumstances, the agency of others,
| either by mediation or by intervention, seems
to be the only alternative which must, sooner
| or later be invoked for the termination 0I 'ne
! strife