The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-04-15

people. / have already transmitted TO
congress the report OF the naval court
OF INJURY on the destruction of the bat
t.esh y Maine in the harbor OF havana
during the nlpht or the 10TH or F"nr''o"
The destruction of that noble Vessel mas
ed the national heart with ineXpTessi-
lie no. ror. 40 nun"reu anu .44.y -S4e.it
brave sailors and marines ana Two o.
ncers OF our navy, reposing IN the
rancied security OF q friendly harbor,
have been hur.ed to death, grief ana
mt br1ug' TO their homes and sorro"
10 the nation. ,-,- =. l.,
needless to say, commands the unquali-
fed confidence OF the government, was
unanimous in it's conclusions that the de-
struction of the Maine was caused Dy r, al,
exterior explosion, that of submarine
mine. 1t did not assume TO place the re-
sponsib.lity. That remains to be liked
In any event. the destruction OF the
Maine, by whatever exterior cause, Is
patent and impressive proof or state OF
things in Cuba that Is intoleraple. ne
condition is thus shown TO be such that
the Spanish government cannot assure
safety and security TO vessel or the
American navy in the harbor OF Havana
on a mission of peace ana rlghttuIy
there.
Further referring in this connection, TO
recent diplomatic correspondence, as
patch from our minister to spain, or the
26th ultimo. contained the statement that
assured him positively that spain WIZ
do all that the highest honor and justice
require in the matter OF the Maine. Inc
reply above referred to of the 3lst ultlmo
also contained an expression OF the read
mess of Spain 70 submit 10 an aroltra-
ton all the differences which can arise
in this matter which Is subsequently ex-
planned by the note Of the Spanish min
lister at Washington of the 10Th instant
as follows: -,
springs from the diversity of views be-
tween the report of the American and
Spanish boards Spain proposes that the
fact be asccrtained by an Impartial IN
vestigation by experts whose decision
Spain accepts In advance.
To this l have mace no reply:
President Grant in 1873, after discussing
the phases of the contest as II then APP
peared and it's hopeless and apparently
indefinite prolonSation. said:
In such event, / am Of opinion that
other nations will be compelled to assume
the responsibility which devolves upon
them, and 10 seriously consider the only
remaining measures possible, mediation
and Intervention. owing. perhaps, 70 the
large eXpaase Of water separating the is
land from the peninsula the contending
parties appeGc to have within themselves
nn depository % common confidence, to
suP-@st wisdom when passion and excite
III p, have their sway. and TO assume the
paR IF pcacemaker In this view, in the
earlier days OF the contest, the good Of
fees Of the United states as q mediator
were rendered in good faith, without any
selfish purpose, in the interest OF human
ity ana in sincere friendship for both
parties, OUT were at the time ueCllneu Dy
spain with the declaration nevertheless
that at a future time they would be in
dispensable. No intimation has been re-
ceived 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 interests OF the Unit
Cd states and OF other nations. Each
party seems quite capable of working
great injury and damage TO the other, as
vel as to all the relations and interests
dependent on the existence Of peace in the
Island; but they sem Incapable Of reach
ing any adjustment, and both have thus
far failed OF achieving any success where
by 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 by inter-
Vention, seems to be the only alternative
which must, sooner or later. be invoked
for the termination of the Strife."
In the last annual message OF my inn
mediate predecessor during the pending
struggle, IL was said:
when the inability OF Spain 10 deal sue,
cessfuly with the insurgents has be-
come manifest, and IL is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes. Of !ts rightful existence
ana when q hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has dcgenerated into II
strife which means nothing more than the
useless sacrifice OF human lie and the
utter destruction CT the very subject mat
ter OF the conflict, situation will be pre-
sentcd II which our obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain win be superseded
ny higher obligations, which we can
hard4y hesitate to recognize and dis
In my annual message TO congress, De-
| said:
IRE near future will demonstrate
whether the Indispensable conditions Of
righteous peace, Just alike to the Gu
b ans ara TO scam, as WciI as cQu ta lie
| 10 all our interests so intimately involv-
! ed in the welfare of Cuba. is likely to be
! attained. If not the eXgency Of further
| and other action by the United states
| Will remain 10 be taken. When that time
| comes that action VIII be determined in
| the line of indisputable right and duty.
| Il VIII be faced NhOut misPiving OF hes
itancy IN the Hight Of the obligation this
government owes 10 itself, TO the people
| who have confined to ii the protection of
| their interests and honor, and TO human
! ity.
! offense ourselves, actuated only by up
right and patriotic considerable moved
| neither by passion or seliishness. the gov
eminent Will continue its Matchful care
! over the rights and property Of American
| citizens and VIII abate none of its efforts
! to bring about by peaceful agencies q
eace which snall ne nonora,.e d en-
| during. If II shall hereafter appear to be
| duty imposed by our obligations to our
! selves. to civilization and humanity to in
| tervene with force, II shall be without
| fault on our part and only because the
| necessity for such action will be so clear
| as 10 command the support and approval
| of the civilized world"
The long trial has proved that the OBJ
| ject for which Spain has waged war cam
| not be attained. The fire of insurrection
| may flame or may shoulder with varying
| seasons, but IL has not heen and II is
| plain that II cannot be eXtingu.shed by
! present methods. The only hope of relief
| and repose from a condition which can
| no longer be endured is the enforced pa
| cification of Cuba. In the name OF hui
| mainly, in the name of civilization. in he
| half of endangered American interests,
| which give us the right and the duty to
! speak and TO act, the war In Cuba must
stop
| In view OF these facts and OF these
! conscientious 1 ask the congress to au-
thoriZe and empower the president TO
take measures 10 secure fun and final
| termination OF hostilities between the
| government of Spain and the people or
! cuba ard to secrre in the island the es-
| adjustment of stable government ca
| pable OF maintaining order and observ-
ing its international obligations. ensur-
| ing peace and tranquility and the secur-
| ity OF its citizens as We'll as our own ana
to use the military and naval forces OF
| the United States as may be necessary
tor these purposes.
| And in the interest OF humanity ana to
| aid IN preserving the lives OF the stary-
g,ar nnVaIe no kcIa nd \