New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-17
srSpEyDjEG JUDGMENT.

The best comment made upon the dreadful
tldings from Havana was contained in the hrs'
brief dispatch which told the news pubic
"opjnlon should be suspended until further re-
port" Those words Of Captain Slesbees, com
ing spontaneously into his mind AZ the very
moment Of the disaster and Instantly transmit
ted by him 10 the Government at Washington
are TO be commended TO every one who writes
or speaks or even thinks upon the subject The
secret OF the destruction Of the Maine may be
revealed at any moment or not until after many
davs. Il will come out and for its indubitao.o
appearance judgmen; and rerihuuon may wei
afford TO wait 1t VIII not be long. I; VIII be
sure. And the settlement VII be satisfactory.
Excitement. rash utteranccs or action upon un-
proved premises now would not hasten Du'
wouId delay. would not assure but would inn
peril. the doing of exact and final justice. II
the captain Of the ship. by the red light of the
burning wreck could frame thoughts and pen
words Of sobcrneSs and prudence. men far re-
moved In space and ,mc from the tragic scene
should surely do no less.
Al another conjurcture Of affairs the ca;as-
troDhe would have excited no suspicion OF foul
play At the present time such suspicious n
evitably arise. They are not directed against
the Spanish Government, nor against the Local
administration of Cuba. 1t IS simply neon
ce!vabe that either Of these, or any individual.
member Of them could have been responsible
for or prlvy 10 so atrOcious deed. II the oX-
poslon was the act Of tTeachery and malice, u
must have been done either by some Cuban
madman, hoping thus to ombroI the United
States and Spain 10 the advantage Of the In.
surgent cause. or Of some equally mad Span
lard. Ike the insensate rioters Of Havana and
Barcelona and elsewhere, who, IN defiance OF
their own Government have ragged against the
American flag and against the security o.
American property and American lives. II such
shall be proved TO have been the case, the Span
;sh Government. in addition 10 expressions OF
regret. sympathy with the sufferers and abhor
renee OF the crime viii undoubtedly pay full
Indemnity for the loss this Government; has suS
taincd-or as full as any cash indemnity can be-
for such loss. On that point there Will be no
room even for dispute and certainly no cause
for any breach Of friendly relations between
the two nations.
All those matters, however. are for future
determination. For the present Captain S.cs
bees words are apt And they are especially
apt 10 the case Of orr own Government Cuban
affairs and relations with Spain have for al
but year been exceptionally pcrplcxins 20 the
President. He has dcalt with them with pa
thence. frmucss. discretion and stateSm1nl6c
wisdom thar have commanded the confidence
and admiration Of all the lind. He has just
disposed In a masterful manner Of one OF the
most embarrassing problems In the whole bust
ness. Il Is the manifest duty Of every Amer
can TO trust him In the present tragic crisis, to
tr nv ia M
his own fortitude and forbearauce. and above
all scrupulously 10 refrain from any decd or
word that might add even Tho least weight 20
his burdens II IS a time for curbug the
tongue and for withholding the hand, and for
suspcnding public opinion until further report
When further or final, report comes Tho voice
Of tho Nation VIII be heard IN no uncertain
sound