The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-04-14


intervene and pacify the island. To COM
NIT this country now to the recognition
of any particular government in Cuba
might subject us to embarrassing condi
tons of international obligation toward
the organization so recognized.
"When 1t shall appear thereafter that
there is within the island government
capable of performing the duties and dis
charging the functions of nation and
having as q matter of fact the proper
forms and attributes of nationality such
government can be promptly and readily
recognized snd'the relations and interests
OF the United States with such nation
adjnsted The forcible inter
vention of the United States rs a neutral
to stop the war according to the dictates
of humanity and following bv historical
presidents wherein the United States
has interfered to check the hopeless sac
rifice of life by international conflicts be-
yond its borders is UNSUITABLE on national
grounds. 1t involves, however, hostile
constraint upon both the parties TO the
contest as well as to enforce truce as to
guide the eventual settlement.
"Ihe grounds for such intervention may
he briefly summarized IA follows
"First-In the cause OF humanity and
to put an end to the barbarities. blood
shed, starvation and horrible miseries
now existing there and which the parties
to the conflict are each unable or unwil-
ling to stop or mitigate. 1t is no answer
to say this is all in another country, be
longing To another nation and il, there
fore, none of our business. 1t is express
ly our du'y for it is right at our door
Second We owe it to our citizens ia
Cuba to afford them that protection and
indemnify for life and property which no
government there can or will afford and
TO that end terminate the conditions that
deprive them of legal protection.
"Third-The right to intervene may he
justified by the very serlous injury to our
commerce, the business Of our people and
by the wsnton destruction of property
and devastation OF the island.
"Fourth-And most important, the
present condition of affairs in Cuba is a
constant menace to our peace and entails
upon this government enormous expense
"The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it
is needless to say, commands the unqual-
fled confidence of the government, was
unanimous in its conclusion that the de-
struction OF the Maine was causel by an
external explosion that of submarine
mine. 1t did not assume to place the re-
sponsibility. That remains to be fixed
In any event, the destruction OF the
Maine, by whatever external cause, is
patent and impressive proof of a state Of
things in Cuba that il intolerable. That
condition il thus shown to be such that
the Spanish government cannot assure
safety and security to a vessel of the
American navy in the harbor of Havana
on a mission Of peace and rghttully there
''The issue is now with congress it is a
solemn responsibility. have exhausted
every effort to relieve the intoerable con-
dition of affairs which is at our doors :;
prepared to execute every obligation i'm
posed upon me 10y the constitution and
law | await your action. II this measure
attains successful result, then our aspi-
rations as Christian, peace-loving peo-
pie will be realized if it fails, it will only
be another justification for our contem-
plated action. WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
Executive Mansion, Washington, ID. c.,
April IL, 1898.