Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-28
THE COURTS REPOKT.

or the court Vi IuQuiiS "hANiA AA
gated the disaster that befel the Maine
in Havana harbor last month. The
abstract is made from the official doc
ument. and its correctness is insured
by the fact that the Associated Press,
the most reliable and conservative
news gatherer in the world, vouches
for it.
Ii will be seen that the verdict of
the Court, and the grounds upon which
the verdict is found are precisely
what this paper has printed, piece
meal, from time to time, as the evil
dence was secured and the conclusions
reached. The only difference between
the information heretofore given by
the Register, and that given this
morning, is that the news to-day is
official ed beyond possible dispute.
Tho Naders of the Register now
know practically as much about the
disaster as the President and his Cab
met know. They are in as good posi-
ton to form opinions as anyone except
possibly some few naval experts.
The report is carefully prepared so
that no thing is stated as fact, proven
or surmised. which is not backed fully
by the most conclusive evidence. Spain
is not mentioned in the report, and no
connection is intimated to exist be-
tween the Spanish government and
the disaster except that the vessel was
lying in a friendly harbor. and that
harbor was occupied, regulated and
policed by Spain.
This is the American side OF the
story.
There is a Spanish side to it, and
that story was told some days ago
by the report of Spanish court of
inquiry That report says the explo-
sion was of internal origin.
Under some conditions each report
would be deserving Of equal credit, but
not under the present conditions
The American court has worked at
least thirty days, securing every pos
sible sort of evidence that bore on
the disaster 1t has examined all the
surviving officers and men of the
Maine. 1t worked under strict in
structions that the report should be
absolutely fair and impartial. 1t was
cautioned that upon it's findings might
depend peace or war. 1t had before it
the possibility that the Maine may be
raised and physical evidence secured
by visual inspection In its report.
it states that the evidence of the
divers is not of character to give
information that can lead to safe con-
illusions. With all these things con-
sidered, the American court reports
merely such things as are as certain
as the existence of the everlasting
hills.
On the other hand. the Spanish
court has relied entirely upon Its div
erS for information. 1t has not asked
questions Of any Of those who were
present on the ship when it was blown
up. Persons not directly interested in
the result of the investigation have
reported from time to time that the
examination made by the Spanish div
ers was of the most perfunctory char
acter and that the court did not seek
information that was prejudicial to
the Spanish side of the contention.
1. e., that the explosion was of in
ternal origin. It's investigation lasted
less than ten days all told aud not a
full days work was done on any of
those days. The Spanish court bases
Its finding entirely upon evidence
which the American court declares
was not trustworthy in such mo-
mentous cause.
There can be no discredit cast upon
the American courts report by the
Spanish courts disagreement, when all
things are considered.
what is TO De done now? The United
States has made declaration that is
at direct variance with that of Spain.
1t is matter that cannot be arbi-
trated, for there is nothing on our
side to arbitrate. All our statements
are positive, and not open to conten-
ton or argument unless we are will
ing to discredit the American courts
report; and we cannot do that with
honor, justice or dignity.
According to the doctrine of inter
national law, discovered by the Harri-
son administration when the Italians
We're lynched at New Orleans. every
government is responsible for the acts
of its citizens or acts committed with
i'll its territory under all circumstances
and as Stephen B. Elkins. then a cab
met officer and now one of Mckinley
closest friends and advisors in Cuban
affairs. said to the Register CORE
spondent few days ago, on this rep
resentation this government paid in
demnity to the Italian government
The least the Mckinley administra.