New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-06
THE POINT or HONOR.
A CONTENTION THAT SPAIN HAS THE BET
TER RECORD FOR FAIRNESS AND
JUSTICE IL RECENT EVENTS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: We are hearing a good deal about our
National honor. but along with many proposals
ior Its defence that recall the horse-dealer in
I'LL Bias. AS for the horses soundness.
SAID the purchaser II depend upon your honor
All replied the dealer. when you appeal 10
my honor You touch my weak point"
Should we now declare against Spain. no
military successes could repay us should our
antagonist carry off the more real honors-the
peacefulness and justice whose victories exalt
a nation above the trlumphs Of war. But Il
must be occurring to many rejecting minds that
We are in danger Of victory with dshonor. and
that it is from this peril that President Is
defending Ne. II this Nation is really repre-
scented by our war-at-any price party (Which
do not belicvc) are We presenting before the
world rs honorable an appearance "a Spain?
We complained OF Weyler. H." vas recalled
We complained Of De Lime. lie departed
We demanded autonomy for cuba. II was
conceded
We complained Of the surerngs OF reconcen-
trados. The laws were repealed. and SG0"O
sent to relieve the sufferers
We sent our ox-partc decision on tho Maine
explosion to Spain. without any accusation or
demand for redress. She expressed regret and
proposed arbitration.
We were vexei by the Spanish notilla sailing
10 Spanish island where should We declare
war. the notllla would hc instantly needed The
sailing Is counto-nandcd
We proposed armistcc with the Cuban in
surgents. II offered.
What demand have We made on Spain tina.
has not been conceded. even when ~ ques-
tionab'e Justice and at the cost ~ some pride?
None
But what Of our own record II II b" proved
that We are rightly represented by those who
would now declare war against Spain. II VIII
appear that when demanded autonomy for
Cuba we id not mean IT, nor that It should ne
really tried. that we ali not really desire SPAN
to relieve the rrcorcentrados. that We dii not
want the armisicr. AID tina, now. When. ny
concession after concession. nothing Is LETT us
but the Maine explosion. our Court OF inquiry
did not mean what Il said a. It's inapility 10 Tx
tho responsibility and our President vas Only
shamm.nC when he wrote in his message. ! 30
not permit myself 20 doubt that the s"rse ~
justice 81 the spanish nation VIII diciai"
course of action suggested by honor ana the
friendly relations Of ~" two nations
Those words = the President represent
virtual contract with spain. Stain has agreed
to ii ny proposing arbitration. Tn" President -
entitled 10 decline arbitration. bat Spain is on
titled - make alternative proposals and n"tn-
ing could Doe more dishonorahle than for this
Nation by a declaration II war on account "f
the Maine. TO violate the contract ~ neg'ti"tion
to which our chief Magistrate has invited that
country and pledged his own. such an outrage
on international law would max" he a nation
OF lvnchers
Vet some grave journals among them "Th"
New York Times" admit that II IS me Main"
disaster that has turned them into advocates
II war
our Prcsden, ms secured for his country
credit in Europ' for moderation which II Is -
h4 feared W. g. not deserve" A." Va "utiti"d
IN this respect =, claim coli restraint equal 20
that - SPAN Would ~ har" accepted 80
quietly our exclusion from ar representation IN
frs. - F.tff 4ff 4 II
our reputation and interests Would wc has"
RETAINED from publishing teNtuailf GUY own
version and reioinder 10 similar ciroums'anc~s'
General F.t2hGgh l." testified hcf'i" ~"
Court that. ou learning tha' the Main" WAS 20
visit Havana. ~ cont 90 Washington "a cipher
message: "Auihorl'ics profess TO think IN"
United States ha2 Interior purpose I'm sending
the ship Say u Will "hstruci autonomy ana
produc" excitement and most u, badly a dom
onsiratlon Ask that ~ % not don" til' fhcf
can get Instructions from Madri SAY that II
FOR friendly purpose. az claimed. delay Is IN
important"
Tho Spanlards n cuba n.rc not without
grounds FOR suspectinr that ne coming - ~"
Maine a hpsi'" step. The Jun'a and soru"
eminent Congressman triuMPhaniF 80 pro
claimed a. Here were anxious authorities IN
Havana. conscious that th"r' wN'" dangerous
and frantic clements there. trying :" Tr~v"n;
WA too late. me sDip mad sailed Hui was %
too late The ship I'D not arr'y" untN N"
next day and Why was b" not ordered by telc-
gram t. meet f. and Command IT'S return" The
.
been forced upon host against he VIII ana
request What should have said what
might wc hav" dor'. bad tho NlIcnfa persisted
IN entering N"W- York lIarhYr AFTER such OH
cial protest. "" should have regarded u As
evidence that menace Ms al along masked
under the ia" - fri"ndlnoss. and go dealt
with the situation.
General Lees testimony NAV 30 claimed
evidence that tho ship was destroyed ny On
nifty but II is proof that the Spanish authori-
Ties had no part I'm the destruction. and II Their
request had been complied with II could not
have occurred. That b. assuming that tn" de
struction was wrought hy torpedo. though
that cannot 20" considered a. fr.. from doubt
until tho wreck mas been examined 10y scientific
and impartial engineers.
Spain has shown great moderation "a not hay-
ing protested against IN" disregard Of her
wishes IN regard 10 thc Visit of the ship and the
continuance at Havana ~ e consul VIGOROUSLY
sympa hectic with the Instruction against her
Government After her wishes had been OK
pressed. both Of these things hccan" unfricndly.
and by most countries would hay" been resented
II the pcac" OF the world ~ now broken. his
tory cannot lay II al the door Of Spain and
whether 1t can acqui' us Of unfairn"-s and
duplicity f. a matter that merits the earnest
one may say solemn confederation ~ every
American. To-day our President appears 10 be
standing bciwc the true heart and conscience
Of his country and passions that are trying -
drag Ms into an abyss not only Of blood but of
dishOnOr Let all true men and women sustain
him, II he averts war. his word and influence
viii accomplish more with Spain and for cuba
than any feet PEACE AND EQUITY
New York April :. 1895
not PEACE At ANY PRICE
rNTTRvENTiOK ~ CtBAN AFFAIRS A MORAL
NECESSITY