The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-11
THE PACIFIC
IMPENDING WAR.

War between the United States and
Cuba hangs on two distinct issues,
first that Of a responsibility for the de-
struction of the Maine; second that Of
interference on humanitarian grounds.
As to the Maine disaster, the Court
of Inquiry has distinctly declared that
it has not ascertained who is response
BILE for the placing of the explosive con-
triyance which destroyed the vessel.
On this finding President Mckinley
cannot hold Spain responsible for it,
unless by some principle of interna-
tional law, the country in whose harbor
a friendly war vessel is visiting, may
be held responsible for any injury to
the vessel, whether accidental or in
territorial If the President believes that
Spain should be held responsible for it,
he recognizes the right of Spain to
make defense to the charge, and to
claim that as a matter of international
law, she is in no way liable. The case
would be one for arbitration and not
for immediate war. Spain is not bound
to accept the American view of the law.
There would be a good many American
jurists who would not approve of the
opinion that if a Spanish war vessel
were lying in San Francisco harbor,
and some crank blew her UP with a
torpedo, the United States would be un-
der obligation to pay for the vessel. If
A is visiting BIS house, and is robbed
at night of his watch by a burglar is
A responsible for the robbery?
So far as the Maine disaster is con-
cerned, it looks as if the President
would not make it cause of war, how
ever suspicious the case may be.
Regarding the other grounds for war,
the case is still complicated.
The President through General
Woodford, asks the Spanish Govern
ment to make terms with the Cubans
and end the war. This means, of
course, Cuban independence. And the
President asks that the United States
be allowed to relieve the suffering in
Cuba, the terrible suffering which dis
tresses the American people. To this
Spain replies, that she cannot grant
independence, that only the Parliament
which meets on May 4th, can settle the
question, that she has appropriated
$4,000 to feed the starving Cubans,
and she suggests an armistice.
With this situation the President is
deeply embarrassed. He undoubtedly
feels that Spain is utterly insincere,
but he cannot assume that she is 50.
He feels that little or none of the
money said to have been appropriated
for the relief Of the sufferers will ever
be used, because even the soldiers of !
the Spanish army are unpaid. But he |
cannot assume that this will be the |
case. He also is painfully aware of his |
responsibility in the matter. War |
means, probably, the killing of many |
brave Americans, the misery of many |
American labOring men, who will be
thrown out of work, the great injury |
of the American marine service. He
abhors war, and so do the American
people.
On the other hand the Spanish lead |
ers fully understand that war means
the loss of Cuba, and of the Philippine |
Islands, and more than all, the imposi- |
ton on Spain alone of the Cuban debt |
rising $4OO,00O,0O0. So the Spanish |
statesmen do not wish war. But be- |
hind them are the Spanish people, |
ignorant, proud, boastful, who are
fiinging with patriotic fevor, their |
young boys into the Cuban swamps to |
die. These forbid any rational conduct |
by the Government.
Under all the circumstances, it would |
seem as if Congress would hesitate to |
precipitate war Even if it is newt
able so far as man can predict, Con-
gress will not directly provoke it. 1t |
probably will, or has, at this hour, re-
cognized the independence of Cuba. If
Spain chooses to make that cause of
war, the United States will meet her.
But she probably will not do so now,
because recognition of independence is
an international right.
The chances are that war will not
probably take place at once, however
inevitable it may be. In the meantime
both parties will prepare for it.