La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-04-16

l Mt this time the Independence OF tne
so-cnlled republic. Such recognition Is
not necessary In order to enable tne
| United States to intervene and pacify
| the island. To commit this country
4 now to the recognition OF any particu-
lar government In Cuba might subject
| us to embarrassing conditions of inter-
| national obligation towards the or
/ cnnization SO recognized. In case OF
| Intervention our conduct would he sub
| ject to the approval or disapproval OF
| such government. and we would be nc.
uuired 10 submit to its direction and to
| assume to II the more than relation OF
friendly ally.
| There remain the alternative forms
| of intervention TO end the war. either
as an impartial neutral by imposing a
rational compromise between the con-
| testnnts. or as the active ally Of the
one party or the other.
As TO the first 1t Ia not to be forgot
ten that during the last few months
| the relations OF the United States has
| virtually been one OF friendly inter-
4 vention In many ways, each effort OF
| itself being conclusive, but all tend
| ing to the excrtion OF a potential infiu-
ence toward an ultimate pacific result
| lust and honorable to all interests con-
cerned The spirit OF all our acts hith-
| erto has been earnest. unselfish desire
| for peace and prosperity in Cuba, I'M
tarnisbed by differences between the
United States and Spain and unstained
| by the blood OF American citizens.
| The forcible Intervention of the
United Stntes ns neutral nation to
stop the war. according to the larger
dictates of humanity and following
4 many historical precedents where
neighboring states have interfcred to
check the hopeless sacrifice of life by
conflicts beyond their borders. is justi-
fable on rational ground. 1t in
| wolves, however, constralnt upon both
| the parties to the contest as well as to
enforce a truce as to guide the event
ual settlement. The grounds for such
Intervention may be briefly summar
! lied us 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 par
| ties to the conflict are either unable or
] unwilling to stop or mitigate. 1t is no
answer to say that this Is all In anoth-
| er country. belonging to another ma
tion, and is therefore. none of our bus
mess. 1t Is especially our duty, for 1t
| is right at our door.
| Second-We owe II to our citizens
In Cuba to afford them that protection
and indemnity for life and property
| which no government there can or
will afford.
Third-The right to intervene may be
| justified by the very serious injury to
the commerce. trade and business of
our people and by the wanton destruc-
tion OF property and devastation Of the
| island.
Fourth-And which Is the most i'm
| portant: The present condition OF af-
| fairs Is constant menace to our
peace and entails upon this govern
ment nm enormous expense.
With such conflict waged for years
in the island so near us and with
which our people have trade and busi-
ness relations-when the lives and lib
erty OF our citizens are In constant
danger and their property and them
selves rufned-when our trnding YES
sells ARE liable to seizure and nre seized
at our very door. by warships of a for
eign nation, the expeditions of filibus-
| tering that we are powerless to pre-
vent altogether. and the irritating
questions and entanglements thus aris-
(, ing-all these aud others that l need
not mention with the resulting strained
| relations. are n constant menace to
| our pence and compels us to keep on
n semi-war footing with the nation
with which we are mt peace.
| Those elements of danger and disor-
der already pointed out have been
strikingly illustrated by tragic event
| which has deeply and justly moved
the American people. have already
| transmitted to Congress the report of
the naval court Of inquiry on the de-
struction of the battleship Maine in
the harbor OF Havana during the night
of the 18th Of February. The destruc-
| tion Of that noble vessel has filed the
national heart with inexpressable hor-
ror. Two hundred and fifty brave
sailors and marines and two officers Of
our navy. reposing In the fancIed Sc
curity Of friendly harbOr. have been
hurled to death-grief and want
brought to their homes and sorrow to
| the nation.
IL needless to say, commands the un-
qualified confidence Of the government
was unanimous in Its conclusion that
the destruction Of the Maine WAS caus-
ed by an exterior explosion, that of n
submarine mine. 1t did not assume to
place the responsibility. That remains
to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of
the Maine. by whatever exterior cause.
is a patent and impressive proof of a
state Of things In Cuba that ID intol-
cradle.
That condition Is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish government can
not assure safety to a vessel in the Ha-
vana harbor on a mission of peace and
rightfully there.
Further referring In this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence, a
dispatch from our minister to SDnin
OF the 10Th ultimo, contained the state
ment that the Spanish minister for for
eign Affairs assured him positively ;hat
Spain will do all that the highest hon.
or and Justice require In the matter Of
the Maine.
The reply above referred to on the