The western recorder., 1898-04-14

, the navnl court of Inquiry on the de
struction Of the battleship Maine II
the hnrtor OF Havana during the night
OF the 18th Of February. The destrslc-
tion OF that noble vessel has filled the
national hear. with Indispensable hor-
ror. Two hundred aud nffy brave
sailors and marines and two officers Of
our navy. reposing In the fnncied Sc
curfty OF friendly harbor, have been
hurled to denfh-gricf and want
brought to their homes and sorrow 10
the nation.
The naval court Of inquiry. which. II
is needless to say. commands the nm
qunlifled confidence OF the government
was unanimous In its conclusion that
the destruction of the Maine was caus-
ed by an exterior explosion, that Of
submarine mine. II 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 n
state OF things in Cuba that Is intol-
cradle.
That condition Is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish government can
net assure safety to vessel In the IIn-
rightfuliy there.
Further referring In this connection
to recent diplomatic correspondence, n
dispatch from our minister TO Spain
OF the 26fh ultimo. contained the state
ment that the Spanish minister for for
cign affairs insured him positively shat
Spain VIII do all that the highest hon
or and justice require In the matter OF
the Maine.
The reply nbove referred to on the
31sf ult.mo also contained an express
sien OF the readiness OF Spaln to submit
to mn arbitration all the differences
which can arise In this matter, which
Is subsequently explained by the note
OF the Spanish minister at washing
ton OF the 10th inst, as foliowss
"As to the question OF fact which
springs from the diversified views be-
tween the report OF the American and
Spanish boards. Spain proposes that
the fnct be ascertained by nm impair
tIal Investigation by experts. which de-
cIsion Spain accepts in advance. To
this have made no reply"
In the last annual message OF my i'm
mediate predecessor during the pend
ing struggle. II was said:
when the inability of Spain to deal
Suttt-~Iui VIII tilt llruFItttibii
become manifest, and il demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct In Gu
ba for all purposes of its rightfui ex-
istencc, and when hopeless struggle
for Its re-establishment has degenerat
ed into strife which means nothing
more than the useless sacrifice OF hu-
man life. and the utter destruction OF
the very subject mntter of the conflict
il situation will be presented In which
our obligations to the sovereignty of
Spain will be superseded by higher OBJ
legations which we can hardly Hesitate
to recognize and discharge"
In my annual message to Congress.
December last. speaking to this ques-
tion, snId: "The near future will
demonstrate whether the indIspensn-
blc condition OF righteous peace. just
alike to the Cubans and to Spain, as
well as equitable to all our interests so
Intimately involved In the welfare of
Cuba. Is likely to be attained. II not
the exIgency of further and other nc
ton by the United States will remain
TO be taken. When that time comes
that action will be determined in the
line Of indisputablc right and duty. 1t
will be faced without misgiving or hes
itnncy. In the light of the obligation
this government owes TO itself. TO the
people who have confided to II the pro-
lection of their interests md honor.
and to humanity.
Sure of the right. keeping free from
nl offehse ourselves, nciuatcd by up
right and pntriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion nor selfish.
ness, the government will continue It's
watchfui cnre over the rights and prop
~ mi xr%1I
nbatc hone OF Its efforts TO bring about
hy peaceful ngencics peace which
shall be honorable and enduring. II II
shall hereafter appear TO be n duty i'm
posed by our obligations TO ourselves,
to civilization and TO humanity, TO in
tervene with force, II shall be without
fault OH our part. and only because the
necessity for such action will he so
clear as to command the support and
approval of the civilized world"
The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire OF
insurrection may fame or may smould-
err with varying seasons. but II has not
been, and II Is plain that 1t cannot be
cxtinguIshed by present methods The
only hope of relief and repose from n
condition which cannot longer he en-
dured Is the enforced paciiicatIon OF
Cuba.
In the name OF humanity. In the
name of civilization, in behalf of en-
dangered American interests, which
give us the right and the duty TO speak
and 10 act, the war In Cuba must
stop.
In view of these facts and these con-
siderations. ] ask the Congress TO au-
thorlze and empower the President to
take measures to secure full and
final termination of hostilities between
the government of Spain and the peo-
pie of Cuba, and TO secure in the island
the establishment of stable govern
ment, and recognizing Its International
character and tranquility and the Sc
curlty Of its citizens. as well rs our
own, and to use the military and naval
forces Of the United States as may be
necessary for these purposes.
And In the interest of humanity and
to aid in preserving the lives OF the
starving people OF the island. l recon-
mend that the distribution OF food and
clething be continued until pence be
secured. and that an appropriation be
made out of the public treasury TO sup
plement the charity of our citizens.
The issue Is now with the Congress.
1t is n solemn responsibility. have
exhausted every effort to relieve the
intolerable condition of affairs which is
at our doors
Prepared to execute every obligation
imposed upon me by the constitution
and the law, await your action.
Yesterday and since the preparation
of the foregoing message official In
formation was received by me that the
- -
Spain directs General Blanco. in order
to prepare and facilitate peace, to pro-
clnim suspension OF hostilities. the
duration and details of which have not
yet been communicated to me-
This fact with every other consider