Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-03-02
WAR WITH SPAIN.

ma le TO swell the volume war talk
all over the land. While our relations
with Spain are not as friendly as cou d
be desired, YET the cause Of the con-
fict SC strongly pred cite by some Is
st Il dou It'll. We have faith enough
in our COVE nment to believe thatwhen
the egg ncy of the case demands i,
the honor and best intere t. of h
country will be upheld.
D sensing this phase of the question
tie Leesburg Wa3hingtonian says;
The cause OF the Maine disaster is
no the issue. We cannot tell what
that is, but must wait the result of the
Naval Committt the government has
appointed to investigate the cause Of
the disaster, and should it prove that
Spain is responsible forit this govern
ment will demand reparation, AMI
Spain will have the good sense to square
up TO The full consideration for dam
age done. IT not, she will be made to
do so, and we predict she will do Sc
without force. This country and
Spain will never 60 10 war about Cuba.
A war would cost each more than four
times the value OF the Island, not Con-
sidering the consequences, which are
the inevitable concomitant. of>all walls.
Spain is now reaching the conclusion
that she cannot hold Cuba, and the
public sentiment of this country will
force this government to lake it, and
our craftsmanship will soon decide that
it will be vastly cheaper and far wiSer
to purchase it than take it by force.
The issue is now rapidly drawing 10
that conclusion, and we see nothing
to show that it will not be peaceably
done.-Pruden discretion will dictate
a peaceable solution of the trouble as
far better than the horrible results
which would follow O conflict over it.
We predict we will have no war and
will get Cuba, then The force of the
| inevitable conditions now burthening
Spain will compel her 10 part with the
Island, and when this country is salts
fed it is to our interest and welfare to
have her, she viii be taken into the
folds Of our Republic. The result is
now drifting to its consummation by
forces which neither power can resist.
But we want no war;
| Continuing in the same line, but
looking at the matter from the stand
point OF SPANS responsibility for the
disaster, the Hartford (Md.) Democrat
says
The. destruction Of the y. S. war
ship Maine in the harbor of Havana
may or may not lead to international
complications-depending OH the find
ing of the court of inquiry, now in
session, as to the cause of the dis aisle
If, as is possible, the explosion that
wrecked the Maine was due to spontant
GUS )mbustiOn CT to her bOiler.' weak.
ness or any other inherent defect il
the vessel or the carelessness of hel
commander and crew, no blame car
be attached to any foreign nation fol
our misfortune. And it may 10 true, as
claimed by eminent authorities on in
teinational law, that when the Maine
entered the harbor her commander tool
the risk Of torpedoes or other explosives
that might rightfully be placed there
by the Spanish authorities, and tool
the further risk of their danger, eithe
by accid' mt or the design Of some ire
sponsible Spaniard, and having taker
that risk this government has no RICH
to complain of what followed. Thi
view is conditioned, we apprehend, Of
the belief that the Maine entered th,
fortified barbor without notice to TIN
autho tiles of the Island AMI hat
anchored in her discretion without con
sulting the harbor maste'.
The facts of this case are diAteren
The American warshia went to Cub
on a friendly visit and was escorted t
her anchorage by the Spanish authori
ties, and was to this extent the CUES
Of the Spanish nation, that assumed
responsibility for her safety while und-
Spanish escort. II the Spanish nation
either by design or negligence, permit
ted the Maine to come to grief while
relying on her guidance and protection
Spain was guilty Of breach Of tn
laws Of amity and is responsible il
damages for the loss the American
nation and American citizens hav
suffered in consequence of the neg