The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-12

yana during the night Of the 18th of
February The destruction of that no.
bic vessel has filled the national heart
with inexpressible horror. Two hum
dred and fifty brave soldiers and ma
rlneS and two officers of our Navy, re-
posing in the fancied security of a
friendly harbor, have been hurled to
death, grief and want brought TO their
| homes and sorrow to the nation.
The Naval Court of Inquiry which
1t is needless to say commands the un-
qualified confidence of the government
was unanimous in its conclusion that
the destruction of thes Maine was
caused by an exterior explosion, thar
Of a submarine mine. 1t did not as
sumo to place the responsibility. That
remains to be fixed.
In any event the destruction of the
Maine" by whatever exterior cause, is
patent and impressive proof of a state
of things in Cuba that is intolerabe
That condition is thus shown to be
such that the Spanish government can
not assure safety and security to yes
sci of the American Navy in the barbor
| of Havana on n mission of peace and
rightfully there.
THE MAINE INCIDENT.
| Further referring in this connection 20
recent diplomatic correspondence, a dis
patch from our Minister TO Spain &c
| the Goth UltimO contained The state
ment that the Spanish Minista a. for For
! eign Affairs assured him positively that
| Spain will do all that The highcs- honor
and justice require in the mat >sr Of the
! Maine" The reply above referred to
! Of the 31st utimO also contained IN eX-
! preston of the readiness OF Spain to
submit to an arbitration ali the differ
| ences which can rise in this matter.
which is subsequently explained by the
note of the Spanish Minister at Wash
ington of the 10th instant as follows:
CAS- to the question of fact which
springs from the diversity of views be-
tween the report of the American and
Spanish Boards, Spain proposes that the
! fact be ascertained by an impartial in
vestigation by experts whose decision
/ Spain accepts in advances"
TO this l have made no reply.
! President Grant, in 1875, after dis
cussing the phases of the contest as ii
then appeared. and its hopeless and APP
parent indefinite prolongation, said:
| I'm such event, | ann of opinion that
other nations will be compelled to as
sumo the responsibility which deyolves
/ upon them. and to seriously consider
! the only remaining measures possible,
mediation and Intervention. Owing, per-
haps, TO the large eXpanse of water
| separating the island from the peninsu-
! Ia the con1endtng parties appear to
have within themselves no depository
of common confidence, to suggest wisdom
| when passion and excitement have their
To, tbo nat 81
maker In this view. IN the earlier days
of the contest, the good offices of the
United States as d mediator were ten
dered in good faith, without any sell
fish purpose. in the interest of humanity
and in sincere friendship for both par
| ties but were sut the time declined
by Spain with the declaration neverthe-
less that at Il future time they would
he Indispensable No intimation has
been received that in the opinion of
Spain that time has been reached.
And yet the strife continues with all its
dread horrors, and all it's injuries TO the
interests OF the United States and of
other nations. Each party seems quite
capable of working great injury and
damage to the other as well as to
all the relations and interests dependent
on the existence Of peace in the island;
but TREY SEEM incapable Of reaching
any adjustment and both have thus far
failed OF achieving any success whereby
one party ShalE possess and control the
island to the exclusion of the other.
Under the circumstances, the agency of
others, either by mediation or by inter-
vent:on, seems to be the only alternative
which mast sooner or later, be invoked
for the termination of the strife"
MIR. CLEXELAND'S POSITION.
In the last annual message Of my
immediate predecessor during the pend
ing struggle it was said:
when 1.-THE inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the instruction has
become manifest and it is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes of its rightful existence,
and when a hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has degenerated into "A
strife which; means nothing more than
the useless sacrifice of human life and
the utter destruction of the very subject
matter Of the conflict, II situation will ne
presented in which our Obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain will be superseded
by higher Obligations, which we can
hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge"
In my annual message to Congress.
December last speaking to this question,
| said:
The near future VIII demonstrate
whether the indispensable condition of
n righteous peace, just alike to the Gu
bans and to Spain as well as equitable |
to all our interests so intimately in |
volved in the welfare of Cuba, is likely |
to be attained. If not, the exigency OF
further and other action by the United |
States Will remain TO be taken. When |
that thine comes that action will be |
determined in the line of ind!sputable |
right and duty 1t will be faced, without |
misgving or hesitancy, in the light OF |
the obligation this government owes to |
itself, to the people who have eonfided |
to it the protection of their interests and |
honor, and to humanity.
Sure of the right, keeping free from
all offense ourselves, actuated only by |
upright and patriotic considerations, !
moved neither by passion nor selfshness, |
the government will continue its watch |
full care over the rights and property Of |
American citizens, and will abate none
az ;ts affArtS ia hrinp q hOut nv noacafuI |