Evening journal., 1898-02-24
SUSPEND JUDGMENT.

SUSPEND JlIyNhE1lNi. 4.
All true Americans love the AmeTi-
can flag and the national honor. Every
true citizen OF the United states would
fly to the support Of the country were
its honor assailed or its territory in
vaded. But there Is, In our land. a
class of hot-headed persons who howl
for war at every opportunity, with
out either deliberately considering the
causes or the consequences. That class
ii abroad in the land to-day, and its
voice is to be heard on every hand,
bowling for war with Spain.
An American who is a true Ameri-
can wishes for fair play ait all times.
1t is one of his predominant character
istics. It is what obtained for him his
independence; it is what impelled him
to have his second brush with the
mother country in 1912, and 1t was
what lent strength to his arm and cour-
age TO his heart when the country was
in danger Of being rent asunder in the
dark days OF the sixties.
We might just as well look the mat
ter squareiy in the face. One of our
battleships was in the harIbor of Ha-
vana, which is owned by Spain Be
tween this country and the Spanish na-
tion there was peace. In the darkness
OF the night a terrible explosion de-
stroyed the American battleship, and
killed large number CT American
sailors. Both Americans and Spanlards
protested ignorance Of the character
or origin of the explosion. Those
Americans who are ever for war I'M
medlately declared that 1t was dam
nable act upon the part OF the Span
iards in Cuba and called upon the ad-
ministration to declare war. The more
conservative OF Americans inclined 90
the accident theory until some tangible
proof OF Spanish foul play was made
evident by proper Investigation of the
hull OF the battleship and its surrounds
ings The Spanish government, both
ait home and in Cuba, loudly disc.aimed
an responsibility for the horror, and
transmitted such disclaimer 10 the
United States.
A commission was appointed TO make
a thorough investigation Of the matter
1t repaired to Havana, taking diver!
and other appliances for determining
the truth concerning the explosion
That commission is now at work, ant
we can we'll afford to wait its answer
before becoming too belligerent in oun
language. If It transpires that the ex
plosion was due to the carelessness o
someone aboard the Maine. or to chemi
cal action, possible, yet unforeseen ans
unexpected, we shall have much to re
gret In the matter of war-like talk.
it is shown that the destruction
wrought was due 10 a torpedo launche'
by someone on the island of Cuba, tn
connection Of the Spanish govern
ment with such person will have to b
reasonably established bsfore hostili
ties can be resorted to, the Spanis
government having repudiated tn
thought of responsibility and it's for
elgn office having denounced the out
rage.
Let us take the matter home to oul
selves. Suppose some evil-minded pei
son were to row out to the Spanish wai
ship Vizcaya, now in New York hal
Dor, and blow her up. The whole n,
tlOn would be horror-stricken. tn
crime would be condemned. Our go'
ernment would Immediately declai
that il was the crime of fanatic, an
rot CT a Federal or state official
would express the deepest regret; ca
for the dead and wounded, and lock a
ter the comfort Of those who survive
In the face of that action there is n
an American who would not round
dencunce Spain if she were TO resort
war against us.
Let us be fair in our dealings wi
our neighbols. They are certainly e
titled to a suspension of judgment un
they are proved guilty of a crime
abominable. When it is clearly esta
lished that the representatives OF {
Spanish government planned and e
cuted the Blowing up CT the Maine.
will be time to act without hesitati,
Until the commission of our own ms
ing concludes its labons and transm
its report 20 the president we cam
come to any fair or intelligent decisi
es TO the guilt or innocence Of
Spanish government. The position
Spain is both undesirable anl criti,
and she must be treated fairly II
are 10 maintain our self-respect and
respect Of the world at large.
Emil Zola was not judged, but I
Judged. His conviction was a maj
OF grave political expediency, and