Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-01

! a. ,he homeless contest they are waging
n,u, this country, and that this the
war; IS the end OF Spain
n the ex-Premier shall prove a
! prophet. at whose door VIII 'he reSpoh-
slhI,,tv for the end Of Spain Her Inc
I-ni,ed states are not waglng a war ior
! tho destruction of Spain. We have SOL
emnly pledged ourselves against a war
=, conouest. Under the Cuban resolu-
| ,,ors passed by Congress, we stand be-
foro tho world to-day In the attitude OF
having drawn the sword. not Tor terri-
,orial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but In the cause
NJ humanity. our sole purpose and ann
,o,ng IN release Cuba from Spanish
,hroldom. pacify the island by putting a
stop 10 a devastating war. and bring ABOUT
conditions under which the Cubans can
establish a free and independent govern
ment of their OWL. Nor did we iorce
snain TO a choice between submitting
the issue TO the arbitrament OF arms ana
doing Justice TO Cuba Of her own Tree
will. until after We had made long ana
patient efforts to induce her to take the
latter course. While these efforts were IN
progress she had repeated opportunities
"a save her pride, for II Is hardly 10 DE
questioned that up to a few months ago
the demand that she relinquish entirely
her sovereignty over Cuba had but HI
file earnest and substantial support III
this country. Indeed. not until the dow
ing up of the Maine in the harbor OF Ha-
hama did that demand begin 10 crys-
tallze, as far as the masses wero con-
cerned, into a part Of our policy Tor set-
fling the Cuban question. Moreover
even after that terrible disaster had
evoked from he hearts Of thousands
who had heretofore b~eenfeminentiy con-
servative as 70 the whole matter the
cry of Drive the Spaniards from the
island" we continued to exercise pa
tience. we continued to invite Spain 10
omen q way through which could be Sc
cured peace with honor for both coun-
tries.
Rut no. Regardless Of the Nemesis that
has followed her for generations anu
reduced her magnificent empire TO inc
nroportions. comparatively, of n petty
nrovjnce. she would not have H.. Oh-
mindful of the re%tribution that had lash-
Cd her out of colony after colony, which
nv her misgovernment, rapine, aVailce'
and butchery, she had turned into a heli
unon earth, she would not listen. DlscIe-
tion conscience. and the dictates OF hu-
monitv were subordinated 10 her AFRO
eance. and the warning voice Oh history
was drowned by her Boosting.
Furthermore, she entered upon inc
vor-courted war by declining to receive
and consider our uftimatum-with full
knowledge that her Treasury was de-
Melted. that her credit was wrecked;
that many of the flower of her young
men had fallen victims OF disease Ill
Cuba: that political dissensions exis'eo
at home. and that the first great disaster
~ Spanish arms might result in the over
throw of the present dynasty or a long
internecine struggle. Perhaps Crlspl was
not unmindful of this when he maoe-
with reeret-his ominous prediction But
ho that as il may, since, as we have said'
the limited States are not waging' ana uo
not propose to wage. a war of conquest
II the fnality shall prove the END Oh
Spain. her destruction will be upon her
OWL head by her own hand.