The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-14

cessary to carry these resolutions into
effect"
1he report Of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations on the Cuban situation
was made by Senator Davis, chairman
Of that committee and was a very
thorough review Of the entire situation
and strong presentation Of the facts
which has led 10 its conclusions. The re-
port takes up the Maine disaster as the
leading topic for consideration and
plunges into that question in its first sem
tence which Is as follows.
The destruction OF the United States
batteship Maine. Of two OF her officers
anu 2a Of her crew In the harbor Of Ha-
vana on the night OF February 10. lN'>,
excited TO an unprecedented degree the
compassion and resentment OF the Ameri-
can people"
Continuing. the report says:
Manifestations of that resentment were
suspended. although the feeling was not
allayed. by the self-Testraint of our peo-
pie. who determined 10 hold their judg-
ment in suspension concerning their ulti-
mate action until an official investigation
should disclose the cause of the great dis
aster and enable them by direct or cir
cumstantial testimony 10 impute the re-
sponsibility therefor
RESPONSIBILITY
That investigation had been made. II
was conducted with judicial thoroughness
and deliberation. The difficulty of de-
monstrating by conclusive proof the ell
fcient personal cause of that sinister
event was the usual one Of exposing plot
ted and monstrOus crimes. NO such dltn-
Guilty. however. obscures it's official ana
responsible cause
The committee say that the explosion
OF the Maine was linked with series OF
precedent transactions which cannot III
reason be disconnected from II.
with animus by Spain so plainly APP
parent that no one can even plausloly
DENY its existence II is merely one reason
for the conclusion 20 which the lnVesu-
eating mind must come in considering me
entire subject of the relations or the
United States with that government
Concluding this portion Of its presenta-
ton. the committee says;
The duplicity, pertioy and cruelty OF
the Spanish character as they AWAY
have been are demonstrated sun To- con
tinue bv their manifestations during the
present war I'm cuba. All these clicuIn-
stances considered cumuiatively warrants
The conclusion that the destruction OF the
Min. Vas compassed either by the off
cial act Of the Spanish authorities 'ana
the ascertainmcnt OF the particular per-
som ie mot rnateriaD or WAS made possible
bv a negligence ON their part so Wiling
ana gross as to be equivalent IN culpa-
bilitv ia positive criminal action
INDEPENDENCE.
I'm taking ND the more general subjects
the committee express the opinion that
the Omitted States ought at once 10 rec
oeniz. the independence of the people OF
Cuba and also ought 10 intervene 20 the
end that the war and fits unexampled
atrocities shall cease and that such inde-
pendcncc shall become settled political
fact at the earliest possible moment by
the establishment by the free action OF
the people Of Cuba when such action can
he had of a government independent ln
fact and form.
The committee assert that the cause Of
Spain has continually grown weaker
while the cause Of the insurgents has
grown stronger. and say that tho few re-
infcrcements now being sent 90 cuba do
not supply 1.-THE Of SPANS losses caus-
ed by battle and disease"
10 is asserted that the Spanish govern
ment has violated the laws Of civilized
warfare i'm the slaughter Of prisoners and
the massacre OF sick and wounded.
On the subject Of intervention the com
mittee says:
justification for Intervention IS
strengthened I'm such cases as the present.
where the expressions by a state OF its
subjects have been so inveterate, afro
cious and sanguinary as % require inter
vention by other nations In the interests
OF humanity and the peace Of the world.
for thu purpose of overthrOwing that
government and establishing or recogniz-
ing another in its place as the only means
of extirpating an otherwise incurabie and
dangerous evil
The autonomy scheme which was prom
ised and which was alluded to by Presi-
dent Mckinley in his last annual mes
sage is pronounced "specious and illu-
sofy."