The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-04
Preparing FOR WAR;
Continued from First Page.

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Continued from First Page.
mand that Spain publicly disavow the
act and make PREPARATION and grant in
demnity without delay. If Spain should
refuse to accede to these demands war
would be the only result that could fol-
low. In that war no other nation would
have any right or justification in inter
national law to interfere, no matter
whether or not they thought the provo
cation sufficient to justify war. The
United States as an independent Nation
cannot submit the motives that actuate it
in seeking redress for injuries or wrongs
sustained to the judgement of any other
nation and retain its independence and
self respect or the respect of the world.
/ This is the doctrine of international law.
**
Even if the Maine disaster should be
eliminated from the situation altogether
as it would be in case it is shown to
have been due to an accident on board
/ the vessel, the prospect of war with Spain
would not be eliminated from the situa-
ton. The reason is plain. The Maine
disaster. terrible as it is, is but an Incl
dent of larger question. The real
question is as to Cuba. If Spain finds
she cannot subdue the insurgents and
will be compelled to let the island go,
domestic political reasons will urge the
/ Spanish government on to forcing war
with the United States. An official of
the State Department, who cannot be
quoted, who is familiar with the politi-
cal condition of Spain, says that if the
government should lose Cuba without
the Intervention of the United States,
and no other country will intervene, ii
would result in the immediate downfall
of that Gov eminent and the expulsion OF
the present dynasty. To avoid this re.
suit the present Spanish government is
ready, he thinks, to provoke war with
this country. If that be the case war
with Spain is sure to come, for the
Spanish seem to be utterly unable to
make Roadway against the insurgents
The Spanish people appear to be united
in but one thing, hatred of the United
States. That is sentiment shared alike
by the adherents of the Alfonsian dynas.
ty, the partisans Of the Carlists, Repub.
licans, Socialists and Anarchists. 1t is
their only bond of union. The Alfonsists
the State Department official believes
stand ready to take advantage of this
feeling when they find they must give uI
Cuba to embroil their country in wal
with us in order to save the throne Of
the boy king.
~
I There is small prospect that crisis
can be reached within the next two OF
three weeks. and that time limit passed
4 it is clearly in the interest of this govern
ment to prolong negotiations and carry
1 matters along until midsummer without
arriving at a conclusion which might
precipitate collision. The seeming i'm
possibility of doing anything before the
rainy season in Cuba sets in is said to be
a partial explanation of the Presidents
determination not to be driven to hasty
action at this time.
The other side of the proposition is one
which is causing no little apprehension
in Administration and Congressional
circles, and an intimation is brought to
leaders that the Spanish will endeavor to
bring on the climax about the beginning
instead of the end of the approaching
rainy season. They argue, it is under.
stood, that if there must be war il
would be to Spanish advantage to have il
begin about the 1st Of May They pro.
coed upon the assumption that for three
months they will have America on
the defensive, and the freedom to roam
up and down the Atlantic coast with
their warships preying upon exposed sea
ports and destroying American com
merce while Havana and the rest of Cubs
will need no defense, except that which
nature provides. This suggestion is
sufficiently pregnant with direful posi-
bilities to arouse genuine alarm in Ger.
tain quarters which are usually excep
tionally well informed about interna.
tial affairs, and where it is the habit to
dig deep for motives of international
intrigue. It is barely possible that while
we are playing Spain, Spain is playing
us, and that the Dons may take the first
trick after all. They are exceedingly
ski1lful in the game Of diplomacy, and
are past grand masters of sinis-
fer intrigue. The thought is one
which is not pleasant to dwell
upon. In conf rmation of the foregoing
it is stated that Madrid has asked the
Washington government for still further
time in which the success or failure
of autonomy may be demonstrated. The
Madrid government pretends to fervent-
~ believe that if left alone for sixty days
longer it will have subjugated the people
of the Island Of Cuba, and restored that
part Of the world to state of tranquil