The National tribune., 1903-05-07

reached. AND yet the STRIFE continues
with all its dread horrors and all its in
Juries 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 they seem incapa-
bic of reaching any adjustment, and both
have thus far failed of achieving any sue
cess whereby one party shall possess and
control the island to the exclusion of the
other. Under these circumstances, the
agency of others, either by mediation or
by Intervention, seems to be the only al
tentative which must sooner or later be
invoked for the termination Of the strife. y
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's VIEWS.
In the last annual message of my imme-
date predecessor during the pending strug-
gle. it was said:
when the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the instruction has be-
come manifest, and it is demonstrated that
her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba for all
purposes of its rightful existence, and
when hopeless struggle for its reestablish-
ment has degenerated into n strife which
means nothing more than the useless sacri-
flee of human life and the utter destruc-
ton of the very subject-matter of the con-
al
our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain
will be superseded by higher obligations,
which we can hardly hesitate to recognize
and discharge"
In my annual message to Congress. De-
cember last, speaking to this question, L
said:
1.-The near future will demonstrate
whether the indispensable condition of
righteous peace, just alike to the Cubans
ou1 fo Spoip velI euIIita ble tO all
our interests so intimately involved 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 times comes that
action will be determined in the line of
indisputable right and duty. 1t will be
faced. without misgiving or hesitancy, in
owes to itself. to the people who have con-
fidcd 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 up
right and patriotic considerations. moved
neither by passion nor selfishness, the
Government will continue its watchful care
over the rights and property of American
citizens and will abate none of its efforts
to bring about by peaceful agencies 4
peace which shall be honorable and endur-
ing. If it shall hereafter appear to be a
duty imposed by our obligations to our
selves. to civilization and humanity to in
tervene with force, it shall be without
fault on our part and only because the
necessity of such action will be so clear
as to command the support and approval
of the civilized world"
SPANS CRUELTIEs HOPELESS.
The long trial has proved that the OBJ
ject for which Spain has waged the war
can not be attained. The fire of insurrec-
ton may flame or may smolder with vary
ing seasons. but it has not been and it is
plain that it can not be eXtinguished by
present methods. The only hope of relief
and repose from Il condition which can no
longer be endured is the enforced pacif-
cation of Cuba. In the name of humanity,
in the name of civilization, in behalf Of
endangered American interests which give
us the right and the duty to speak and to
act the war in Cuba must stop.
In view of these facts and of these con-
siderations, l ask the Congress to au-
thorize and empower the President to take
measures to secure a full and final ter
mination of hostilities between the Gov
eminent of Spain and the people of Cuba,
and to secure in the island the establish
ment of stable Government, capable Of
maintaining order and observing its inter
national obligations, insuring peace and
tranquility and the security of its citi-
zens as well as our own, and to use the
military and naval forces of the United
States as may be necessary for these pur-
poses.
And in the interest of humanity and to
aid in preserving the lives of the starving
people of the island l recommend that the
distribution of food and supplies be con-
tinucd, and that an appropriation be made
out of the public Treasury to supplement
the charity of our citizens.
THE ISSUE is NOW WITH THE CONGRESS.
1t is solemn responsibility. l have
exhausted every effort to relieve the in
tolerable condition of affairs which is at
our doors. Prepared to execute every OBJ
legation imposed upon me by the Consti-
tuition and the law, 1 await your action.
Yesterday, and since the preparation of
the foregoing message, official information
was received by me that the latest decree
of the Queen Regent of Spain directs Gen.
BIancO, in order to prepare and facilitate
peace, to proclaim suspension of HOSTILE
ties, the duration and details of which
have not yet been communicated to me.
This fact, with every other pertinent
consideration, will, l am sure, have your
just and careful attention in the solemn
deliberations upon which you are about to
enter. If this measure attains success
full result, then our aspirations as Chris
tan, peace-loving people will be realized.
If it fails. it will be only another justifica.
ton for our contemplated action.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April II, 1898.
THE QUESTION IN THE HANDS OF
CONGRESS.
The message was temperate and 5igni-
fed in tone. but unanSwerable as to con-
illusions, and brought the question square
ly to issue.
Under our Government the President is
the agent, in conjunction with the Senate,
in dealing with foreign powers. Congress 8
functions in diplomacy are very limited,
but potent when invoked. 1t can regulate
intercourse with other countries and can
declare war. When, therefore, the Presi-
dent recited the long, persistent, patient
and diversified endeavors of his predeces-
sors and himself to bring Spain to adopt a
policy consistent with the civilization of
the day, and said in conclusion that he
had exhausted all the resources of diplo-
macy, it became incumbent on Congress
to exercise its prerogative and invoke the
last argument of kings'-war.
Congress proceeded promptly. April Is,
two days after the reception of the mes
| sage, the House COMMITTEE on Foreign
Affairs unanimously reported a resolution,
which read:
Resolved, That the President is hereby
authorized and directed to intervene at
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