New-York tribune., 1909-01-26
.REUEHBER THE MAINE"

Governor Magoon's report of his stewardship
in Cuba is In all respects but one hlshIy sla'ii!
ing and creditable to him and 10 lhe hauoh
which he represents. He has done MS WIN ''
Provisional Governor we'll. He has paclned the
island reha blitated its government, ehuo"eu
il with wise legislation and materlal innpIo'e
ments and put it in the way Oh enduring peaoe'
prosperity and independence, Will iai 80
prospects OF success than it has ever had De
foro Indeed We NAV say confidently that II
Cuba will faithfully continue in the way winch
he has marked out for her and into Whlcn ne
has actually inducted her. the success oI heI
experiment in autonomy will be assured
From two-perhaps three-important points
of view however, a portion OF OoFeInoi u"
goon's report implies grave reproacn, hot u
himself nor to Cuba, but TO the American so'
ernmert That is the salient passage referring
to the wreck of the battleship Maine in the
harbor of Havana. 1t is now nearly teie'en
wears since that ship was sunk. 1t was more
than len wears ago that this country secured
comnlete control of Havana, TO do Win the
barhor and its contents what was pleasing 10
if Yet the wreck of the Maine sun lies "heIe
it sank. Governor NagOon reports thtt Ho'
only is the wreck itself a serious menace 10
shining but also that it Is causing the Fapiu
formation of an extensive shOal, when IL act
ually filling up the whole harDoI' on 'n'''
purely practical ground there Is urgent redsoH
for the prompt removal of the wreck
There is a second reason TO which recent
incident has given emphasis. When the IT'D
me suggested the other day that the poules
of the American Consul and his Wlfe shoulu
be recovered from the ruins of Messlna py tne
mon of orr own navy, the eminent fitness anu
need of that work We're recognized, ana IL was
speedily performed by several hunuTeo hioh
from the fleet But in the wreck OF tue Malhe
+boro ara-+bere were-the bodies of more tnan
threescore American sailors. That they shoui'
for all these wears be thus abandoned ana ap
DarentIv forgotten by the government anu Pc
nle of the United States is indeed as MI W."
Zoo, ,,up+Iv declares "a national reproach ana
an international scandal" Every sehtlihehl u
resnact for the dead. of gratitude for their ser
,ioo ond their sacrifice and Of regard Tor our
,o+iopal honor. demands that we shall he-
,,apoher tho Maine" at this helated date as
,nuob as ve did in the hot blood or 1873
Tho third point to which we have reIeFreu Il
oIso frankly set forth by Mr.. Magoon-nahelS'
the notion which seems to preNaI III sum
o,,a+ors that the United States is afraid 10
80 4bo Ureck lest il should then be SHOWN
+bot tho shin was destroyed by an internal anu
nor an external explosion. II thaI lhplesSioU
does really prevail to any extent heu we
sho,,1d sey that the reputation Of America Tor
courage. manliness and good falth lhpei"
+irelv demands the immediate raising OF that
.oc,- ,f for no other purpose than TO prove
+bo+ we are not afraid of having the "hoie
,r,,+b whatever It may be. indubitably knoWh'
For all these reasons we believe that the Ahel-
ican neoDle will heartily second Governor M"-
coon,s earnest recommenda ton that our gov
ornn,ant take immediate steps TO remove the
,rract Of the Maine from Havana Haroor anu
thus TO remove n national reproaeh.