to its direction and to assume to it the mere relation of a friendly ally. When it shall appear hereafter that there is within the island a government capable of performing the duties and discharging the functions of a separate nation and having as a matter of fact the proper forms and attributes of nationality, such government can be promptly and easily

recognized, and the relations and interests of the United States with such nation adjusted.

"There remain

the alternative forms of intervention to end the war, either as an impartial neutral by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants or as the active ally of the one party or the other.

"As to the first, it is not to be forgotten that during the last few months the relation of the United States has virtually been one of friendly intervention in many ways, each effort of itself being conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential influence toward an ultimate pacific result just and honorable to all interests concerned, The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in Cuba, untarnished by differences between the United States and Spain, and unstained by the blood of American citizens.

Our Consul-General in Cuba at the time of the "Maine" disaster.

Grounds for Forcible Intervention of the United States as a Neutral to Stop the War.

"The forcible intervention of the United States as a neutral to stop the war, according to the large dictates of humanity, and following many historical precedents where neighboring states have interfered to to check the hopeless sacrifice of life by internecine conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on rational grounds. It

Executive Clerk at the White House.

involves, however, hostile constraint upon both the parties to the contract as well to enforce a truce as to guide the eventual settle

ment.

"The grounds for such intervention may be briefly summarized as follows:

"First-In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, starvation and horrible miseries now existing there, and which the parties to the conflict are either unable or unwilling to stop or mitigate. It is no answer to say this is all in another country, belonging to another nation, and is therefore none of our business. It is specially our duty, for it is right at our door.

"Second-We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford them that protection and indemnity for life and property which no government there can or will afford, and to that end to terminate the conditions that deprive them of legal protection.

"Third-Right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade and business of our people, and by the wanton destruction of property and devastation of the island.

"Fourth, and which is of the most importance-The present condition of affairs in Cuba is a constant menace to our peace, and entails upon this government an enormous expense. With such a conflict waged for years in an island so near us, and with which our people have such trade and business relations, when the lives and liberty of our citizens are in constant danger, and their property and themselves ruined; when our trading vessels are liable to seizure and are seized at our very door by warships of a foreign nation, the expeditions of filibustering that we are powerless to prevent altogether, and the irritating questions and entanglements thus arising—all these and others that I need not mention, with the resulting strained relations, are a constant menace to our peace and compel us to keep on a semi-war with a nation with which we are at peace.

Spain Proposed International Arbitration to Ascertain Cause of the Destruction of the "Maine."

"These elements of danger and disorder already pointed out. have been strikingly illustrated by a tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the report of the Naval Court of Inquiry on the destruction of the battleship "Maine" in the harbor of Havana during the night of the fifteenth of February. The destruction of that noble vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. Two hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines and two officers of our navy, reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harbor, have been hurled to death, grief and want brought to their homes, and sorrow to the nation.

"The Naval Court of Inquiry, which it is needless to say, commands the unqualified confidence of the government, was unanimous in its conclusion that the destruction of the 'Maine' was caused by an exterior explosion, that of a submarine mine. It did not assume to place responsibility. That remains to be fixed.

"In any event, the destruction of the 'Maine,' by whatever exterior cause, is a patent and impressive proof of a state of things in Cuba that is intolerable. That condition is thus shown to be such that the Spanish government cannot assure safety and security to a vessel

of the American Navy in the harbor of Havana on a mission of peace and rightfully there.

"Further referring in this connection to recent diplomatic correspondence, a dispatch from our Minister to Spain of the twenty-sixth ultimo contained the statement that the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs assured him positively that Spain will do all that the highest honor and justice require in the matter of the 'Maine.'

"The reply above referred to on the thirty-first ultimo also contained an expression of the readiness of Spain to submit to an arbitration all the differences which can arise in this matter, which is subsequently explained by the note of the Spanish Minister at Washington of the tenth instant, as follows: 'As to the question of fact which springs from the diversity of views between the report of the American and Spanish boards, Spain proposes that the fact be ascertained by an impartial investigation by experts, whose decision Spain accepts in advance.' To this I have made no reply.

President Grant Upon the Revolt of 1875, and President Cleveland Upon the Present Revolution.

"President Grant, in 1875, after discussing the phases of the contest as it then appeared, and its hopeless and apparently indefinite prolongation, said: 'In such event I am of opinion that other nations will be compelled to assume the responsibility which devolves upon them, and to seriously consider the only remaining measure possible— mediation and intervention. Owing, perhaps, to the large expanse of water separating the island from the peninsula, the contending parties appear to have within themselves no depository of common confidence to suggest wisdom when passion and excitement have their sway and to assume the part of peacemakers.'

"In this view in the earlier days of the contest the good offices of the United States as a mediator were tendered in good faith, without any selfish purpose, in the interests of humanity, and in sincere friendship for both parties, but were at the time declined by Spain, with the declaration nevertheless that at a future time they would be indispensable. No intimation has been received that in the opinion of Spain that time has been reached, and yet the strife continues with all its dread horrors and all its injuries 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 to all the relations and interests dependent on the existence of peace in the island, but they seem incapable of reaching any adjustment, and both have thus far failed of achieving any success whereby one party shall possess and control the island to the exclusion of the other. Under the circumstances the agency of others, either by mediation or by intervention, seems to be the only alternative which must, sooner or later, be invoked for the termination of the strife.

"In the last annual message of my immediate predecessor during the pending struggle it was said:

"When the inability of Spain to deal successfully with the insurrection has become manifest, and it is demonstrated that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba for all purposes of its rightful existence, and when a hopeless struggle for its re-establishment has degenerated into a strife which means nothing more than the useless sacrifice of human life and the utter destruction of the very subject matter of the conflict, a situation will be presented in which our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be superseded by higher obligations, which we can hardly hesitate to recognize and discharge.'

President McKinley's Hint of Intervention in His Message Last December.

"In my Annual Message to Congress December last, speaking to this question, I said:

"The near future will demonstrate whether the indispensable condition of a righteous peace, just alike to the Cubans and to Spain, as well as equitable 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 time comes that action will be determined in the line of indisputable right and duty. It will be faced, without misgiving or hesitancy, in the light of the obligation this government owes to itself, to the people who have confided to it the protection of their interests and honor, and to humanity. Sure of the right, keeping free from all offence ourselves, actuated only by upright and patriotic consideration, moved neither by passion nor selfishness, the government will continue its watchful care over the rights and property