CONGRESS. (CUBA.) 



is in question, for no less positive test cnn be 

 applied to the greater act than to the lesser; while, 

 ,.ii the other hiinil. the influences and consequences 

 .f the struggle upon the internal policy of the 

 recognizing state, which form important factors 

 when the recognition of l>clligerency is concerned, 

 are gecondary. if not rightly eliminable, factors 

 when the real quest ion is whether the community 

 flaiming recognition is or is not independent be- 

 yond |H-radvciiture. 



Nor from tin- standpoint of expediency do I 

 think it would he wise or prudent for this Govern- 

 ment to reeognixe at the present time the inde- 

 pendence of the >..-ealle<l Cuban republic. Such 

 .tion is not necessary in order to enable the 

 I'micd Stales to intervene and pacify the island. 

 To commit this country now to the recognition of 

 any particular government in Cuba might subject 

 us to emlMwrassing conditions of international ob- 

 ligation toward the organization so recognized. In 

 case of intervention our conduct would be subject 

 to the approval ordisapproval of such government. 

 We would l>e required to submit to its direction 

 and to assume to it the mere relation of a friendly 

 allv. 



When it shall appear hereafter that there is 

 within the island 11 government capable of perform- 

 ing the duties and discharging the functions of a 

 separate nation, and having, as a matter of fact, 

 the pro|>er forms and attributes of nationality, such 

 government can be promptly and readily recog- 

 nized, and the relations and interests of the United 

 States with such nation adjusted. 



There remain the alternative forms of interven- 

 tion 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 dur- 

 ing the last few months the relation of the United 

 States lia-s virtually been one of friendly interven- 

 tion in many ways, each not of itself conclusive, 

 but all tending to the exertion of a potential influ- 

 ence 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 itcace and prosperity in Cuba, untar- 

 nished by differences between us and Spain, and 

 un-tained by the blood of American citizens. 



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 

 nts where neighltoring states have interfered 

 to check the hopeless sacrifices of life by internecine 

 conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on 

 rational grounds. It involves, however, hostile 

 constraint upon both the parties to the contest as 

 well to enforce a truce as to guide the eventual 



-4'ttlenn lit. 



The grounds for such intervention may be briefly 

 summarized as follows : 



First. In the cause of humanity and to put an 

 end to tin- barbarities, bloodshed', starvation, and 

 horrible miseries now existing there, and which I Ill- 

 part ies to the conflict are either unable or unwilling 

 to Mop 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 <mr duty, for it is right at our door. 



Second. We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to 

 fiord them that protection and indemnity for life 

 anil pro|M-rty which no government there can or 

 Will afford, and to that end to terminate the condi- 

 tion- that deprive them of legal protection. 



rhird. The right to intervene may U- justified 

 by the very serious injury to the commerce, trade, 

 ami business of our people and by the wanton de- 



struction of property and devastation of the in- 

 land. 



Fourth, and which is of the utmost importance. 

 The present condition of affairs in Cuba is a con- 

 stant 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 busi- 

 ness relations when the lives and liberty of our 

 citi/ens are in constant danger and their property 

 destroyed and themselves ruined where our trad- 

 ing vessels are liable to seizure and are seized at 

 our very door by war ships 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, arc a constant menace to our 

 peace, and compel us to keep on a semiwar footing 

 with a nation with which we are at peace. 



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 battle ship " Maine " in the 

 harbor of Havana during the night of the 15th 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 the 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 can not assure safety and 

 security to a vessel of the American navy in the 

 harbor of Havana on a mission of peace, and right- 

 fully there. 



Further referring in this connection to recent 

 diplomatic correspondence, a dispatch from our 

 minister to Spain, of the 20th 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 

 of the 31st 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 10th instant, 

 as follows : 



" As to the question of fact which springs from 

 the diversity of views between the reports of the 

 American and Spanish boards, Spain proposes that 

 the facts be ascertained by an impartial investiga- 

 tion by experts, whose decision Spain accepts in 

 advance." 



To this I have made no reply. 



President Grant, in 187r>, 'after discussing the 

 phases of the contest as it then appeared, and its 

 hopeless and apparent indefinite prolongation, 

 said : 



" In such event, I am of opinion that other na- 

 tions will be compelled to assume the responsibility 

 which devolves upon them, and to seriously con 

 sider the only remaining measures possible media- 



