Historical voices

No less is due to a people who, after nearly five years of demonstrated capacity to fulfill the obligations of self-governing statehood, come of their free will to merge their destinies in our body-politic.

If it shall hereafter appear to be a duty imposed by our obligations to ourselves, to civilization and humanity to intervene with force, it shall be without fault on our part and only because the necessity for such action will be so clear…

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.

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…

She has recalled the commander whose brutal orders inflamed the American mind and shocked the civilized world.

It is honestly due to Spain and to our friendly relations with Spain that she should be given a reasonable chance to realize her expectations and to prove the asserted efficacy of the new order of things to which she stands irrevocably…

That the government of Sagasta has entered upon a course from which recession with honor is impossible can hardly be questioned; that in the few weeks it has existed it has made earnest of the sincerity of its professions is undeniable.

That past methods are futile to force a peace by subjugation is freely admitted, and that ruin without conciliation must inevitably fail to win for Spain the fidelity of a contented dependency.

The policy of cruel rapine and extermination that so long shocked the universal sentiment of humanity has been reversed.

But should such a step be now taken, when it is apparent that a hopeful change has supervened in the policy of Spain toward Cuba?

Intervention upon humanitarian grounds has been frequently suggested and has not failed to receive my most anxious and earnest consideration.

For these reasons I regard the recognition of the belligerency of the Cuban insurgents as now unwise, and therefore inadmissible.

Considered as a question of expediency, I regard the accordance of belligerent rights still to be as unwise and premature as I regard it to be, at present, indefensible as a measure of right.

Unless justified by necessity, it is always, and justly, regarded as an unfriendly act and a gratuitous demonstration of moral support to the rebellion.

But now, as in its past history, the United States should carefully avoid the false lights which might lead it into the mazes of doubtful law and of questionable propriety, and adhere rigidly and sternly to the rule, which has been its…

That, by our code of morality, would be criminal aggression.

I speak not of forcible annexation, for that can not be thought of.

All that was asked or expected was that some safe way might be speedily provided and permanent peace restored.

I felt it my first duty to make instant demand for the release or speedy trial of all American citizens under arrest.

Against this abuse of the rights of war I have felt constrained on repeated occasions to enter the firm and earnest protest of this Government.

We have only the desire to see the Cubans prosperous and contented, enjoying that measure of self-control which is the inalienable right of man, protected in their right to reap the benefit of the exhaustless treasures of their country.

There is no desire on the part of our people to profit by the misfortunes of Spain.

The existing conditions can not but fill this Government and the American people with the gravest apprehension.

The civilized code of war has been disregarded, no less so by the Spaniards than by the Cubans.