Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-27
THE CUBAN QUESTION.

Gen. George E. Pickett, who was Major
General in the Confederate army, offers, in
case of war with Spain, to raise one hundred
and eighty thousand volunteers and take for
chile occupation of Cuba. He doesn't say
whether he will do it before breakfast or not; ;
but that is of no special consequence The
General ought to have turned his attention
to the recruiting branch of the service during
the "late unpleasantness." A small army of
one hundred and eighty thousand volunteers
could not have been grinned at in the darkest
days of the Confederacy.
1t is said that Longstreet is now engaged
in raising volunteers for the occupation of
Cuba. He is more modest, however, than
Pickett, and will be content with ten thous-
and men.
Alexander H. Stevens is also reported to
be in bellicose condition. His mind seems
to have undergone slight change since he
retired from active participation in the affairs
of the Confederate government, in 1864, and
now his voice is for war. This savage dispo-
stion on the part of the fragile statesman is
engendered by the belief that war with Spain
will do much towards allaying the sectional
prejudice between the North and South. He
evidently thinks the Yankees do not love us
we'll enough.
The officers of the South Carolina National
Guard held meeting in Columbia on Friday
night to discuss the question now occupying
the public mind every where. Warlike reso
lutions were adopted, and Comptroller Gen
eral Hoge made speech, which was lengthy
and advocated vigorous work for the imme-
diate disenthralment of the people of Cuba.
He said:
"He had no faith in the success Of the present
Spanish republic and believed that no false feel
ing of caution should interpose now to retard
prompt and vigorous action. He believed the
day had passed when any motives would deter
the soldier who wore the blue, or the grey, from
keeping step to step in the great cause OF liberty
He believed the time had come when If the Pres
ident and Cabinet had the heart to succor the OPP
pressed, they could do so. They could at least
give Cuba that sympathy that will at least enable
them to establish republic oftheir own. While
sympathy may be expressed, the time may DC
| near when there will be needed something else;
he hoped it would come speedily. when all the
Young men may be willing to shoulder their mus
kets and do battle for the cause of liberty. New
Jersey had already volunteered regiment; how
many fthe regiments Of this State are willing to
tender their services to the Governor and show
thereby that they are willing to give Cuba liberty
and independence? IA voice-Will you lead a
regiment?] Thatdepends whether am appoint.
ed to command them or not If 1 am will lead
them as far they are willing to follow to drive
out these bloody Spaniards, who revel in blood.
He could notsay that he was anxious for fighting,
but he would give up all comforts and ask no col
ored man or any one else to do that nc was
not willing to do himself 1t would not be the
first time he had fought for the principles of his
country. He believed to-day that if a call should
| be made by the President of the United States
there would be more men than were needed to
wipe out the stains of blood and protect the patri-
OTIS of Cuba. and punish the nurderers there
There are plenty Of men, let the Spaniards make
the fight as long as they please; and he consider.
ed it fortunate, because there is 80 many men at
the present time who had nothing to DO but tight
Judge Mackey was called upon for aspeech'
and addressed the meeting at considerable
length. As reported in the Union Herald he
said:
"The Cuban question formed the .!ead!ng TOPIC
in all communities to-day. He thought 4. NV