Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-19
a slothful peace courage will eneminate

a slothful peace courage Will efreminate
and manners corrupt.
1t may be said that we live In the nine
teenth century and not IN the slxteentn.
But have we not to deal with the same
human nature, with the greed ana giut-
tony of conquest, with cruelty ana lnlus-
tice and robbery? There are certain !un.
damental characteristics of mankind that
do not change with the progress OF ages
nor the so-called refinements OF ciVlllza-
ton, nor even the spread OF religion. one
is that long repose and prosperity DeSet
avarice and smother the romantic gallan-
try and fine spirit of a people. verify
peace hath her vices as well as her Vlcto.
ries; and the blessings of Judah and OF
Asher are never combined.
Such are the influences which caused us
to be found few months ago totally I'M
prepared for threatened war. Ii was
ascertained that we had but three guns
of large calibre mounted on our coast
from Maine to Texas. a distance or 4oov
miles. though experts testified before tne
congressional committee that so heaVy
guns and S2i mortars would be required
to protect even the more important
points. Our navy would nave peeil
hernmed in in our harbors. our prlvateeTs
would have been without coaling stations:
without ports of refuge. and condemned
like land birds at sea to fan an easy prey
to an enemy far less prepared ana enter
prisng than England. The dove that dis.
appeared forever from the window OF
Noahs ark over a wilderness of waters
had not more hopeless mission, ana
suffered no more pathetic fate than would
our Snlps against such a zoe lhueeu'
there would have been practically notn-
ing to prevent an English fleet from ieVy-
ing sufficient tribute from Boston, New
York and Baltimore to wage costly war
against us. Our cities on the lakes, CUR.
and Pacific coasts would have been N
like danger. True, we have beaten brlt-
ain i'll two waters, but under very dii il;d,,
another would be fought. During Doth
conflicts England had other enemies TO
combat. But for the treaty OF Tescnen
which liberated France from compilca-
tons with Germany. enabling her TO rem
der us more aid. and do England more
damage. we could hardly have secured the
peace of 1888. Indeed during the greater
part of the Revolutionary war par:lcu.
larly the latter part. England was not
only involved in active hostlltles WIN
France and Spain. but had to contend
with Russia. Prussia. Denmark, Sweden,
the kingdom of the two Settles Austria:
and Holland or practically the whole OF
Europe, which took advantage of the sit
uation to secure their sea rights
against her oppressive ascendancy. In
lSl2-14 we We're not less fortunate. Her
exhaustive conflict with Napoleon mad
crippled her resources and overwheimed
her with high taxes. We have never had
to encounter her single-handed., and
though there is little question of our
ability to conquer Canada and protect our
war with such power would require pro-
longed effort and enormous sacrifices.
The time has certainly come for us TO
heed the warning of Tilden and see lhat
there ''be some relation between our as
Sertion of the Monroe doctrine and our
preparation to maintain it, 1t Is fortu-
nate that threatened complications nave
directed public thought to the points of
our weakness and to the singular omis-
sion of Congress to protect the country
against the most tragic results. Now
that our eyes are open shall We continue
our dream of security and over-conti-
dence, or shall we wisely fix our finances
upon a firm basis. fortify our harbors. en-
large our navy, look to the organization
of our army. encourage the recruiting
and training of our militia. putting the
most approved weapons in their hands.
and establish outposts and coaling sta
lions where our ships may repair their
injured engines and recruit their crippled
crews? For such purposes. as well as for
Its strategic situation IN the channel OF
our trade with the Gulf states. Central
and South America and the Pacific slope.
Cuba would be an invaluable as it must
soon become a necessary acquisition, de-
manded alike by the safety of our COM
of the island falling into the hands OF
some strong naval power. Its possession
was the dream of jefferson and the OBJ
lect OF Buchanans untiring effort. backed
by every American statesman worthy of
the name. 1t is of more value to us mere
ly as a military station than Malta is to
England; and nothing but the stupidity
of our craftsmanship will prevent us
from speedily owning it, by purchase. if
possible, by conquest if necessary. When
a channel is cut across the isthmus, Cuba
Will become a necessity.
Besides. it is indisputably true that this
country is largely responsible for the
present condition and prolonged oppres-
sion of Cuba. But for the United States
CURED by Great Britain or France.
Twice have the English schemed to Sc
cure it. and at least once France was
upon the eve of its purchase. In either
event its people would have obtained the
liberty of local government and relief
from the grinding taxation and bloody
tyranny of Spain. Nothing but repeated
warning and the inevitable result of a
war with this country. has prevented its
transfer to one power or the other. The
records of our state department show
let the world know that the occupation of
the island by any other foreign power
but Spain would be regarded as a casus
belli. We have simply acted the ignoble
and selfish part of the dog in the manager.
refusing relief ourselves and preventing
relief from others. We are therefore
particeps criminis. We are in a large
measure responsible for the strife. the
bloodshed and cruelty which have char
acterized the rule of Spain. resulting in a
dozen revolutions within the century, the
GRIPPING of our own commerce with the
island. and the robbery and repeated
slaughter of American citizens who reside
there, or whose sympathies impeled
them to seek its liberation. We owe
Spain nothing. When she had the power.
she bulied and insulted US. Florida
when in her possession, was the refuge of
adventures who melted savages to in
wade our frontier and massacre our cit
liens. 1t was not until Gen. Jackson
marched into that territory surrounded a
Spanish fortress. captured and hung Ar
buthnot and AmbriSter. that a check was
put on these outrases. Spain supplied
the cutthroats with arms and munitions.
and in every way encouraged their afro
cities.-C. e. Sears in N. Y. Sun.