The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-04-15


ii ark! Hear the mighty refrain
vi nation, t.,,1 agajn and again
'Kememher tae Maine;
Down with S.,ainr'
PRESIDENT Mckinley having shown
The world that the Z. s. was not seek
Ing quarrel with Spain, and Spain
having declined its last opportunity
to give up Cuba ally, and hay
ing added insult to injury by treating
the loss of the Maine as a trivial mat
ter and suggesting that it might be re-
1erred to international arbitration.
there IS no honorable course left to
TINS country except to use force IN
driving Spain out of Cuba and in es-
tabllshlng the independence Of Cuba.
Congress will, upon President McKin-
ley's recommendation authorize that
course and then there will be war
This war has not been sought by the
administration, but every preparation
has been made to fight it to a speedy
and victorious close. Now that it is
almost upon US, there is no doubt or
hesitation in any quarter. Steps have
already been taken that will result in
the necessary legislation by Congress
to provide the money needed to carry
on war on scale large enough to
make sure that it Will be short. There
is but one feeling in Washington, and
that is, to give Spain a thorough lick
ing, regardless of any attempt that
may be made by European powers to
prevent it, either by diplomacy or by
force.
Those who are anxious to partici-
pate IN the war with Spain can best
accomplish their purpose by Joining
the militia at their homes. as it is
generally understood in Washington
that the militia will be the first troops
put in the field, and believe that no
others will be required, outside OF the
regulars
Germany has officially announced
to this Government its intention to
remain neutral in the war between the
L - o1d SnoIy, Int ,ooo,,+ H. ~ .:
occurrences have aroused a suspicion
that the L. S may be up against
Germany before the Spanish war has
proceeded very far. The suspicious
circumstance is a claim made by Ger
many upon Spain for property destroy
ed in Cuba by the insurgents. This
property was only destroyed about
three weeks ago and yet Germany is
talking about using force to compel a
settlement. 1t will not greatly sur
prise diplomats if Spain settles that
German claim by ceding to Germany
a portion of Cuba or Porto Rico, solely
with the intention to defeat the plans
of this Government to make Cuba an
independent republic. If Germany
agreed to such plan, it would be de-
llberately done for the purpose of pro-
voking a scrap with US as the Monroe
doctrine expressly forbids the acQuir-
ing OF additional territory on this
hemisphere by any European Govern
ment and The Z. s. has too often
reiterated It's intention to maintain
that doctrine at all hazards for any
doubt to exist as to what our position
would be in such case.
| Some idea Of the feeling in Congress
NAV be gained from the following
words of Representative Grout, of
! Vermont, one Of the most cOnserva-
tive men in the House II am in
favor of swift and terrible vengeance
upon Spain Up to the present time
have been opposed to any interven-
tion by force in Cuba and | was one
of the few republicans who voted
against the recognition of Cuban bel
ligerency more than year ago, when
the question was presented to the
House. Now I am ready to use our
Army and Navy to drive the Spanish
flag from the island of Cuba, and /
VIII not only follow, bub l am prepar-
ed to lead in a movement to authorize
the President 20 teach the Spanish
Government that she cannot insult
this nation with impunity and hide
behind the cloak of diplomacy. The
American people are inf1amed beyond
endurance by the method she has en-
ployed in dealing with the Cuban, and
the destruction OF the Maine is an ad-
ditional cause for an immediate resort
to force.
| Tt will not do to treat the blowing up
of our battleship and the killing OF
our gallant sailors as simply a dis
tressing incident of the Cuban sitna-
ton. The destruction of the Maine
has done more to fire the American
heart than all the long list of cruelties
practiced upon the suffering in Cuba .
In order to guard against the posi-