The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-03-10
HE REDWOOD GAZETTE.
BY AIKEN E. SCHMAHL.
THURSDAY. MARCH 3, 1898.
GAZETTE BUILDING DIRECTORY.
UNpATRIOTIC REMARKS.

The Hon. j. T. McCleary, represen-
tative in Congress from the Second
district of Minnesota, seems to have
made an objectionable breach of
American patriotism and good sense
in an interview with well-known cor
respondent of the Washington Post,
one of the most influential papers pub
lished in Washington. The interview
was the result of the Maine disaster,
and practically quoted Mr.. McCleary
as saying that Spain had the right to
place the Maine over a mine in Ha-
vana harbor, and touch off the mine
at any time when she deemed hostili-
ties had been commenced. The rep
resentative, undoubtedly, was attempt
ing to play in with the administration
when he submitted to the interview,
but when it appeared in print, and he
saw how unpatriotic we're his words
he hurriedly rushed to the newspaper
correspondents and denied ever hav-
ing had an interview with the CORE
spondent in question. He declared
the whole article pure "fake." But
later, he has admitted that he had
such an interview, but that he was
misguided on some points. The cor
respondent of the Post, together with
the Post itself, emphatically declare
that our preventative was quoted to
the letter, and now comes another
congressman, who was with Mr.. Nc
Cleary at the time of the interview,
and declares that every word printed
by the Post was an utterance
of Mr.. McCleary. But here is what
Mr.. McCleary said to the Post:
II am no lover of the Spanish people, nor
can any one doubt my patriotism, and yet it
seems to me that there are considerations in
this question which we must not lose sight
of. The Maine entered the harbor of Ha-
vana ostensibly on friendly mission, but
really prepared for war. The letters of the
men on the vessel made public since the dis
aster plainly state that every gun was load
ed as the ship sailed by MORO Castle. The
Spanish authorities knew that while we
were talking friendship with our lips we hao
war at our hearts. In my judgment, the
Spanish authorities were amply justified il
deliberately conducting the Maine to spo
over a submarine mine. just as we would
have been justified in placing the Spanish
cruiser in New York harbor in the same po
sition. The guns OF the Maine could have
blown Havana into atoms, and the Spanish
knew it. At any moment something might
have occurred in Madrid or in New York
Spaniards:did right when they took every
precaution to place the Maine hors du com
| bat the moment any trouble occurred. dc
not believe, however, that the evidence will
show that the act was the result of officia
authority, and it Spain is willing to pay al
indemnity, it seems to me that the United
States cannot ask anything else.
1t is hard to think that these are the
words of an American representative
in Congress, and particularly the
member from this district, yet with
the denial, the after concession thai
a part was true, it must be regarded
that the whole is true, and that the
second district of Minnesota has al
nti-American as it's representative a
Washington. Here Mr.. McCleary
countenances the blowing into eternity
of 265 brave American sailors, the de
struction of war vessel costing near
ly five million dollars, and says tina
Spain had right to do this, and i
Spain is willing to pay a miserable
sum of money as plaster for the live:
and property she wilfully, traitorously
and murderously destroyed, the Amer
lean people should feel satisfied.
Mr.. McCleary was born in Canada
There are many other men residing ir
the United States who were likewise
born in Canada number of them ir
our midst, but we will venture the