The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
WORDSSPOKENIN SEASON
HON. MAURICE THOMPSON TALKS OF
OUR TROUBLE WITH SPAIN.
Everybody Should Keep Cool and
Extend Earnest Support to the
National Administration.

Hon. Maurice Thompson, who has just
returned from New Orleans and other
Southern points, was interviewed at Craw-
louisville on Saturday. Mr.. Thompson is
an uncompromising Democrat, but he is in
perfect sympathy with President McIkin-
ley in his attitude on the Cuban situation.
Mr.. Thompson has had experience in war
and is able to speak from actual knowledge
of military operations When asked for his
views of the war crisis he said
Suppose we permit the Spanish f1otilla
to reach Porto Rico. 1t will rendezvous at
San JUAN harbor excellent for light
draught vessels, but too shallow for heavy
war ships. From San Juan to Havana is a
saif as ships go, of some fifteen hundred
Havana the flotilla would have to go
through the straights of Florida, or through
Yucatan Channel, both of which are mar
row. glance at the map shows how our
fleet at Dry Tortugas guards both the Flor
ida straights and the Yucatan pass 1t
would seem certain that a Spanish COM
mander will not risk sending his fleet into
the Gulf of Mexico, unless he first
break our fleet; for We should have him
practically shut up with no base of sup
plies. If such a fiotilla as Spain is sending
could have ample supply of coal and am
munition, it would prove very dangerous
the boats being of shallow draught and
fast, could haunt the shoal water along the
Cuban coast and strike out at us with i'm
punity; but conditions seem to be all
case of war we should destroy or capture
the whole Spanish outfit before it could do
any great damage.
'There will certainly be great distress in
Havana if we close the port for a few
weeks. AT best they are living from hand
to mouth. Where will their supplies come
from after we begin to strike in earnest?
1t is horrible to think Of. Any man who
has felt what blockade is must shudder
thinking what Cuba must undergo while the
war is on. But freedom seems always to
come by the. fiame-lit, famine paved, blood
washed road; 1t is well worth the price zee
STILL it would be a fine spectacle to see the
hand of Peace one time in history do what
has always been the work of War. L yet
hope, almost against certainty, that war VIII
be averted Every true American must rec
ognize the duty of upholding the admins
tration at this trying moment. There can
of a common danger. President Mckinley
deserves and needs the united support or
the nation There is tremendous respon-
sibility upon him; he feels 1t; let us nelp
him bear it, He is the commander-in-chlet
of our army and navy; he is the olrector
of the flag; he is President; and politics
must yield to patriotism.
IF we have war it will be SPANS fault,
She has not Waged civilized warfare IN Gu
ba; the President notified her that her lnhu-
name work must cease or he would inter,
fere. 1t has not ceased. but has continued
to grow in cruelty and reckless devlltrY:
Then the Maine affair. IL we may creulI
a solemn high court of inquiry constituted
OF the best American manhood our VeSsel'
with its load of precious human hVes, was
harbor. Where that can be done is not the
abode of safe neighbors for us. But the
ba tells what our claim for action is most
broadly based on-the appalling fact that
island, Spanish inhumanity has caused 400
600 people to die of starvation This must
nov end or We, we must hsin IN isnain. revolu
ton is a threatening probability. Douplleeo
the sending of the f1otilla into waters near
us was imp eratively demanded by the polit-
iraI Situation in Snain. but Its approach Is
q threat. We may pretend to think II quite
within Spain's right to send her notilla
where she pleases on the high seas, ana es-
pecially into harbors belonging to her; put
at d time like this, when war is hot IN the
mean but one thing, namely, threat aimed
directly at our navy and our commerce.
1t says to us, You are meddIlng; we ore
coming to make you afraid to meddie. Are
we afraid? Cool heads are never afraid
What shall we do? i think the answer
m np We know that the President
has all the facts in his possession. We must
not assume to know more than ne 40, goes; We Mo
a rash act which would involve US III trou-
BILE with great European powers or set us
before the world in a bad light.
''If the Spanish fleet shall come to Porto
Rico that of itself will justify us before the
civilized world in interfering on behalf OF
the presence of that fleet will be an answer
to President McKineys request that the
war be ended on the island Wlthln rea-
onaba tiT qor st to w keep pc our G9iy 20 the
Cuban situation We must interfere even
if we have to meet that fleet and destroy it
first.
Probably the dread question of war or
no war depends largely upon the elections
in Spain and the temper generated thereby.
Every hour that we delay hostilitles IS a
great gain to us. Every man who has any
actual knowledge of war Ar knows that afo vast
and fitting a navy for action. cannot be
made in a day, week or month. Ii we
have to fight, let US be first we'll ready ana
be sure to hit a deadly blow; We cannot
afford to take foolish chances. None of US
doubts that final outcome of war with
Spain. Our victory is certain: but we must
not underestimate war. If We rush pell-
nell into it we may open the fight with dis
aster History is full of such things. the
commander-in-chief is the man to say when
the time has come for action. 1t is for Con-
gress to declare war; but the President bids
the army and navy move. Let us patiently
and periodically wait until those who have
the facts in mind and the situation COM
pletely under view find the moment for final
action. and give the cool word of supreme
aTrd