The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-05-05
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.

Editor Press Now that hostilities be- |
tween the United States and Spain have
actually begun, 1t may be we'll for us to
ask what it is all about, and also what
should be the duty of American citizens
In this condition of affairs. It must be |
remembered that this government, thro' |
President Cleveland, quite plainly tnti-
mated to Spain that she must soon settle
the troubles in Cuba. One of the meas
ures that President Mckinley has been
most Interested in since his inauguration |
has been the settlement of the same ques- |
tion. With increasing. urgency, from
month to month, he has been asking |
Spain to fix time when she would have |
the island of Cuba pacifled, giving her to |
understand that he would feel himself
obliged to intervene If this was not done |
quite soon. His pressure upon the span |
ish government, the assembling of pow
erful feet at Key West in consequence
OF the destruction OF the Maine, the COM
ing into power of liberal ministry In
Spain, has forced her to adopt one liberal
measure after another for the pacidcation
Of Cuba, until little while ago che pro- |
claimed cessation of hostilities In that
island. 1t is probable that IL matters had
been left in the presidents hands, to be
decided by the slower, but equally as
sure, methods Of diplomacy, the trouble
between Cuba and Spain might have been
settled without armed intervention on our
part. For 1t must not be forgotten that
the president was decided that war be-
tween Spain and Cuba must stop. But
congress hurried him faster than he want
ed to go. 1t was led to doSso by some In
the east who thought the president was
too slow, and by very strong public SEN
timent In the west for quick and, II need
be, warlike action.
The reasons for this strong public GEN.
timent are found in the underlying feeling,
that Is In the breast of every American
citizen, Of deep sympathy with every peo-
pie who are struggling for liberty and
self government. The natural sympathy
of Spain was with the insurgents and
against Spain. Then the cruel results Of
Gen. Weyler's measure Of gathering the
people from those farms and villages
which were In the somewhat neutral zones
between the contending forces, burning
the standing crops and the houses, con-
centrating the people In certain towns
and making no provisions for their food
and shelter, thereby condemning them to
untold horrors and to slow starvation,
this has so stirred the feelings of the
American people and the heart of the
president that they could endure It no
longer. The sentiments out of which the
war sprung are most honorable to Amer
i Tea.
The war Will also be. waged on our part
with absolute unselfishness. Leaving out
of the account those who want war any
how, the selfish contractors whose only
desire is to make money out Of the gov
ernment's necessities, andlthe small poll
ticians who advocate war because they
think 1t may help their political fortunes
and these are the minority of our cit
izens-America wages the war on very
high principles. She has much to lose
and nothing to gain. She has no selfish
designs against the island, she does not
want it herself, she will spend vast sums
of money, will lose many valuable lives,
will bring upon herself the many heavy
and unknown troubles in settling affails
in Cuba after Spain is driven out, and can
gain no glory in the conflict, 'for there
is no glory to robust young giant in
kicking poor old cripple" She wages
war not for glory, but for the unself1sh
purpose of bringing peace to distracted
neighboring country, and joy and COM
fort to ruined homes.
| The duty of American citizens then Is
to hold fast to his unselflsh and most
honorable sentiment, not to allow the
corruption and self-seeking that ever ac-
company war to drive out this senti-
ment. Thus can she gain honor in the
only way it can be obtained in this con-
fiict. Then to sustain the government In
Its endeavors to brEng peace to our neigh
Dor, and to sustain the president In his
efforts to have peace as soon as the pur-
poses for which the war is being waged
are attained. T. G. DRULEY.