Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-04-20
ITS WAR OR SURRENDER


Peacefully, if we may, by war, if we
must SPANS unqualified surrender to
this demand of the United States, in
the name of humanity and in self-de-
Tense, must come, or war will be declared,
as it virtually is, at this writing.
Since our last issue the mobilization
of the regular army of the United States
has been ordered. The national guard
of the respective states and the naval
reserve are 80 organized as to be ready
to respond Immediately to call to
arms. Legislatures in several states
have made war appropriations of most
liberal character. The budget for tax
alton and an issue of bonds, limited to
a email denomination in order to place
them within reach of the common peo-
pie and avoid the necessity of enlisting
the aid of the worlds fnanciers, has
been actually decided upon. The sinewe
of war are provided. We are prepared
for the worst.
Consul General Lee has returned.
His route was one continuous path
of triumphal progress and popular ac-
claim. 1t is worthy Of note that he
strongly advises against the recognition
of the present insurgent government,
thus confirming President McKinley's
position.
BY declaring coal contraband OF war,
England has terribly crippled Spain,
and given another proof of her un-
doubted and active support of the
United States in the present crisis.
Evidently che would welcome ''scrap''
with any European nation which might
presume to interfere, actively, or by in
direct pressure.
The senate has passed, by large
majority, resolutions recognizing the
insurgent government. The house res
l.
message and opposed to recognition. A
conference committee of senate and
house met on Monday. AT midnight no
agreement was reached.
The question of recognition" is the
stumbling block to united action. Sen
ator Spooner, of this state, in what has
been designatedi"the speech of his life"
demonstrated conclusively that such
recognition by congress would be a
specific invasion of the constitutional
powers of the president, in opposition
to international law, and an act of the
grossest unwisdom, which would, inevi-
tably, land us il complications Of the
most dangerous character. In his opin-
ion many Of our best qualified and most
patriotic statesmen concur. General
Grant took exactly the same position.
1t is generally believed that President
Mckinley will veto any resolution en-
bodying recognition of the present in
surgent government of Cuba.
The imputation of grossly unworthy
personal motives and intentional decep-
tion to, and personal abuse and villifi-
cation of President Mckinley, have, to
cur national shame and disgrace, char
acterized the discussion of the presi-
dents message in congress. In senate
and house "the lie" has been given, and
physical combat barely averted. All
this, allowing for patriotism, natural ex-
element and indignation at the loss of
human life and of the Msine, forces one
to question our perfect fitness for self
government. At least, it shonld show
us whittier the outrageous intolerance
and virulent abuse which is the inevita-
BILE result of bossism, machine rule and
fractional and unreasoning partisanship
in state and national politics is leading
us. Undoubtedly factional and politi
Cal partisanship, coupled with some per-
sonal selfi"hness and money greed, &C.
counts for this shameful exhibition be-
fore the world.
Washington, Lincoln, Grant, and now
Mckinley, are its victims. He, as they,
will outlive the storm, and they when
old, who are now young, will see Nc.
Kinley on the pinnacle OF fame, as the
true patriot, and the Masons, Forakers,
Thurstons and Baileys unmarked DIS
false and untrue.
LATERAL an early hour yesterday
Tuesday, morning, the house concur
red in the senate resolutio n, which means
nothing less than war.