Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19

N end the horrible condition OF affairs
I'm Cuba. was writing and sending 10
Spain letters abusing the loved an1 re-
enacted Chief Magistrate OF this repnplc.
Caught In the act, he vas reiuesloo w
quit our shores: but while he yet nngerc"'
there came the appalling news that 1he
Maine is blown up and hundreds OF p'dEe
and patriotic seamen have been Sent 10
the presence Of their Maker Wl'ho1'
moments warning Spain NOT onls "
MICS completely In this crime, that mas no
parallel In modern history, but denies
tbe crir,e itself. She makes no ertprt 10
discover or punish the criminal. Tor she
knows ouch effort. honestly made, VIII
dap,onstrate to the world her own cow
ardIv criminality ana responsibility.
Snarisb oeicials alone had the means
or knowledge necessary 10 secure the eN-
pIosion, OF that mino beneath the Name
Mines and powerful torpedoes 90 NOT
float about Habans harbor like ouliheads
in a pond.
SPANS HAND MUST BE TAKEN OFF
.r. e. true that the destruction Of the
Maine is but an incident OF the "ho'e
,ransoction. but IL is an incident OF sucn
-nagnit,,de and horror that the civilized
,,,orid sbudders at its mention. American
blood has been shed and our American
49, dasoIated. The feeling is wide
s,rcad and universal that the hand OF
Srain must be taken from the throat OF
,bo Cubans We are fully aware that
the foot of that cruel. crafty degenerate
and bigoted nation has never peeh pant
ed on a foot of Gods green eartn DuI
murder misrule, outrage, and desolatlon
$50 foIIowed The United States is the
,roner guardian Of the rights OF all the
peonle OF the Western Hemisphere and
10 able and willing TO insure decent
regard for the rights OF mankind.
I'm this struggle Cuba has really won
her indenendence. In open civilized war
fare she has triumphed War is terrible
and TO be avoided. if possible, without
sacrificing national honor. Il was once
said. War. pestilence, and famine are
the three greatest calamities that can
befaU mankind May it not be truly
said that Spanish rule. war. pestilence.
and famine are the four greatest calami-
ties that can befall mankind, ana that
Spanish rule is the greatest OF all
wherever tolerated? Spanish rule IS mis-
rule. Can this nation tolerate these
things? our President insulted, our
navy blown up. our marines murdered
NV Spanish officials. our neighbors muir
dered. starved, and still no Just cause for
armed interference? \ Spanish war fleet
on its way here, and stin no cause for
action?
VERDICT OF THE PEOPLE.
''The verdict Of the people of this ma
ton has been rendered. II is approved
by all thinking reasoning. civilized
human beings. Cubans murdered ana
starved on the land and American sea-
men and sailors and marines murdered
on the high seas,
"Can we wonder that the men who
wore the blue and those who wore the
! gray i'm 1916 and who know what war
! Is. long 20 avenge these wrongs and make
! Cuba free? This bill says that they may
/ when the time comes. without losing any
! right they now possess. All patiently
! wait the action of the Executive-our
| trusted President-hoping with him that
diplomacy may win without resort "a
J arms. but In the mean time It Is well 20