The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-19
The Situation.

AT this writing W. understand the
war situation (Which is as clear as
mud to be as follows: The House,
which toadies to Mckinley, agrees to
let him have his own way IN securing
the independence Of Cuba-n0t of the
insurgent party, which claims to be
some sort Of an organized govern
ment. This would leave to all the IN
habitants Of the island the business OF
forming n goverment-with possibly
some recognition of Spain'S SOW
ereignty over the island. I'm"
Senate has passed resolutions de-
claring the "rcpublic" of Cuba
free and Independent and demanding
the withdrawal of SPANS forces and
her flag from the island, and recogniz-
ing the insurgent or Gomez govern
ment and authorising the President
with the army and naval 'crccs to en-
force the declaration. The Senate
measure is Il substitute for the House
resolutions and must have its sanction
to become law. 1t is probable the
tto'oS VIII wv w nv -
approved by the President it is Il de-
claration of war, As Spain will not
aCcede to the demands. The fight may
be on in a few days. Spain's little Sis
tiers, Austria and Italy and the other
Powers will likely hands off, in view
of the evident sympathy Of Great
Britain with Uncle Sam. .lnc contest
will be at sea and is not likely to last
long. If our naval forces are beaten,
we are powcrlcSs to take or hold Cuba.
Should we land forces ON the Island,
we must clear the seas Of Spanish guns,
or we could not feed them and they
must surrender or Starvc in Il week.
Should we drive the Spanards from the
water an army would be landed upon
the Island to enforce peace This,
whether to support the Senatr's idea
of recognising tine Gomez party, or
whether the Presidents idea Of allow
ing all the inhabitants to form Il gov
eminent should prevail. Volunteer
troops will be called for from the
States to guard our coasts. The Span
ish cannot risk an army on the seas
until they have driven Il nav ashore
and cleared the way. At tn" same
time our sea-coast cities must be
guarded. Upon what Congress and
the President put the war is not clear
%cut-they and the President have
mudded the waters, but as we urged
last week, the destruction of the
Maine puts us upon u defense and
unless we fight, we are degenerate, and
the nations of the earth Will gObblc lis
up and divide us among themselves, rs
China and Africa are being carved and
dished out at the present moment.-
Our regular army consists Of only
$4,000 men of all arms, cavalry, infan-
try and artillery and the country will
be expected to supply volunteers. 1t
appears that war is imminent and hos
tilities may cnSuc before another issue
of this paper.
LATER: Powerful efforts are making
to hold the House down to the pro-
gram of the President and prevent L
stampede to the lingo Senate rcsoIu-
tions.
LATEST: Senate and House fail to
agree and differences gone to Confer
encc. 1t is thought House plan will
prevail. Spanish Torpedo boats and
cruisers reported arrived at Porto
Rico.
wv
T Spnin loo Nnt 0rNn ll
Ing on general principles she needs it
for blowing up the Maine. Thrashing
Spain means killing thousands of Span
iards and as many Americans. The indie
pendenco OF the insurrectionists could
not be recognized, because this gov
m appeared to be the Junta So
called in Now York. But tho United
States should have common honesty.
Nobody cared about humanity-too
thin. Whom Lee came homo and
talked common sense and impressed
Congress that Spanish officials had set
the mine that settled the Maine, Con-
gress found it's manhood. But there
should be honesty. Loss OF business to
us and the killing OF Spaniards by
Spaniards, 10 not a cause of war be-
tween the two countries. 1t used to
be that "the lie" or a blow demanded
blood. Peace and security as this
world goes-to life and property, can
only be conserved by fighting. If we
fight Spain We avenge the Maine and
that Is all there is in it. The
cial spirit may seize us--and we the Is
land.
*x*
1t was very small in Republicans
and Democrats OF the House to scram-
BILE for 1900 political capital in the
handling of the Spanish issue. In
the swallowing the camel both parties
were for blowing of tho gnats. The
Democrats under the leadership OF Mr..
Bailey lost a great opportunity. In
stead Of coqueting with Gomez and
the New York Junta they should have
said: Whereas the Spanish Govern
ment has destroyed our war ship, the
Maine, or permitted its destruction.
Resolved, That, this Government has
cause for war, and tho President is di-
rected to wage it until adequate repara-
q