Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-11
A Patriotic Statesman.

The Madrid correspondent of the
London Morning Post has had long
interview with Senior Sagasta, the
premier, in the course of which the
Spanish statesman said:
In the present juncture there is no
time to lose. Ii is useless to debate we
must reserve all our strength and all
our energy for tomorrow. our flrSt
duty is to unite in order to vanquish
the enemies and to uphold the honor of
Spain 1T is necessary, to secure that
end fcr the government to have the
support of all, without considerations
of party and exclusively on patriotic
grounds. Parliament. too, must grant
the government the resources required.
New this precisely is what grieves
me- ! believed that the first cannon
shot fired by the United States against
our troops would be a signal for the
union and fraternity of all Span
iards as all are equally affected
by the assault of the United
States. / was mistaken. Certain
parliamentary groups are in disagree
mcnt with the government and have
the pretension to make conditions in
return fer their support. They thus
paralyze our efforts and diminish the
strength which is Indispensable to the
government. In such difficult times
some are even ceaseicssy intriguing;
others are fun of reticeuces. and all
has been done in the name of the faith
erand. without their authors appear
ing to ina CINE for q moment that this
is simply Weakening the country, low
erng tC the prestige Of the flag, tend
ing to the Encouragement of the troops
ard the eEcouragem of our enc
mics.
With the substitution Ct the words
United States" for spain" Con
gress" fer parliament" Spain" for
United States" "Americans" for
"Spaniards,' and congressional" for
parliamentary, these patriotic and
noble sentiments might as applicably
be addressed to the Democratic NAL
contents and INSTRUCTORS in the United
States Congress who. to serve their
own purposes stand in the way of the
vigorous prosecution Of the war now
upon us.
Their position and unpatriotic ac-
ton bring clearly to mind the celebra-
ted John Hook of the American Revo-
luton, name made famous, or in
famous by the eloquent ana humorous
Patrick Henry when the now historic
Scotch Tory brought a suit against an
army commissary fer the value of two
steers taken by that officer for the use
of the army.
Mr. Henry appeared for the defen-
dant. He painted the distresscs OF the
American army. exposed almost naked
10 the rigor of winters sky, and
marking the frozen ground over which
they marched with the blood Of their
unshod feet. He carried the jury by
the powers of his Imagination. TO the
plains around Yorktown, the surrender
of which followed shortly after the act
complained of; he depicted the surren-
der in the most glowing coIors of his
cloquence. The audience saw the hum
iliatiCn and detection of the British as
they marched out Of their trenches:
they saw the triumph Of every patriot
face and heard the shouts of victory
and the cry of Washington and liber-
~ as it rung and echoed through the
American ranks and was reverberated
from the hills and shores of the neigh
boring river. But bark! what notes
of discord are these which disturb the
general JOY and silence the acclama-
tons of victory? They are the notes of
John Hook. hoarsely baWling through
the American camp, Beef, beef: beef"