El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-04-26
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?

THE people of this country are aware
that state of war exists between
Spain and the American republic. l.
needed no formal declaration of con-
gress to make that fact known. We
can see the mobilization of our troops
going on with commendable dispatch
We can obtain through the newspapers
the stories of prizes captured, of forts
bonn barded, of battles fought. Men
are volunteering to fight, to suffer, yes,
to die. Mighty engines of destruction
have been turned against each other:
our ships no longer fire dummy
shots at white buoys anchored
in the sea. Our naval reserve do not
wind up their exhibition drills with a
dance, as they did few short weeks
ago. Our business men, lawyers, mer-
chants, physicians, clergymep, who
happen to be members OF the Nation 81
Guard, are pledging their lives to the
nation, and are taking leave of their
families ana friends and departing for
the camp. We read of cartridges be-
ing made and furnished to the troops
at the rate of a million day; rapid fire
guns are being fitted to pleasure
yachts; the beautiful palace steam
ships that have been the pride of our
country are having cannon placed in
position on the decks, and military
tops fitted to the masts, and are being
manned by armed sailors aud marines
and placed in charge of grim men of
war.
Yes, there is war, and one here will
squint his eye and say, 1t is really be-
ginning to look serious. And another
there will say, Yes, but Spain is only
bluffiug. And he over yonder settles
it all by rem srking, There is not going
to be any war at all.
La the little park the band plays
Hail Columbia and the crowd yelis.
A flag is waved and some one calls
"Hurrah for Old Glory" the little
children dance with delight. Many
men stand and look on with, lifeless
expression which betrays lack of inter-
est. Others, the older ones, smile on
the surface and weep at the depths. An
enthusiastic orator proclaims that no
man is an American unless be will spill
his blood in Cuba. Let us take him by
the arm and ask him what we are fight
ing for. He doesn't know. We know
that he has simply lost his self control
in time of excitement, and would be
just as energetic in a saloon fight over
a game of cards. Is he typical Amer
lean?
Let us hope not. But there is danger
of losing sight of the real reason of
our being at war at all. He is wrong
who supposes that this is to be a blood
less war. We are likely to lose many
fine ships, thousands of priceless human
lives, hundreds of millions OF dollars.
1t is no time now to begin to count the
cost. But we can pursue our cause
with justice and rectitude, and with a
purpose clearly defined. 1t would be
well, therefore, for every American to
commit to memory the words of the
resolutions which precipitated the
conflict. The document is reprinted
below:
Whereas, the abhorrent conditions
which have existed for more than
three years 10 the island of Cuba, so
near our own DOruers, nave shocked
the moral sense of the people of the
United States, have been a disgrace to
Christian civiliz ation, eliminating as
they have in the destruction of I'm
tied States battleship with 266 of it's
officers and crew, while on friendly
visit in the harbor of Havana, and can
not longer be endured, as has been set
forth by the president of The United
States n his message to congress on
April IL, 1898, upon which the action
OF congress was invited therefore be
it
Resolved by the senate and the
house of repr sentstives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled:
L. That the people of the island of
Cuba are. and of right ought to be,
free and Independent.
2. That it is the duty of the United
States to demand, and the government