Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-09-03
STOP AND THINK.

ueOC MCKINLEY ulu ali III MS power W
prevent the war. So persistent was
he that his staunchest supporters
turned against him. Senator Elkius
had the bravery to stand up in the
Senate and in the face of opposition
by Senators aud amid the anathemas
of his country men, urge modera-
ton. Those men knew the Nation
was not prepared for war. They
knew that not only guns and ammu-
milton and vessels were lacking, but
also quartermaster and commissary
supplies as well.
In spite of protests war was de-
clared and as if by magic the army
swelled from IS, 900 men to 800, 900
men. Many enlisted thinking they
were to have good time--a regular
picnic as it were They did not count
the cost. They knew nothing of the
horrors and privations of war They
had heard veterans tell of the hard
ships they had endured, but regarded
their warnings as fairy stories-fan-
cies of a disordered brain-a wish to
pose as men who had endured suffer
ing. There were great cries OF ION
to Cuba!' "On to Havana "0n
to Porto Rieo!' Still the President
held the men back Yellow journals,
those which are now making indis-
criminate charges against officers
from the President down, were most
urgent that the men should be rushed
to the front.
Cervera was bottled-up in Santiago
and forward movement could not be
postponed. Every man in the Army
insisted that he was the one above all
others who should be sent. They
were heroes, every one, but they knew
nothing of war. They were patriots
and pinned to win fame on the field of
carnage.
Finally the Army or a portion OF it
sailed. There was suffering then aud
before the Army landed there was
more suffering. The lighters with
which landing was to be effected
were lost at sea. Yet, nothing daunt-
ed, through the binding surf the men
swan to land. They had set foot on
a foreign shore. Never hating, not
for moment that miasma
and fevers were lurking in the
swamps, the brave lads rushed to the
front. Climbing mountains, swim
ming rivers, cutting their way
through impenetrable tropical jun
giles, eating unripe fruit, drenched by
incessant torrents of rain, toiling,
struggling in the terrible heat to be
first in the fray, those men found the
enemy and victory perched upon their
banners.
Then it was that reaction set in.
nature could endure no
more. Deadly fevers seized their vi i
tails. Though herculean efforts were
made, neither science nor skill nor
money could win the second battle.
Those who were spared by bullets
were attacked by disease. There was
food in abundance, but IN that muggy,
musty atmosphere decay quickly came
and poison permeated every bite that
was eaten.
Then came the rush to escape.
Ships were overcrowded, and the suf-
fering was intensified. Skilled sur
geons, learned physicians, gentle
nurses labored night and day to af.
ford relief, Then the horrible reali-
ties of war were known and under
stood. One of the truest war maxims
is that more die of disease than by
the sword.
Taking a calm, impartial view OF
the situation, is it not cruel and un-
Just to indulge in indiscriminate
charges against men who have done
all that mortals could do, first, to
avoid war and secondly, to relieve its
horrors? Is it not time to stop and
think? Is it not time to ask, each
one of us, could we have done more?
The American people desire to be fair
and just and now is the time to mani
fest that best Of all American charac-
teristics.
s+