Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-21
HERE IS HISTORY

AND HIS DlCTIONAltY INTER-
VIEW WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN
AFTERWARDS.
Sir you ask for my opinion upon the
Americans In the conflict about Cuba.
You base your question upon my per-
sonal experience during eight years
residence in America and four years
service in the army as a general Of the
United States, and your questions are,
crosse modo, first upon the probable
policy of the Union and secondly upon
the value and quality OF the Union
troops.
In the first place, bear in mind the
fact that the United States will never
annex either Cuba or Canada, unless
there is a complete change In the
American policy, ais to me that does
not seem possible. The reason is that
Cuba, like Canada, is a Catholic coun-
try, and the United States Is a Prot
estant nation; and If the two new
Catholic states should join the Union
It would change the political balance.
l had to deal with this question thirty
years ago, when was commissioner
OF public instruction in New York AL
ready at that time i showed the spirit
OF invasion on the part of the Catholics,
tending toward the destruction OF the
school system which existed since the
origin OF the Republic. They wanted
, appropriations scattered proportionate-
lily according to theimportance Of there
ligions from numerical point OF view.
This was a sonderbund in the e..
Since that time the Catholics haye
made considerable progress, and 1
, very much doubt IL, in the presence Of
their increase, Congress will be dis
posed b change its old-tlme policy.
! No, what the United States wants is
a the independence OF their capital, close
ly linked as 1t is with that OF the
I island OF Cuba.
Now for the army. There is no
army in the United States. Twenty
. Ave thousand men to look after the In
= dams in the far West cannot be called
= an army.
There are solid volunteers, and as
many Of them as the nation wants, or
as it has money to pay for.
! Now, what are these volunteers?
Having commanded them for four
n years, know them. They are honest
Is and brave fellows, politicians above
l. everything else, but as professional
/ soldiers they amount to nothing. No
!, one single military genius came out o.
~ the war Of secession. From a tactical
point OF view there was not one con
ception or one skillful maneuver Blu
the triumph Of numbers, of money an'
OF the essential quality OF the YANKEE
:, race, good sense and tenacity, is be
\, lyond question.
I was at Gettysburg and at Antietam
where stupid masses were commando
as by stupidity in the presence OF death
y There was not a movement, not con
" ception. Two lines OF men were NOW
n. pieces Of artillery. What was the re
er suit? Alignment in death as in life. G.
,,S,S to Antietam to-day, and there you WI
- find 10000 dead in line on their backs
he instead Of being on their legs, wit
CHI crosses of wood over their heads In
er stead of muskets in their hands-inca
ia pable OF moving, dead, just as the
W. were when living-alignment in in
a movability, that is all. Grant Wa
grossly; he did not possess The small
in est idea of maneuvering. The only ms
* neuverer was Stonewall Jackson, m
sss adversary. The latter maneuvere
om rapidly, and / naturally was obliged
on do the same thing.
Ia An example may make my meanir
he more clear At the beginning OF Il
tn, campaign the men used innocentlyto az
lal me; General, do you think we will
20 afraid?" They were honest fellow
IN and, as a rule, honest fellows ask ju
. such questions. The troops wanted n
ow to maneuver them even on days Of r
)u- pose. AS soon as they were camp'
usi anywhere the exercise commenced. Y,
see for yourself that there is nothii
like that among European Irmies.
les At Cross Keys l commanded the a
emit vance guard of the army, which a
to vance guard during the battle becar
ore the right wing From o'clock in t
ute morning 1 was in contact with the c
~. - envy. The general in chief, a poll
ne clan, sent me an order not 10 enga
ted the enemy. That did not prevent I
action from being engaged. ut
O'Clock Stonewall jackson, massing
troops, charged upon the centre, bro
Ma II, and the left wing gave way. 7
|, 80 - right wing, which i commanded, ST
he remained.
/. Stonewall, being compelled to ma