Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01

fish purpose. 1 scarcely like the shibboleth
Remember the Maine" 1t seems to me too
revengeful to be quite worthy. do not for
get the circumstance to which it owes its
origin The scene Of that awful tragedy I'M
der the shadow Of MORO Castle is yet before
my eyes. L can see, as | close them, the
very faces of our murdered sailors with the
ghastliness Of death upon them. But also
see the myrads Of starving men, women and
children, ruthlessly sacrificed to feed the
lust and to fill the pockets of professional
plundertrs masquerading in Cuba as Spanish
officers and gentlemen Behind them | see
three centuries Of want0n pillage, of fright
full corruption, Of cruelty unsurpassed in
human annals.
The time was long ago come for some
great power to stretch forth its hand, inter-
pose authority and to say to the world
This barbarsm shall proceed no farther"
States was to do this?
Cuba is our next door neighbor Time out
Of mind these atrocities have been perpe-
trated before eyes. Whilst Spain has
required to spend millions of money po-
Icing our coasts against the ilibuSterS, she
has shown herself unable or unwilling in our
protection to police one Of her own har-
bors
Was this to 60 on forever? You your
selves are the answer to the question.
Soldiers of the Cross and the Flag.
You are going to fight a battle waged by
man for man. You are going therefore in the
name of that Christ who died for men. You
are, going to fight a battle for the glory of
God and your native land. You are going,
therefore, under q flag which is the symbol
at once Of freedom and humanity, and hay
ing Gods blessing upon it, has never yet
known defeat Look to it that you carry
yourselves as soldiers equally of the Cross
and the flag.
No man can be good soldier who is not
at heart a good man. Self-possession in the
presence of danger is the truest courage and
he is the bravest soldier who keeps his head,
who knows perfectly the right thing to do,
and who does it, when. frightened out of
his boots, his legs would fain carry him
away. 1t is the sense Of duty which vii!
IN Won 1frtx To tl,n Appr Nov
duty to constituted authority; duty to cOun-
try and honor and to those dear ones at
home M4b who fGow you With evertearfu but
| believe in this war. | believe in it with
all my mind and with all my soul. If ever
there was justified war it is this. Though
me than my own life, L shall believe it con-
ceived in a holy spirit sanctiied by Heaven
and directed toward the advancement and
the enlargement Of a benign civilization.
In these warlike spectacles everywhere
manifest 1t has already united us as nothing
both sections of the Union from the mistaken
Impression that we could ever be anything
else. than enc people. In the brilliant
boy at the other side Of the globe it has
already exploited us as naval power and.
as you, yourselves shall show. it will pres
emily demonstrate to us. no less a military
power, before whose legions the enemies Of
liberty and humanity will do well to look
before they leap. Surely these, were CON
are worth all the war has cost us, or will
cost Us. l know what war means.
Hardest of Soldiers Duties.
Obedience, submission, is the first and, per-
haps, the hardest Of the soldiers first duties.
If officers seem capricious or tyrahnical, do
your duty. 1t will come round all right If
the powers that be seem partisan or unfair.
do your duty, The end will justify you.
does his duty passes beyond the reach of
wrong; for as there is a. God who saith
vengeance is mine-I will repay" so is
God, who will visit upon those that would
convert the places of trust which they
chance to hold into places of private or .po-
litical advantage, a punishment as complete
as it is certain, as hlfghting as 1t is over
whelming.
In the nature of the ease but few of you
can hope to attain to great commands, or to
acquire exceptional distinction. In the end
most Of you must lay aside your uniforms
and resume the habfliments of civil life
his duty and. doing his duty cannot be
proud and happy. A neighbor of mine came
to me the other day to ask me to exert my
supposed influence in getting his son a COM
mission. l assured him that l have no in
f1uence. But said |. 81 have two sons
carrying muskets in the ranks-sons whom /
shall not put forth the slightest effort It
is enough for me to know that they are
serving vim th heir country and if it pIeases God
long as 1 i've ''' ms ii'''i'e 'S
In that prayer let me include each and
see my boys, and each and everyone of
you lying by, the side of the brave
and lovely. sailor lad whom North Caro-
sacrifice upon the affairs of the nation and
mankind than that one feather should be
piucked from the eagles wing or a syllable
of reproach be justly thrust upon the name
and fame Of our dear Kentucky.