The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-22
THE TROUBLE WITH SPAIN
numbertOn KobesonIan.)

\
A cat can look at a king, and if that
is so, why cannot even as humble q
citizen as | am say what he would &c
concerning this question were he freSl-
dent of these United States? And as
there is no danger of his every occupying
that position. therefore no harm can
ever come from what he would do.
| would send word to the Secretary
Of War and Of the Navy to come to the
Cabinet chambers at 10 o'clock to-mor-
row morning and | would state to them
that | wished them to report to me the
very first day the army and navy We're
fully prepared for a war with Spain;
and that in this report they must make
no mistake for the patriotic and glorious
people of this country, both North and
South. without a dissenting voice, had
voted us unlimited means, and the num-
Der Of men who would enlist in the
army and navy were almost countless.
| would then prepare a message to Con
gress setting forth in truthful terms all
the inhuman cruelties practiced by Spain
upon the inha bitants of Cuba. The
number of defenceless men. Women and
children she has murdered in cold blood.
thousands upon thousands she has CAUSED
TO die of starvtiOn. That all these hOr-
rOrs are committed almost within sight
of our coast; h opportunities that we
have given her, time and again, to
remedy these evils: that the time has
arrived-if it has not already passed
making us personally responsible to all
men and to our God if we permit a con
~tinuance of the same, for His great good
ness to us He has given us full power to
stop it. And | should recommend that
thov rn,ooSiatoJ acEnowlpG oQ the indie
pendence of Cuba. Then let Spain de
clare war against us or not. as she might
see fit and proper.
And if there was any reasonable
grounds to hold Spain responsible for
that most awful, terrible calamity to
the United States war ship Maine while
lying at anchor in time Of peace IN her
Havana waters, [ shOuld further insist
that Spain should pay Il full indemnity
for all losses incurred by the United
States on a~ccount of the sinking of the
| Maine and also that she should pay to
the families of the deceased such
amount as were just and proper. That
is as far as none can compensate for
| this most Internal deed. But the money
matter is the least consideration in this
| case, for [ do pray that the time has not
yet come when the honor of the nation
and the glory of the flag, and even the
| life of it's soldiers and sailors and citi-
zenS, can be compensated and pald FOL
by money. No, no. That must not be,
| admit it appears to be the opinion Of
many but his country must not adopt
it. but must go back to its glorious
history Of the past. And, therefore, that
it should also be further requested of
Spain, if there was any grounds for de
manding the same, that Spain be requir-
ed with some of her navy vessels, at IL
time and place named, to salute our flag
and that among our ships Of the navy,
| assembled to receive said salute, should
be one of the finest ships in the American
navy; and that that ship should be com
manded by the officers who commanded
the Maine, and upon her deck should be
assembled every survivor of the Maine's
| crew and General F~itzhugh Lee, late Of
the Confederate army, and nephew Of
Il. +. Lee. cOmmander-in-chlef of said
! army. And if Spain failed to do his III
a short time after the date named fOl
the performance Of the same if Il navl
vessel of hers could be found floating
upon the waters of this earth it would
be worth more in proportion to values
than a United States dollar Of the date
= of 1904 (Which is worth 800 for u as