The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-06
Interesting Washington Notes.
Harkl Hear the mighty refrain
OF nation, shouted again and again
" Remember the Maine;


Harkl Hear the mighty refrain
OF nation, shouted again and again:
Remember the Maine;
Down with Spain"
President Mckinley having shown
the world that the United States is not
seeking quarrel with Spain, and Spain
having declined its last opportunity to
give up Cuba peacefully, and having
added insult to injury by treating the
loss of the Maine as a trivial matter
and suggesting that it might be re-
ferred to international arbitration, there
is no honorable course left to this coun-
try except to use force in driving Spain
out of Cuba and in establishing it's in
dependence. Congress will this week,
upon President McKinley's recon-
mendation, authorize that course and
then there will be war. This war has
not been sought by the administration
but every preparation has been made to
fight it to speedy and victorious close.
Now that it is almost upon us, there is
no doubt or hesitation in any quarter.
Steps have already been taken that will
result in the necessary legislation by
Congress to provide the money needed
to carry on war scale large enough to
make sure that it will be short. There
is but one feeling in Washington, and
that is, to give Spain thorough lick
ing, regardless of any attempt that may
be made by European powers to pre-
vent it, either by diplomacy or by force.
Some idea Of the feeling in Congress
may be gained from the following
words of Representative Grout of Yer
mont, one of the most conservative
men in the House: 81 am in favor of
swift and terrible vengeance upon
Spain. Up to the present time ! have
been opposed to any Intervention by
force in Cuba and was one of the few
republicans who voted against the re-
cognition of Cuban belligerency more
than year ago, when the question
was presented to the House. Now l
am ready to useIour army and navy to
drive the Spanish flag from the island
of Cuba, and 1 will not only follow,
but ! am prepared to lead in move
ment to authorize the President to
teach the Spanish government that she
cannot insult this nation with impunity
and hide behind the cloak of diplo-
macy. The American people are in
famed beyond endurance by the meth.
cd she has employed in dealing
with the Cubans, and the destruction of
the Maine is an additional cause for an
immediate resort to force. 1t will not
do to treat the blowing up of our battle
ship and the killing of our gallant sail
ors as simply distressing incident of
the Cuban situation. The destruction
of the Maine has done more to fire the
American heart than all the long list of
cruelties practiced upon the suffering
in Cuba"
Those who are anxious to participate
in the war with Spain can best accom-
plish their purpose by joining the mill
tia at their homes, as it is generally I'M
derstood in Washington that the mill
tia will be the first troops put in the
field, and believed that no others will
be required, outside of the regulars.
Germany has officially announced to
this Government its intention to re-
main neutral in the war between the
United States and Spain, but recent
diplomatic occurrences have aroused
suspicion that the United States may
be up against Germany before the
Spanish war has proceeded very far.
The suspicious circumstance is
claim made by Germany upon Spain
for property destroyed in Cuba by the