Middletown transcript., 1898-04-23
TT Is WAR.

TT Is WAR.
The first blow of war, cruel and re-
lentless war, the first for over half a
century between this country and
foreign power, has not yet been struck,
but diplomatic relations between this
country and Spain have been severed
aud state Of war actually exists. 1t
may be days, it may be weeks, or it
may be only hours before the first gun
shall be fired. Many Americans, loyal
and true, regret that war has been the
result believing peaceable solution
honorable alike to the Uuited States
and Spain could have been reached, but
since war has come all will stand pa
tri0tically by the Administration. Any
who recall the anxiety and pain, the
suffering and loss, the death and de-
struction Of the late civil war may be
excused for hesitating TO rejoice at the
opportunity to be reveuged for the de-
struction of the Maine and the death ot
100 boys in blue. That was diaholical
act and SO is it to slay fellow creature,
but the acknowledged murderer is tried
by due process of law. And SO must
the Maine incident be dealt with when
1t is settled. War will undoubtedly bring
opportunity for retaliation which will
be used as occasion offers.
This is a war for the sake OF human
ity. The population Of Cuba Is about
one and half millions. The present
strife on the island has extended over
three years, and about a year ago the
cruel Weyler began q war OF starvation.
He gathered the peasantry from their
farms and plantat ons into the towns
old men, women and children, and there
400. 600 of them have died Of want.
They were Of the same religious faith
as their prosecutors, spoke the same
language as the queen Of Spain, were
decendents of the same parents. Such
treatment was past comprehension.
The United States proceeded to feed
the starving and has said to Spain such
warfare must cease. You must yield
the island. Congress wrestled with the
form of procedure or rather Of declara-
tion several days last week, the two
houses finally agreeing upon the follow
ing resolutions:
Whereas, The abhorrent conditions
which have existed for more than three
years in the island of Cuba. so near
our own borders, have shocked the
moral sense of the people of the United
States, have been disgrace to Christ
ian civilization, eliminating, as they
have, in the destruction of a United
States battleship, with 260 of its ofic-
ers and crew, while on friendly visit
in the harbor of Havana, and cannot
longer be endured, as has been set
forth by the President of the United
States in his message to Congress Of
April IL, 1898, upon which the action
Of Congress was invited; therefore, be
it resolved,
First-That the people Of the island
of Cuba are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent.
Second-That it is the duty of the
United States to demand, and the Gov
eminent of the United States does
HEREBY demand, that the Government
of Spain at once relinquish its author
ity and government in the island of
Cuba and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
Third-That the President of the
United States be, and he is hereby, d.
rected and empowed to use the land
and naval forces OF the United States,
and to call into the actual service of
the United States the militia of the
several States to such an extent as may
be necessary to carry these resolutions
into effect. -
Fourth-That the United States
hereby disclaims any disposition or in
tention to exercise sovereignty, juris-
diction or control over said island ex-
cept for the pacidcation thereof, and
asserts its determination when that is
accomplished to leave the government
and control of the island to its people. 81