Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-04-02

CAS- far as l am concerned, / have
no idea that there is to be any war be-
tween Spain and the United States. A
country that can't conquer Cuba GER
tainly has no very flattering chance of
Overwhelming the United States. OF
course, there is some wisdom even in
Spain, and the Spaniards who know
anything of this country know that it
would be absolute madness and the ut
most extreme of folly to attack us.
believe in treating even Spain with per-
feet fairness. l feel about that coun-
try as Burns did about the devil: %,
wad we TAX thought an mend!'
know that nations, like people, do as
they must, and 1 regard Spain as the
victim and result of conditions, the
fruit of a tree that was planted by ig-
norance and watered by superstition.
81 believe that Cuba is to be free, and
want that island to give a new flag
to the air, whether it ever becomes u
part of the United States or not. My
sympathies are all with those who are
struggling for their rights, trying to get
the clutch of tyranny from their
lOI IllOSt WuO are
their homes, their firesides, against ty-
rants and robbers.
whether the Maine was blown up
by the Spaniards is still question. 1
suppose it will soon be decided. In my
own opinion, the disaster came from
the outside, but do not know, and not
knowing, l am willing to wait for the
suke of human nature. sincerely hope
that it was an accident. hate to think
that there are people base and cruel
enough to commit such an act. Still
think that all these matters will be
settled without war.
81 am in favor of an international
court, the members to be selected by
the ruling nations of the world; and
before this court l think all questions
between nations should be decided, and
the only army and the only navy should
be under its direction, and used only
for the purpose of inforcirg its de-
crees. Were there such court now,
before which Cuba could appear and
tell the story of her wrongs, of the
murders, the assassinations, the treach-
cry, the starvings, the cruelty, 1 think
that the decision would instantly be in
her favor and that Spain would be
driven from the island. Until there is
such court there is no need of talking
about the world being civilized.
81 am not a Christian, but do be-
lieve in the religion of justice, of kind
ness. 1 believe in humanity. I do be-
lieve that usefulness is the highest pos
sible form of worship. The useful man
is the good man, the useful man is the
real saint. l care nothing about super
natural myths and mysteries, but 1 do
care for human beings. have q little
short creed of my own, not very hard
to understand, that has in it no con-
tradictions, and it is this: Happiness
is the only good. The time to be happy
is now. The place to be happy is here.
The way to be happy is to make others
So / think this creed, if adopted,
would do away with war. 1 think it
would destroy superstition, and think
1t would civilize even Spain.
while my sympathies are all with
Cuba, and while 1 have been anxious
that the United States should acknowl-
edge the independence of Cuba, still I
am willing to admit that President Nc
Kinley knows more about this matter
than 1 do; and 1 think that probably
he has many facts in his possession of
which I know nothing. Now 1 am sat
isfied that he is brave and patriotic
man. l am satisfied that he sympa-
thizes with all people struggling to be
free, and consequently am willing to
wait, believing that the end will JUS
tify his course. At the same time re-
member, and hope the administration
will not forget, that the people of
America are with Cuba"