The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-20
Why This Country Declared and is
Waging War Against Spain.

law Reid on this subject. Following
is a translation of the correspondents
statement OF Mr.. Reid's position. 1t is
strong statement Of the view of a
majority of Americans:
You ask, "Why is the United States
forcing this war on Spain?" We here
do not think it is. Personally, am
profoundly sorry for the war, and
would most gladly hare seen an honor
able course taken by which we could
have avoided it. / know well the
many high-minded and charming
traits of the Spanish people, have val
ued personal friends among them
even in the latest ''war cabinetn-and
have hoped that the inevitable depart
ure of the Spanish flag from the New
World, which spain discovered for US,
might be delayed to another genera
ton.
Bnt we had reached an absolute tim
passe." For three-quarters Of a eentu-
ry our government was positively COM
mitted to the position that if Spain
failed TO govern Cuba the island must
either govern itself or be governed by
the United States; mo other European
nation being permitted to take Spaln's
place. Practically that ms1e US for
three-quarters of century the ally Of
spain against all comers as TO her Gu
ban possessions. and 80 made US in one
sense responsible for the nature of her
government. Now, her governments Of
the island grew steadily worse until it
became intolerable. Cuba was taxed
and plundered and misruled till il re-
volted. It was then defended so feebly
that the first revolt lasted ten years,
and was only kept under-not ended
by the bribery of venal insurgent lead
ers; while the second revolt, after
spreading for three years, was barely
held in check by barbarous policy Of
desolating the country, destroying its
industries and starving its inhabitants.
No nation in Europe would permit a
distant power to maintsin for thirteen
years such an inhuman and offensive
nuisance directly on its shores. But
the United States was, besides, driven
to action by the necessity of its historic
position. Having warned everybody
else off, it was itself bound to interfere
when somebody's Interference was
,.Ia;rl.v Ia,,,anJaI In sba fufaraofe ~
civilization and humanity. If it did
not interfere it was itself responsible
for the iniquities perpetrated by The
only power it would permit to rule
there. This was not a situation created
by Mr.. Mckinley. 1t was situation
created on the one hand 10y John Quin-
cy Adams, Daniel Webster and the
whole line of our governing statesmen
from 1923 to this time, and on the other
hand by the Spanish authorities in
Cuba, who went steadily from bad 10
worse in spite Of our appeals aud the
remonstrances and revolts Of their
people.
The President was most desirOus of
avoiding war, and eager TO believe
every assurance from Spain that order
would soon be restored. Meanwhile
all information from the island showed
that the disorders continued, and the
inhumanity and suffering increased.
Then came the De LONE incident,
which showed the minister Spain had
accredited to US seheming privately to
mislead and blind Us by pretended ne
gotiatiOns to restore the ruined COM
merce, and, in thu same breath, utter
ing offensive ISLANDERS upon our chief
magistrate.
Speedily following this came the
blowing up one of our warships at the
buoy in the harbOr of Havana, where
the Spanish authorities had moored
her, and the loss Of two hundred and
fifty lives of her crew. The eircum-
I stances left in the minds Of the great
s1ajority of our people the moral con-
ESetion that theexplosiOn was the work
u Spanish agents, who, whether with
ar without official authority or even
knowledge, did use explosives too
elaborate and powerful to have been
other than public property.
From that moment it was beyond
the power of any president or cabinet
or congress to restrain the American
! people from war. Promises to do better
if more time were given, belated efforts
at organizing an autonomous Cuban
government, proposals to listen to the
Pope and suspend hOstilities, diplO-
matte fence and parry, were all as use
! less as the idle wind against the stern
resolve OF a nation occupying con-
tinent and numbering seventy-five
millions Of souls, to make an end Of
this.p to be trified with no longer, and
to expel from the western hemisphere
the flag under which such deeds were
possible.
There was not then the remotest
thought in it of taking Cuba for our
4 selves. In fact, the acquisition OF
4 Cuba was considered a misfortune, to
be carefully Stunned. On that point
the American people have undergone a
great change since the Civil War.
4 They wanted DO more territory, and
! they wanted no more war. They were
the least anxious for territorial exten-
h ton and the most resOlutely peaceful
!, of all civilized nations of the globe.
! Even in declaring war congress avow.
4 ed the purpose to leave Cuba, after free
ing 1t, To its own devices.
But the sweep Of war is like that Of
the whirlwind-no man can tell where
L it may reach. We have interfered to
give Cuba better government and we
ltherefore stand morally responsible "a
raae civilized world for the character of
dts government. The present insurgents
may be able to establish one that We
can afford to be responsible for, but II
not, our responsibility continues.
Meantime, since war is serious busi-
mess and not mere dress parade, we
must strike and cripple Spain wherever
we,can. We have already struck her
4 in the Philippines, and what We seize
weshall certainly hold so long as il
Sserves our purpose, aud so far as the re-