The Louisiana populist., 1898-03-04
Wac With Spain.

No intelligent man doubts any
longer that the Maine was blown
up by Spanish treachery.
The circumstantial evidence
against Spain in this matter grows
stronger and stronger, and the
mountain of evidence becomes stea-
dily higher. Every new fact dis
covered supports that theory, and
that theory only, and makes the
CASE against Spain mere convin-
cling one, All other explanations
of the explosion have been proven
impossible; and it is being demon-
strated with mathematical certaiE-
ty that this destruction Of the
Maine and the slaughter of the go
American sailors aboard her were
due to one Of tho worst instances
Of treachery the world has ever
known, possibly the greatest inter.
national crime ever committed. If
such a crime ever occurred before
we can find no record Of it.
We can scarcely credit the sug-
gestion that the Court Of Inquiry
is delaying a finding, SO as to let
the American people cool down.
We prefer to believe that the com
mittee is making a thorough exam.
nation in order that it's decision
may be made with absolute GER
tainty.
IT the Maine was blown up by
Spaniards, whether through orders
from the higherauthorities to strike
America with terror by the act, or
through officials whose hatred of
this country has been stirred up by
the Spanish government, no delay
in the finding will cool the just in-
digDatiOn of tho American people,
and their determination to punish
the country guilty of this crime.
Nor will they brook delay if they
believe that the truth is being kept
back from them a single day.
If it is proved that the Maine
was destroyed by Spanish torpe.
does or mineS-ana that fact is
nearly established already-then
war between the United States and
Spain is inevitable; ; and we do not
believe that any American Is so
destitute OF patriotism and nation
al pride as to wish to avoid it.
There is but one thing for the Uni
ted States to do, unless it wishes
to forfeit it's honorable place among
the nations of the world. 1t must
punish the criminal and give him
the full penalty so monstrous a
crime deserves. The first step
would naturally be the occupation
of Havana and Cuba, and proba-
bly, of Porto Rico as well. We
might proceed then to chastise
Spain for it's treachery andviolation
of the very first principles of inter
national honesty, or we might, and
probably would, demand an indem.
nifty not as compensation for the
loss of the Maine and the murder
of American citizcns--fOr we could
take no blOod.money therefor-but
as a punishment for the crime, in
the same way that other criminals
are fined when Imprisonment is i'm.
possible. And as the outrage is
one of the grossest known, the in-
demnity must Re one so great that
Spain will never forget it and will
never again murder American citi.
zens. Until that national fine is
paid the United States should hold
Cuba and Porto Rico, if not other
Spanish possessions. --Times.Dem.
OCrat
But Mark Hanna says you can't
have any war. and you "ain't uuth-
er."
Listen to what he said to McKin.
ley and his cabinet:
Mark Hanna was at the Cabinet
meeting, and he talked very plain
" to Mckinley and his advisors.
He declared that it was almost a
crime to be hurrying forward mat
ters which the country regards as
preparations for war. He said it
made no difference even if Spain
had officially directed the destruc-
tion of the Maine.
"Suppose," exclaimed Mr.. Han.
ma, with much feeling, "that we 60
to war with Spain and whip her.
It will unsettle values in this coun-
try and cost us millions OF money.
We cannot expect any indemnity.
The best thing to be done is to drop
the question as soon as possible.
Meantime, you must give out All
announcement which will convince
the business world there is to he
no war. Unless the ADMINISTRATION
comes to the relief of the exchang.
es there is no telling what will hap.