The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-12-01

What encouragement for poor and
obscure young men If they are fighting
on the side of God Tor the welfare of
humanity. though all the world be
| against them they shall win
The relation of orr nation to the
Spanish American war was dealt with
at length. The speaker said that for
nearly six centuries the fires of the
Spanish inqnistion were kept burning,
and not until 1896 were they allow
ed to go out AT that tune all the
engines of cruelty and torture which
could be invented by the 5loodihirsty
Spaniards, g0arded on by Roman super
sttion and hate, for the long drawn out
agony and death of professionals, these
implements stained with the blood Of
martyrs, were sold, the amount going
toward the payment of their national
debt. The history Of spain has indeed
been terrible. Millions have suffered
and died under spanish rule she has
been the most grasping, oppressive,
treacherous, heartless and the bloodiest
nation on the face of the earth. For
years tragedy of horrors has been Gu
acted on the fairest island of the seas,
under the very shadow of our southern
domain
Ever since President Mckinley came
into Office be has been looking toward
the paciiication of Cuba. lie found
Americans anguishing in Cuban prisons
| and liberated them. lie put up with
Weylers cruelty as long as he could and
then procured his recall from the island
lie waited patiently for the scheme of
autonomy to be drafted, and to be tried,
and not until it was evident that the
sufferings and horrors of the situation
would be indefinitely prolonged unless a
stronger power, in the name of God and
humanity, undertook to restore peace by
force, did he recommend armed inter
vention. On April goth, 1898. he signed
that joint resolution which has proved
to be the emancipation proclamation of
the western hemisphere from the GRASP
of Infamous Spain, terminating three
hundred years of intolerance, rapaelty
and cruelty. Whether war is a justifi
able resort or not, for Christian people
is hardly question open to debate, al
the privileges and liberties which we
enjoy have been secured by the sword
Ii God wanted cruelty in Cuba tC
cease-and who doubts it--does moi
every indication make plain the fac
| bhhN VIC 10 ChiiSh vi bOu " no tDli
definite work right at our hand? W.
have not been battling for spoil anC
plumber, but for human rights anC
Christian civilization. 1t has been a wal
against diaboical cruelty, and hoary
superstition reeking in ignorance
treachery and blood. In the early
period of this international complication
President Mckinley said "war shall no
be declared, except for cause that al
the people of the United States, and al
European nations, and God Almighty
will approve. And now as the smoke OF
battle has lifted we feel assured that al
these conditions have been met. Tht
gates of these islands, so long closec
against the gospel and Christian civil
cation, swing back on their rusty hinges
while the light from the nation tina
keepeth the truth is shining i'm.
The speaker in closing referred to thu
personnel of the heroes of the late war
paying high tribute to the Christian
character of the officers of the army anC
navy and exhorted the people to be trut
to God, and loyal to "Old Glory"