Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-05-20
The Nations Uprising.

merry month of May, the whole country
was full of hustle and considerations
marching, recruits enlistlng, warshirs
putting out to sea, inventors designing
new methods of defense and destruction,
newsboys crying hourly extras with
news of war. The flag of our Union
had been fired upon by the secessionists
in April, and the people arose in their
might to stand by the flag. Curiously
enough most of the wars III which
Americans have been engaged have
begun in April. In that month the
battle of Lexington, the first field fight
of the Revolution, occurred. In that
month we commenced the invasion of
Mexico. Those who believe in omens
will consider these circumstances most
suspicious. To those who are not super
stitious the condolences are at any
rate, very curious.
In 1861 we were fighting each other,
brother against brother, and the nation
was divided into two hostile camps. In
1916 the people were not united i'll favor
OF war upon Mexico a large and power
full party opposed it, and Tom Corwin
of Ohio, described the Mexicans as being
ready 10 welcome our soldiers with
bloody hands TO hospitable graves" In
1912 the New Englanders declared that
the war was unjustitiable, and many
prominent men We're accused OF sympa-
thizing with the English. In 1916 there
were many Tories who consclentlously
espoused the cause of the king against the
ColOnists AS for our numerous Indian
wars, they have all been denounced from
the pulpit as inhuman and outrageous.
The war for free Cuba Is, therefore, the
first III which the entire American nation
has been united with no dissenting
voices, and no partisan opposition. For
years the Spanish domination III Cuba
has been sore in the side of the Amerl-
can government. During the presidency
OF General Grant, there was an earnest
effort TO secure recognition of the Re
public of Cuba at a risk of war with
Spain. But Grant, like all other great
generals-eXcept NapOleon-detested
war, and he succeeded III stopping the
popular movement by pointing out that
the Cubans had no organized civil adj
ministration, no port, no navy. This
was good argument against recognition,
but not intervention. However, Grant
pitted his own popularity against the
Cuban cause and he prevailed. When,
under similar circumstances President
Mckinley used the same argument last
month, congress swept it away like chatf,
and substituting Intervention for recog-
milton, directed him TO notify Spain that
Cuba was free. The war against Spain
is, therefore, the first i'll which the
American nation has engaged from
motives of humanity, and for the ex-
tension of Republican institutions.
\ third popularity Of the present war
is the CELEBRITY with which the prepare
tions were made. Three months ago
the country was in perfect peace, with
a small army, a small navy, and no
satisfactory coast defenses. 1t was like
a strong man sleeping comfortably after
his usual labor. But the report of the
destruction of the Maine" reused the |
strong man from his slumbers, and in
an incredibly short time he uniformed |
and armed himself, and went forth TO
fight There was no pause, no rest; but |
no furry and hurry. History will record |
that the manner in which the United |
States prepared for war, after thirty
years of profound peace, was one of the |
greatest wonders in the record of this |
wonderful nation, and would do credit |
10 any Of the old fighting nations of |
Europe.
In the resolution of congress that Spain |
accepted as a declaration OF war the an
neXatiOn of Cuba is explicitly disclaimed. |
But there never was war that ended |
Just as it was intended, and the conse-
quences of which did not far outrun the |
original expectations Thus the war TO
free Cuba NAV have results very differ
ent from the formation of tiny Re-
public of Cuba, a black republic like |
Hayti, at the mercy of any power that
owns warship. Having freed Cuba,
we must protect the island, and the only
legitimate protection we can offer is 10
make il a United States territory, with |
two delegates to our Congrt IS, but with
ont a vote in our elections.
Stand by the flag That is the watch
word of the war Remember the
Maine!' does not appeal TO the judg-
ment, because nobody knows anything |
about the "Maine," although we sus-
pect much. But there can be no |
room for doubt or question if we |
stand by the flag, and we may be as
sured that the future which follows the |
fighting will be more glorious than the |
most enthusiastic prophet can now pre-
dict.