Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-05-26
The Qpgds
THE HAVANA CAMPAIGN.
A Democratic Newspaper.

The war with Spain can be in~
definitely prolonged to the delight
of army contractors and spoils-
men generally and to the distress
and overwhelming Of the country,
or 1t can be practically concluded
by a heavy, sweeping and decisive
movement of troops. Instead OF
skirmishing all over the world, a
supreme, concentrated effort IS
needed against Blanco and Havana
itself.
Tha war was undertaken for
the parpose Of relieving the starv-
ing Cubans, ayenging the Maine
and driving the Spaniards out OF
America. Thus far 1t has been
carried on with little references TO
these objects. The brilliant work
of Admiral Dewey promises to
bring relief to millions that were
not considered at all when wal
was declared. The lombard
ment of Porto Rico was fr~uitless,
because troops were not ready to
support it. The blockade Of Gu
ban ports is ineffective for a like
reason.
Tie people arc inclined to be
reasonable, but they = enciiaod
to th nix that a war undertaken to
free Cuba should proceed directly
to accomplish that object through
the landing of a heavy force on
that island under cover of the
guns Of a dominant feet. Cuba is
almost within sight; n hundred
thousand men are practically mus
tered in, and the people think a
movement against Havana should
be undertaken at once The de-
feat Of Blanco and the surrender
of Havana would terminate Span
ish rule in America. 1t would be-
yond reasonable doubt be followed
by a close Of the war. For what
else would Spain have to fghH
If an early ending of the war be
possible and desirable, it can only
be brought about by battles be-
fore Havana. 4 blockade and
starvation means a long "a
There is q great deal Of territory
behind and beyond Havana. The
~''peaceful blockade plan is q de-
fusion. It means more deaths
among non-combatants in Cuba,
and It means prolongation Of an
expensive and demoraliziug war.
1t offers no return. It is not war.
The nature of the Cuban eli.
mate IS such that not a day nor an
hour should be lost. The troops
must 80 and come through the
Gulf ports. If this going and
coming be delayed until the heat
of the are at hand. those
ports and the southern country
Will be again visited by the presti-
lence bat is bred through Spanish
Incidence and Spanish indifference
in Havana city and harbor. The
health and security and prosperity
Of the southern section Of this
country, as we'll as the early clos
ing Of tbs war, are involved IN
the occupation Of Cuba and the
expul ion CT the Spaniards. This
was the declared object Of the war,
and tie people desire a movement
as strong, as sudden and as sweep
ing as the movement of the Ger
mans against the French il 1871.
They desire g land campaign
against Havana. They knew It is
a case that cannot be reached and
remedled from the sea by even a
Dewey. They consider Havana
and Btanco's army the real objec-
tive point of the. war, and no
strategy board, no set Of poll
ticians, should be permitted to
stand in the way. If there are
some generals who prefer to dc
their fighting next winter, lei
them stand aside, There are men
who are ready to lead the armies
to battle at once-Who believe the
war can be ended by the delivery
of heavy blows against the very
heart of the contest.