The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-09

county. and almost from every section.
urging them 10 hasten congressional ac-
ton concerning American interests in
Cuba. The sentiment OF the people
as expressed in these letters. seems TO
be as strong and warlike as when. I'm
1861. the flower Of the young manhood
Of Michigan went forth TO battle Tor
the defense OF the federal Union.
lila Wheeler Wilcox.
Whether Ella Wheeler Wilcox OF
John A. Joyce wrote the poem is a mat
ter of controversy. But when Mrs. Will
cox was here recently she told the writ
er that her authorship was never ques-
toned until Colonel Joyce saw the poem
in her published works. and then he
claimed IL. No matter who wrote II, the
| lines are beautiful:
Laugh and the world laughs with you.
Weep. and you weep alone.
This grand old earth must borrow it's
mirth;
1t has trouble enough OF its own"
The poetess is a very interesting and
sensible woman. She was seen at her
hotel and she said: II came here to at
tend the meeting OF the Daughters OF
the American Revolution, as / am a
ter. ! am always busy writing, mostly
verse. But occasionally for the news
papers / write on live topics OF current
human interest. / am opposed TO the
movement of these woman suffragsts
who have been in session here. Women
have all the rights they require. l am
opposed to the aggressive spirit Of mod
ern women and deplore their tendency
10 rush in and compete with men. Some
corrective is needed for this condition,
and know Cf nothing which would he
so wholesome as war. That would put
| the masculine women in the back
ground where they ought to be. War
| will Undue our men with that verility
which they now seem TO be in danger
Of losing. A nation can go to seed by
becoming too gentle"
IT have no regard and little respect
for the women who want to vote" says
the wife OF Senator Gear. II have lived
with my husband in poverty, in
trouble in success and In great achieve
ment. and have always been satisfied
with my lot. ] do not see why faith
full wife or affectionate mother should
want to vote. The advanced civilization
OF this country has given to woman all
OF the rights that are enjoyed by man.
excepting the right TO vote. j think
that woman should be satisfied In this
republic. In no other civilized nation
does she have sc many rights as
here"
Six weeks ago General Miles, COM
manding the army. gave your CORE
spondent an interview, in which he de-
clared that our seacoast defenses are
Inadequate. and that, therefore, this
| O..
eral Miles was talking at that time
more as a diplomat than as a soldier.
Our seacoast defenses are not as COM
plete as they might be. but they are in
such condition that an enemy would be
sure TO receive a warm reception
Harbors scientifically Mined.
AS a matter OF fact General Miles
was anxious to induce congress to in
crease his appropriation for fortifica-
tions, while at the same time, knowing
that his words would be published, he
desired to deceive representatives of
Spain in this country who might read
his utterances. We not only have
splendid guns located at our most inn
portant seacoast points, but our most
important harbors are scientifically
mined, so that any hostile vessel which
might pass our forts and enter harbor
could be blown up from beneath the
water. II is practically impossible that
any foreign warship could capture our
metropolis.
Seacoast defenses are under the di
rection Of the general commanding the
army and under the direction Of the
secretary of the navy we have num-
Der Of monitors and other vessels of
war which make mighty good adjuncts
to the coast fortitications. Old Admiral
Jouett, the retired naval hero, has said
to the writer that with one good mont
tor he would be willing TO fight a dozen
modern battleships.
General Miles enlisted in the army In
1861 in Boston, Mass, where he had
been a clerk in a dry goods store. He
has been in the army ever since and
was promoted through all grades until
he reached the important position he
now holds. Although never given the
advantages of a military education at
West Point the graduates OF the Mill
tary academy all concede that he has
learned the art Of war in a most prac-
teal manner and is a perfectly capable
commander.
Jouett Anxious To Fight.
Admiral Jouett says that although on
| the GetlTtu IISt anu pdSt tic dSc VI
three score years and ten, he would
like to be given command of the mont
tor Puritan. and he says that he would
give as good an account of himself in
war with Spain as he did during the
civil war.
Republicans, Democrats, Populists
and silverites, all condemn the long in
action of the administration. Not a
few are saying ugly things about Tom
Reed, because he has prevented the
consideration of the Cuban resolution
by the house OF representatives. One
congressman from Michigan says:
Somebody is responsible for the loss
OF the Maine and for the loss OF the
lives of our sailors. Some man high in
authority Is responsible before God for
that disaster. II we had been at war
with Spain, as we ought to have been,
our ship would never have been sunken
by a hidden mine. | cannot afford To
name the man, but there is such a man
in our country who Is responsible for
the calamity and atrocity."