Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-04-21
War and Politics.

War and Politics.
We are now where it has been ap-
parent we must land at an early day
into q war with Spain. We wash our
hands of the blood which is soon to be
spilled and the suffering which is to
follow. 1t has been the Yankee man
ner Of meddling in other peoples al
fairs which has brought this war upon
us, as 1t brought the last war upon us.
There is desire innate, Unborn, i'm
possible of restraint in that NEEDLE
some people, to arrogate to themselves
all the good, and to others all the bad.
They have spread themselves under
many guises over the earth, they led
the Cubans to believe they were NAL
treated, they poked their noses into
Hawaii and dethroned the queen, and
set themselves in her place, they are
in China, in Africa, in the further
most parts of the earth. and wherever
they 60 they foment strife. They
have caused two wars in Cuba, and III
the last one have involved this nation
and will pour out blood and treasure
with startling profigacy. But what
care they2 They will hide their crafty
persons away from danger and on the
slaughter they have caused, fatten, as
the vulture upon the OK whose eyes
and tongue he has torn from the vic
TINS head. We see what is before us
and have no heart in this fight into
which we are dragged or Drawn. The
thing was talked of in the fall of '96
for Republican party advantage, for
that only did Cuba's cause appear In
their platform. They were trying to
deceive the public when they poured
out vial of pity for the suffering
"Patriots." Then they were sowing
the wind, now they are reaping the
whirlwind. But for over year they
have hesltated, they have known for
a year the practices Of the Spaniard,
they have known the murder and
rapine and starvation he was resort
ing to. Why then have they delayed,
land why now do they rush in as ii
their hearts had al ways been bleeding
for Cuban deliverance. Why do they
refuse voice in this matter to Dem
crat, and why does Tom Reed in his
insolence, backed by his insolent and
domineering party howl, down and
bully the Democratic minority when.
ever one of them attempts to open his
mouth, and at the same time shout fret
Cuba ? Why has Mckinley delayed
until now to relieve the suffering In
Cuba when for year he has known
that 1000 day were dying of starva-
ton. Why did he not begin six moths
ago II humanity was the ground Of in
ltervention2 If he had done SO tn;
Maine would either haYe been afioa1
today or it would have been sunk ii
battle instead of by Spanish treachery
Had he begun then our soldiers would
mot have been compelled to invade
Cuba at q season of the year wher
fevers and pestilences are more to b.
dreaded there than all the Spanish
soldiers who ever trod that soil since
Columbus landed on it? These arr
Questions which to our minds admi
of but one answer. But more thar
, two months have elapsed since thu
Maine was destroy ed, and in that tim
81, 0O0 reconcentrados have died fror
, starvation. They have had as mucl
r food since then per day rs they ha
before, and yet we are told now, W
go to war only because we canno
{ see such butchery go on SO near GU
> shores. Yet it is admitted that we ha
| made no preparation for war an
, could not have gone to war before th
: battleship disaster. 1t is therefor
evident that the party N power is no
sincere in ite pTOteStations ana 1t
evident that w Go not know why "