Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-04-11
WILL TT BE WAR?


that President Mckinley would send
to Congress last Tuesday, has been
delayed from time to time, but it will
be given to that body today. The
contents of this message will not be
given to the public until after it has
been received by Congress, but it is
understood that it comes out strongly
in favor of stopping the inhuman war
fare being carried on in Cuba. This
will be likely to bring on war with
Spain, but with affairs as they are on
that island there is no other course
for this country to pursue.
The President has tried in every way
to get Spain to give the Cubans a
more liberal form of government and
later when it was found that the in
surgents would accept nothing but
absolute independence he endeavored
to induce Spain TO give them this.
The Spanish government has re-
fused every request and have held
interfere in any way.
The war which has been carried on
long in Cuba has caused great finan-
cial loss to this country but the gov
ernment has held back and not only
has not interfered to help the insur-
gents but has been to much trouble in
patrolling their coasts to keep fill
busters from leaving our shores.
Spain has maintained all along that
there was no war in Cuba, and that
lection, but there is no doubt but that
the insurgents have control of a large
part of the island and have had such
control for some time. Spain, with
an army of 2O0, 900 men in the field,
has not been able to make much head
way against the Cubans, and they
have been starving all those who are
in their power. Many stories of their
cruelties had been given out through
the newspapers of the country but
not believed until some weeks ago
when Senator Proctor visited the
island, and returning, told of the ter
rible horrors there.
When the battleship Maine was de-
stroyed in Havana harbor, carrying
down 266 souls, and the investigation
showed that it was caused by the ex-
plosion of a submarine mine, the To-
cation of which could only be known
to Spanish officials, it became evident
that it was necessary for something
to be done. The sinking of this yes
ell has simply hurried an action which
would have been taken later by this
government. Spain was making no
headway in putting down the war and
the Cubans were growing stronger
every day. 1T is not to be wondered
at that Spain, proud nation, should
hate to give up her possessions with
out a struggle, but she would doubt
less accede to the demands of this
government were it not that the
masses of the people are against con
ceding point, and the leaders, who
we'll know what the consequences of
war must be, are obliged to carry out
their wishes for fear that unless they
do the present government will be
overthrown.
President Mckinley has tried to
effect an honorable settlement of the
difficulty without resorting to arms,
and in his efforts he has been sec
onded by the country at large. just
what action Congress will take can
only be predicted. 1t will doubtless
pass some one of the many resolu
t1ons now before it, either acknowl-
edging the independence of the island
and declaring that war must cease or
else declaring simply for Intervention
looking to a close of the crueIties
there. Whichever course is pursued
Intervention must bring on war