Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-16
..Remember the Maine. -

from, the masthead. For this they now
have not only the sanction of the peo-
ME bat also the sanction of the Presi-
dent of the United States. commander
in chief of our fleets and of our army.
One of the most vigorous and stirring
chapters of his recent message is de-
voted to .'the destruction of that noble
vessel" which has filled the national
heart with ineNpressibe horror The
President significantly states that he
has made no reply to the Spanish prop
osition that the explosion be invest-
gated by an international board of ex-
pcrts He accepts the decision OF oul
own naval board, which, it is needless
to say, commands the unqualified con-
tidtnce of the government" as final and
conclusive. SO do all the Presidents
open-minQcd fellow countrymcn.
Ii is true that the fact of personal
responsibility has not yet been fixed,
but the fact of official responsibility
has been determined to the satisfaction
of the American people. Capt. SigsbeH,
Consul General Lee. all the naval olil-
GERS who have seen the torn ana Sunktn
wreck, believe that the Maine and her
crew were destroyed by Spanish
treachery and their recent testimony
las been most conclusive. This conVl@-
ton of the men most familiar with all
the circumstances of the catastrophe
has been within Il few days powerfully
strengthened by the statement OF the
London engineer who furnished several
great submarine mines for use in Ha-
Vana harbOr.
If war comes. as has for some time
seemed inevitable. it will not be a war
of reveng = any mere than il will baa way
of conquest 1t will be a war for the
sake Of humanity and for the mainte-
nance of American rights. II VIII De
war to drive Spain from the fair island
where her presence has SO long been
bIiehting curse. and 10 give its peop'"
a chance to establish a free government
of their own 1t will be a war be
cause il * cur right and our duty 20
intervene in Cuba TO end the present
insuherable conditions. But one 81
the strongest reasons why we should
Intervene is because the Maine was de-
stroyed at Havana. AS President Me
kinley impressively declares, the de
struction of the Maine, by whatever
exterior cause. is a patent and impress
sive proof of a state of things IN CUBA
that is intolera bic. That condition is
thus shown TO be such that the Spanish
government cannot assure safety and
security 70 a vessel of the American
navy in the halbor Of Havana. on d
mission of peace and rightfully there.
The loss of the Maine cannot be for
gotten; it cannot be compromised, /.
is the supreme wrong, involving within
itself every element OF wrong III all ol
| SPANS numberless crimes. and NOR.
| 1t is wrong touching all that IS dear
est to this country, it's national honor.
the sanctity of human lives. the Sc
| curity of property, and its financial III
! tereSts For the loss of the Maine tn"
| fullest reparatiun must be demanded
whether peaceful negotiations may yet
| be possible or whether war must come"
| If there is war Remember the Maine
will be the rallying cry and the battle
cry Of cur people. The other injuries
this nation has suffered must h" atone /
for but the Maine must be remcnl-
ber2d The woes of the Cuban people
must be ahatcd. but the Maine mus. b.
remembered The lifelong menace to
American peace and welfare must at
last be ended. but the Maine must be
remembered The outrage upon hu-
| manity must he abolished. but tn"
! Maine must be remembered. Tho! 9
can be no settlement of the Cuban
question until that part of il is settled
Remember the Alamo" was the cry
of the Texans in their war for ind@-
pendence. more than half century
ago. Spain will have no one to blame
but herself if her nag is forced to
vanish from the western hemisphere to
the cry of Remember the Maine