The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-04-16
Gibson's whereabouts.

prove that they were on either side
of question when the final settle
ment comes and it is fully aScer-
tanned which is the most popular.
Our present congressman, Col. Glib
son is better at this kind of a game
than are most men. We presume
his efficiency comes from having
practiced the art so many years,
for you will remember he common
ced away back before the ar when
he wrote the poem, "Arise We Sons
of the Sunny South" and still far
Their on when he wrote to the war
department after the war for
Commission as a federal officer so
that he too might say that he was
among the defenders of his country.
lie is still at his same old game
and from his utterances now you
can prove in b few months that he
was for war a d against President
McKinley's policy and that he was
faithfully following the president
and that he approved everything
the President has done to bring a.
bout peace. The reason for this is
the foxy Henri don't know exactly
how the cat is going to jump and he
is not sure whether the "dear peo-
pie" favor war or peace.
Gibson wrote a letter to the Jour-
nal, which was published Apr 18th,
and from that we can prove all that
we say.
In the first place he says:-"I ia
vor the immediate and uncondition-
al recognition of the independence
OF Cuba" Further on he says:
81 believe that our battleship
Maine, and her crew of Americans,
were blown IN by Spanish officials;
and / would have rejoiced if Presi-
dent Mckinley, on the day the
court inquiry made its report
had required of Spain the payment
of twenty millions of dollars as in
demnity, the immediate Gisavowal
OF the acts of the assassins of oul
ship and sailors, and the prompt
hanging of every Spaniard in any
way connected with the awful
crime; and, if Spain had failed tt
make satisfactory answer in TWEEN
ty-four hours, l would have rejoice(
if the President had ordered oul
fleet to Havana, with orders t.
lombard and capture the city, an(
hang every man responsible for thu
destruction of the Maine and thu
murder of her crew. This course
not having been pursued by thu
President, l now regard the de
struction of the Maine and her crew
an act of war, and favor the captur,
and destruction of every Spnaisl
ship on this side of tne Atlantic ant
the expulsion of the flag and forces
of Spain from the Island of Cuba by
way of retaliation"
Now such talk as the above is tn,
thinest kind of rot and a man VIII
could give utterance to such stut
should be treated for the rabies O
the simples. The Court of Inquiry
composed of sensible and patriotic
men, could not fix the responsible.
for the blowing up of the Maine at
ter a thorough and honest investi
cation, yet this little inagpie of |
congressman, on mere suspicion
that could not be proved, would
rush our country into a murderou
war and hang a lot of Spaniards
who might be innocent 80 far as tn,
proof shows. Such course woult
have been beneath the dignity of
great Nation and the good sober
conservative, christian people o
, this country thank God that W,
didn't have such an unreasonable
, fire-alarm i'm the Presidents chair
Why the lowest and meapest of GU
citizens will not be punished OF
mere suspicion. The Court mus
deliberately prove him guilty be
yond reasonable doubt, or he goe
. free. Is there any reason why thi
rule should he departed from in tn
case of a great Nation, when a rasl
action means the loss of hundred
of thousands OF lives and millions o
dollars worth of property?
After saying the above Gibson, il
the same piece, goes on to put him
self on the side of Mckinley in tn
following language:
while the President moves slow
ly in menaclng Spain, he move
} rapidly in preparing for war; Will
he has done nothing to precipitat,
hostilities he has done everything