Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-01
WAITING Tor the Verdict.

but the appeal to suspend Judgment
has been answered by magnificen.
spirit that is a credit to the national
character. Rumors of war have spread
abroad, gathering strength as they
Travelled. but the people have kept coo
and patient, trusting the government;
to keep true its traditions of firm and
loyal Amercanism. and to maintain the
national honor and dignity at any cost
Under the direction of the navy de-
partment a thorough investigation CT
the disaster is being conducted, and Its
deliberations and findings are still kept
secret. IT is doubtful if the govern
ment, any more than the general pun
lie, knows much more about the loss of
the Maine than it did the day following
the explosion. The air has been 1uli Oh
theories, Suesses, s,irmises ana con-
lectures. but the facts of the case seem
TO lie with the shattered hull of the
Maine in the O0Zc of the tropical mar
Dor. Certain metropolitan newspapers.
catering only to morbid sensationallSm
and utterly disreEardinS all truth ana
public policy, have sorScd their guliIble
constituency with deliberately faxed
warns. surnounted by hysterical,
postcr-szed headlines, and broken up
with pictures as impossible as Immense.
Bllt these nauseating caricatures ri
legitimate journalism have failed IN
their incen,liary purpose to stampede
the government and people, and the
verdict of the court of inquiry IS
awaited with patience and dignity.
What will the verdict be and what
will follow the verdict? These are
grave questions, and it cannot be de-
MED that the situation now facing the
United States is the most serious it has
met for more than generation. Even
the most conservative admit that War
that the government is busy night and
day with all possible preparations for
offensive and defensive warfare. Such
preparations. to he sure. are the surest
methods Of preserving peace and it is
country desires. Only few radical.
jinGoiSt Spain-ha tiers would really vel
rible business under present conditions
and would involve an enornlpus sacri
country and Spain war could have only
one result and that could not be Ions"
Spain is bankrupt and with
out credit or great resources. She
possesses only hot temper and unrea-
soma BILE pride The whole civilized
world holds her in contempt, The
United States has unlimited credit and
resources. Her present defenses are
not to be despised, and her army and
national guard and her navy command,
a least, the respect of nations, and
would be a worthy match for Spain,
while there are millions of loyal citi-
zens who would rally. to arms if nee
essary. to defend her flag and uphold
her honor. If war comes it will come
through Spain's refusal to acquiesce in
the verdict of the court of inquiry and
to meet the just demands of the United
States. If there is war it Will doubtless
be fought mainly at sea and in the
have army enough to attempt an in
vaSion of this country. and could not
afford to spare enough of her warshlps
from Cuban waters to bother our great
ports War could only result in tho
complete humiliation of Spain and hen
immediate loss of Cuba. SO much foi
war if it comes, but will it come?
Less and less frequently as the day:
have passed has the word "acciden;
been used in connection with the loss o
! the Maine and more and more as the
| facts have come to light has the i'm
| preston gained ground in the mos
conservative minds that the terrible
explosion was the result of some eX-
| ternal agency, arising from Spanisl
| treachery or the diabolical ingenuity q
| some Spanish fanatic. No sober min
can conceive that the Spanish govern
mcnt could have adopted such suicid
al course as to have directly caused o.
countenanccd the destruction of tn,
Maine That would mean war not
mere demand for indemnity. The bur
den of proof is on this country to SHOW
that the explosion that wrecked tn,
! Maine came from without, and if thu
| board of inquiry reaches that decision
the responsibility of Spain begins. an
We are justified in asking the paymen
of heavy indemnity. Spain alone ha,
| control of Havana harbor at the tim
| of the disaster. and was bound t.
| guarantee the safety of a friendly wa
ship there anchored. 1t was her dut,
to give the Maine d safe anchorag sc