The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-28
THIS WAR IS JUST.
Henry Watterson's Most Eloquent
Words at Lexington's Military
Celebration.


Lexington, May 2S.-Ten thousand
people visited Lexington to witness the
civic and military pageant, followed by
review by Governor Bradley of the
companies of troops there yester-
day. When the parade and review were
ended, 300 school children sank Amer
lea" w. c. P. Breckenridge then in
troduced Mr.. Watterson, who was Civ
en- an ovation. He said in part:
You are about to make history 1t
may prove that this will not be history
merely repeating itself. For the first
time since the Crusades war has been
levied for no cause of a purely mater
1al kind, and with no selfish purpose.
l scarcely like the shibboleth, 'Remem-
Der the Maine 1t seems to me too re-
yengeful to be quite worthy. I do not
forget the circumstance to which it owes
tragedy under the shadow of MORO
Castle is yet before my eyes. I can
see. as close them, the very faces of
our murdered sailors with the ghaStli-
ness of death upon them. But L also
see the myriadS of starving men, wO-
men and children, ruthlessly sacrificed
to feed the lust and to fill the pockets
of professional plunderers masquerad-
ing in Cuba as Spanish officers and
gentlemen. Behind them 1 see three
centuries of wanton pillage, of frightful
corruption, of cruelty unsurpassed in
human annals. The time was long ago
for some great power to stretch forth
its hand, to interpose its authority, and
to say to the world, this barbarism
shall proceed no further Which pow
er except that of the United States was
to do this? Cuba is our next door
neighbor. Time out of mind these
atrocities have been perpetrated before
our eyes. While Spain has required us
to spend millions of money policing our
coasts against the f1libusterS, she has
shown herself unable, or unwilling, in
our protection, to police one of her own
harbOrS. Was this to go forever?
You yourselves are the answer to the
question.
You are going to fight a battle
waged by man for man. You are going
therefore in the name of that Christ
who died for men. You are going to
fight a battle for the glory of God and
your native land. You are going, there
fore, under a flag, which, the symbol at
once of freedom and humanity, and ha,v-
ing Gods blessing upon it, has never
yet known defeat. Look to it that you
carry yourselves as soldiers equally of
the cross and of the flag.
II believe in this war. I believe in
it with all my mind and with all my
soul. A neighbor of mine came to me
last week to ask me to exert my sup
posed influence in getting his son a
commission. assured him that I have
no influence. But said /, I have two
sons carrying muskets in the ranks
sons whom 1 dearly love-but for whose
advancement 1 shall not put forth the
slightest effort. 1t is enough for me to
KNOW lHdl lney are SeIN1IIS IIlSlI COuA-
try and fit pleases God to bring them
back to their mother and me safe and
sound, I shall bless His name as long
as L live
I'm that prayer let me include each
and every one of you; though 1 would
rather see my boys, and each and eve
ry one of you, lying by the side of that
brave and lovely sailor lad whom
North Carolina has just given up as
heavens first sacrifice upon the altar
of the nation and mankind, than that
one feather should be plucked from the
eagles wing, or a syllable of reproach
be justly cast upon the name and fame
of our dear Kentucky"