Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-04-07
Don't Forget the Maine.

|
There seems to be a general DISPOSE
ton to make the Maine incident sec.
ondary to the Cuban question proper
This is right, but that it is made sec
ondary only shows how important
must be matter so weighty as to give
it this position. The Maine affair
should not be forgotten, however. The
blood of 266 martyred sailors cries out
against making their murder mere
unfortunate occurrence
| Let lis look at this affair moment
by itself. Suppose that instead of 60
ing to Havana the Maine had gone to
Valparaiso, Chill; that it had been
mysteriously blown up and sunk with
nearly all on board just as il was al
Havana; that's careful examination by
board of experts had shown that il
was destroyed by submarine mine,
Just as was really shown at Havana
what would have been done by our
government? Would we merely have
presented the courts finding to the
CHILEAN government and remarked
that we hoped it would do what was
right? Hardly. We would have made
an instant demand for PREPARATION, the
punishment of the perpetrators and the
payment OF a heavy indemnity. We
would have sent fleet to enforce our
claim. And the world would have sus-
tanned us. There would have been no
thought of submitting the matter to
arbitration.
Remember what really was done I'M
der President Harrison's administIa-
ton. A lot of American seamen who
landed from warship at Valparaiso
were set upon by a mob and three or
four of them killed. Did our govern
ment merely regret the unfortunate
happening and let it 90 practically un-
noticed? No. Chill was compelled
by an ultimatum to go down on her
knees and beg pardon and to pay a
good round sum. Is the killing of a
few sailors in drunken brawl more
heinous than the wanton destruction
of a vessel and 266 lives treacherously,
by night, without the least provoca-
ton?
We believe Spain should be held
strictly accountable for the loss of the
Maine with all that it implies. Our
ship went TO Havana on a peaceful
mission and did nothing that bore re-
semblance to hostile design. The
Spanish harbor master moored the YES
sci to a certain buoy that had not been
used for months. The ship was blown
up by mine. The evidence is con-
elusive that either the Spanish gov
eminent or SPANS delegated agents
placed that mine there. No civilian
could procure such mine, or, having
procured it, could place it without the
consent of the Spanish authorities. 1t
may not have been fired by official or
ders, but that makes but little differ
ence. Spain, officially, placed the
Maine over mine and is responsible
for what occurred.
A reasonable explanation is this -
The Maine was not welcome at Hava-
ma. She came to protect American in
terests if occasion demanded. The
Havana authorities did not know how
soon this occasion might arise. in
which case the Names guns would be
most uncomfortable to have in close
proximity. Spanish ingenuity and
treachery suggested plan at once.
"We'll put her where she won't trou-
BILE us long, they said. A mine was
fixed. When the Maine came she was
anchored by the harbor master over
this mine. Should riot occur and
the ships guns be turned on the city it
was the intention to remove the Maine
by merely pressing the button other
wise she would have been allowed to
depart in salty. In some way the
mine was exploded, either with or
without orders, probably without, by
some bitter and reckless Spaniard.
The Maine affair alone may not be
casus belli, but with everything else
that has occurred it is powerful rea-
son for ending the strife in Cuba. Let
the end come and quickly.
How TO Look Good.
Good looks are really more than skin
dean danandinu antiralv m o hooIfhv