Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-12
SHALL WE have WAR?


of the world. We have no good
ground for war with Spain, unless a
strong power is always justified in
fighting weak power.
II We can believe the latest reports
from Cuba, the condition of the recon.
ceutradoes is better now than it has been
Tor months. They have received per-
mission to return to their homes; they
are not now starving and their cnndi-
ton would be infinitely worse if t ere
should he q WAT between the United
States and Spain.
The Spaniards are cruel people.
| They have wreaked vengeance upon
he poor Cubans, whenever they have
had the opportunity. Our sympathy is
wi b the liberty loving Cubans. When
W see Congress moved to tears by the
recital of Spanish cruelty and the ter
r BILE outrage of burning homes of nom
com mbatanls and of driving defenseless
women and children away to starve
among strangers, we are forcibly le-
minded OF the scenes of few years go.
Our people know what war is. They
| ,oked upon Sheridan's raiders as
they dashed through this fair vallev
armed with burning torches. They
Jaw their mills, their barns, their
uones and even their churches erected
or the worship of the living God, re-
iuced to ashes by the gang that was
commanded by the heartless Sheridan,
name that will continue to be eX
ecrated by future generations. And
yet Sheridan simply did his duty as 9
soldier in executing the cruel order of
his heartless commander.
Sherman, when the Confederate
army was almost destroyed and there
was no longer sufficient force to stop
his progress, or infiict the punishment
which he so richly deserved, boasted
that in his march to the sea. be had
made path forty miles wide in which
were only left standing chimneys, mute
reminders of homes destroyed and the
sutferings of q brave and patriotic peo'
ulr.
They tell US that the Spsniards
murder non combatants. So did the
United States soldiers by order of
United States officers. We need not
90 away from our own home for in
stances. Poor DAvy Gelz, a harmless
simpleton. not required by the Confe.-
crate authorities to do military duty,
because in intellect be Was mere child,
was seized by lot of Clusters men and
charged with being guerrilla. The
ladies of our town and men, who were
always recognized as Union men, fully
informed General Custer Of the circum-
S s'auces aud of facts which one mo-
ment's gaze into the idiotic face would
have convinced him were true. In spite
of this evidence, the heartless creature,
clad in the uniform of the United States
! army, had this poor boy tied behind a
wagon like a dog, compelled him to
walk to Brgewater, a distance of about
forty.6ve miles, and there had him dig
his own grave and then shot him down
like brute.
They tell US that the cruel Spaniards
drive non com batsnts from their homes.
Did not Milroy, the Weyler of the Val
ley division OF the United States army,
tear hundreds of women and children
from their homes and place them out
side of his lines to starve and die?
1t Is not the cruelty of the Spsniards
that is stirring the hearts of Congress
to cry for war. If their tender hearts
were so touched by cruelty, would they
permit their own army to be command
cd by a man who, when he bad the
army of the nation at his back, q
United States fort and doors and win
dows barred with iron and steel, and
was required to guard distinguished
citizen-one who had won fame and
honor upon the field OF Buena Vista, in
defense OF his country, one who in the
United States Senate, when that body
was composed of patriots and states
men stood the peer of any man, one
who had been at the head of nation
fghtiog for the principles upon which
is based the constitution of the United
States, to crafty the natural cruelty OF