The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-01

| presume man sixty odd years old,
who served through the last, war. with
some experience in war, as well as in
peace. may be allowed to express an opin-
ion OF the subject of war, without being
guilty of high crimes and misdcmeanors,
although he may be guilty of technical
treason against the powers that be.
First-If men and nations are punish
ed for crimes committed against individ-
uals and nations. eternity will not be
long enough. to sufficiently punish
Grover Cleveland and William McKin-
ley for their crimes against the Ameri-
can people, and bleeding and crushed hui
mainly on this side of the Atlantic
ocean. If Mr.. Cleveland had recognized
the belligerent rights of the independence
of the Cubans, they would have long
since established their freedom, without
the loss of blood or money to the United
States government
Mr.. Mckinley was elected and pledg-
ed to the freedom of Cuba by platform
and letter of acceptance, and if he had
been honest and kept his pledge, the
Maine would to-day be flying the United
States flag, and the 256 sailors would
be on board, in line, instead Of in Havana
mud and in eternity.
If we had even 50 late as six months
ago. recognized the Cuban republic, not
one drop of blood from American pa
triotS would have been shed in battle,
and no American blood would have been
on his hands, and the loss of no Ameri-
can ship charged up to his account.
If. when he did act, he had advised the
recognition of Cuban independence, in
stead of armed Intervention, it would
not have been an act of war, and would
have accomplished all the Cubans de-
sired at thar time, and if war had fol
lowed Spain would have been the ag-
gressor instead of the United States, and
the United States would have been on
the defensive instead of on the offensive;
and would have been justified in the
eyes of the civilized world.
Such trimming. such laundering, such
and such treason to pledges,
principles and humanity have never
been displayed by an American ruler
nor on the American continent, except
by the Spaniards in their conquest OF
Mexico and Peru, and their dealings
with Cuba and other of her colonies.
Such fawning. Knocking. bowling
todying and loyalty to the bondholder-
of this and other countries. have never
before been so manifest, bold and defiant
by any American despot, save and eX
cept by Grover Cleveland.
And now since Congress has directed
him, al his own suggestion, t. intervene
and since he has delivered his ultjmatun
to Spain and gives her so many days L
leave Cuba. and since Spain has refused
to leave, Mr.. Mckinley is still idle and
inactive and guarding the interests of tho
Spanish bonds and the Spanish dynasty
He seems to be. from my standpoint
the agent of the monied lords of this and
other lands. and the elect chosen
friend of Spain, instead of the President
of the United States and the commanders
in-Chief of its armies and navies.
1t is impossible for Spain to wage q
successful war against the United States,
either ON land or on the seas.
She is more than three thousand miles
from her base of supplies for either
branch of her service.
There is no earthly danger of SPAN
ever attempting to land an army ON the
soil of the United States, and If she
should attempt so desperate and hazard
Gus undertaking, the militia of any one
State could and would drive her forces
into the sea in twenty-four hours.
Her navy is NOT as strong on equal
terms as the navy of the United States.
And three thousands miles from coal
ing station or Il repair station, she can
not contend with our navy in American
or Cuban waters thirty days.
The ultimatum expired last Friday or
Saturday, and Mckinley knew two days
and nights before that Spain would not
comply with his ultimatum. On last Sat
urday our navy, with ten thousand regu-
lar soldiers on transports ought to have
stood in front of Matanzas and landed
Under the mouths of our guns, these
troops and they could have made Il
junction with Gomez within less than
forty-eight hours, and by this time
Havana could have been invaded with
the Cuban and American forces on land
and the navy on water.
But instead of some such rapid work,
Spain is notified to hurry up her navy
and army and mobilize them at the
most convent station to strike telling
blow to our navy and our army and to
Cuban independence. Wisdom would
suggest that Cuba be captured or Il
junction At least be made with Gomez
before the Spanish navy can engage our
navy.
Another ineXcusable blunder made by
Congress and Mckinley is the calling
out the State Guard, or rather the
calling on the guard to volunteer. Vol
unteers from the rank and file of the