The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-03-11


Cuba. The sentiment of the people
as expressed in these letters, seems to
be as strong and warlike as when,. in
1861, the flower OF the young manhood
of Michigan went forth to battle for
the defense of the federal Union.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
whether Ella Wheeler Wilcox or
John A. Joyce wrote the poem is a mat
ter or controversy. But when Mrs. Will
cox was here recently she told the writ
er that her authorship was never ques-
toned until Colonel Joyce saw the poem
In her published works, and then he
claimed 1t. No matter who wrote 1t, the
lines are beautiful:
Laugh, and the world laughs with you.
Weep, and you weep alone.
This grand old earth must borrow it's
mirth;
1t has trouble enough Of it's own"
The poetess-is a very interesting and
sensible woman. She was seen at her
hotei and she said: II came here to at
tend the meeting of the Daughters of
the American Revolution, as I am q
charter member OF the New York chap
ter. am always busy writing, mostly
verse. But occasionally for the news
papers 1 write on live topics of current
human interest. / am opposed to the
movement of these woman suffragists
who have been in session here. Women
have all the rights they require. I am
opposed to the aggressive spirit of moo
ern women and deplore their tendency
to rush'in and compete with men. Some
corrective is needed for this condition,
and 1 know of nothing which would be
| whO1acnnn ne
the masculine women in the back
ground, where they ought to be. War
will Undue our men with that verility
which they now seem to be in danger
Of losing. A nation can go to seed by
becoming too gentle"
IL have no regard and little respect
for the women who want to vote" says
the wife Of Senator Gear. IT have lived
with my husband in poverty, in
trouble, in success, and In great achieve
ment, and have always been satisfied
with my lot. do not see why faith
full wife or affectionate mother should
want to vote. The advanced civilization
Of this country has given to woman all
Of the rights that are enjoyed by man,
excepting the right to vote. / think
that woman should be satisfied in this
republic. In no other civilized nation
does she have so many rights as
here"
Six weeks ago General Miles, COM
handing the army, gave your CORE
spondent an interview, in which he de-
clared that our seacoast defenses are
inadequate, and that, therefore, this
country is not prepared for war. Cen
eral Miles was talking at that time
more as a diplomat than as a soldier.
Our seacoast defenses are not as COM
plete as they might be, but they are in
such condition that an enemy would be
sure to receive warm reception.
Harbors Scientifically Mined.
AS matter of fact, General Miles
was anxious to induce congress to in
crease his appropriation for fortifica-
lions, while at the same time, knowing
that his words would be published, he
desired to deceive representatives of
Spain in this country who might read
his utterances. We not only have
splendid guns located at our most i'm
portant seacoast points, but our most
important harbors are scientifically
mined, so that any hostile vessel which
might pass our forts and enter harbor
could be blown up from beneath the
water. It is practically impossible that
any foreign warship could capture our
metropolis.
Seacoast defenses are under the d.
rection Of the general commanding the
army and under the direction of the
secretary of the navy we have a num-
Der of monitors and other vessels of
war which make mighty good adjuncts
to the coast Notifications. Old Admiral
Jouett, the retired naval hero, has said
to the writer that with one good mont-
tor he would be willing to fight a dozen
modern battleships.
General Miles enlisted in the army In
1861 in Boston, Mass, where he had
been a clerk in dry goods store. He
has been in the army ever since and
was promoted through all grades until
he reached the important position he
now holds. Although never given the
advantages of a military education at
West Point the graduates of the Mill
tary academy all concede that he has
learned the art of war In a most prac-
tical manner and Is a perfectly capable
commander.
Jouett Anxious to Fight.
Admiral Jouett says that although on
the retired list and past the age OF
three score years and ten, he would
like to be given command OF the moni-
tor Puritan, and he says that he would
give as good an account Of himself In
war with Spain as he did during the
civil war.
Republicans, Democrats, Populists
and silverites, all condemn the long in
action of the administration. Not
few are saying ugly things about Tom
Reed, because he has prevented the
consideration Of the Cuban resolution
by the house of representatives. One
congressman from Michigan says:
Somebody Is responsible for the loss
of the Maine and for the loss of the
lives of our sailors. Some man high In
authority is responsible before God for
that disaster. If we had been at war
with Spain, as we ought to have been,
our ship would never have been sunken
by a hidden mine. I cannot afford to
name the man, but there Is such man
in our country who is responsible for
the calamity and atrocity."
Responsibility Somewhere.
Who does he mean? Can you not