The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-08-19

Havana, (rhe Beautifully, shook to its
foundation under the shock as the
bursting submarine mine sent into
eternity the 266 brave American tars
who fell victims to Spanish treachery.
Whose ever the mind that conceived
the hcllish plot; whose ever the hand
that fired the instrument that scat
tered death and destruction, leaving
many u vacant chair by an American
Preside, many a widow and orphan to
mourn their loss through such a
death, the act was committed under
the very shadow Of SPANS flag, and
1t Ia to Spain that America has look
ed for that reparati0n which came to
US at the&muzzles OF our guns. Re.
Numbering all this with so much Bit
terness and sorrow, there are many OF
US who think to-day, and will ever
think. that the cry which swept the
length and bredth OF this country,
ION to the Freedom of Cuba," was
but a pretext whereby we might set
tie the long list OF old scores w have
been 80 carefully boarding up against
Spain for years past; and, reading the
record of glorious events, dating from
the first Of May last, right royalty and
most justly have the murders Of the
crews OF the Maine and Virginius
been avenged.
But laying aside our personal opin-
ion in this matter, let US come to the
accepted object, that of the freedom
OF Cuba. For the sake OF argument
let us admit that this present war was
brought about and carried on tOa sue
cessful end for the same reason which
prompted our fOrefathers In l776, to
beard the English Lion IN his den and
wrcst from him that boon which he
refused to grant US without a resort to
arms.
The soil OF Cuba is wet with the
life's blood Of those heroes who sur
rendered it so that they for whom
they fought and died might enjoy the
same blessings that are ours to-day.
But as the years roll on and the
new born Republic OF Cuba shall have
developed In tn a free natiOn(D and
begin the making Of history, how will
those whom we have freed with 50
much bitter cost to ourselves stand
the test Of. self-g0vernment? Will
they so conduct themselves as to make
us proud Of Our young pr0tege Or will
they, with that innate love Of revOlu-
ton and internal discOrd so charac-
teristic OF the Spanish-Latin races, Sc
mismanage matters among themselves
as to make both their own and 0ul
country the laughing stocks OF tho
world. The inscrutable future alone
holds that secret within Its keeping
This Is one OF the vexed questions
which confront us to-day, and seek AZ
we may to put the thought from. US
The time may probably come when
"Ouba Libre" will prove "a little old
man OF the sea-" which we may hav'
to thrash into civilization ourselves,
or protect with the army and navy Of
these United States.
There are many at present un
dreamed-Of issues which must spricl
from the war through which we llav'
Just passed; issues too pr0fOundl.
deep and frOught with interest to us
for the intellect Of the Ordinar.
thinkers either to grapple or master,
and all such must be left to the IN
raviling Of the "Corps DiplomatiQue
whose duty and province II is to fln'
the proper solution. In the mean
time
"when Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurra, hurra!
Well give him . hearty welcome then,
Hurrs, hurrai
Then men will cheer, the boys will shout,
And the pretty girls will all turn out,
And we'll all be glad when Johnny comes marci
ing home.
AMERICA.
Scranton, Miss, Aug. IA, 1898.