Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-06-30
BE LOYAL AMERICANS.

BE LOYAL AMERICANS.
Americans cannot well understand
why Havana, the scene of the treach-
erous destruction of the Maine, should
remain in q state of friendly blockade
while thousands Of troops are being
sent to the Philippines. There seems
to be a fear at Washington that if a
vigorous attack is made on Havana
and other points In Cuba the war
might be terminated before the COM
mercial jobs of the administrations
pets could bs contaminated.
MORO Castle at Havana, overlook
ing the wreck of the Maine, continues
to fire on the American ships, but not
an American shell is sent In reply.
The American commander at Havana
Is unquestionably "tangled up with
Instructions. Mexico fntelligencer.
1t is hardly to be presumed that the
American people need the situation
explained. 1t is plain enough to those
who are posted on the plan of cam
paign.
When war was declared force of
circumstances and neutrality laws
compelled Dewey to seek port for
base of supplies. The world knows of
mis- achievement. Everybody knows
the troops are being sent to the Phil
ippines to protect American interests
already established there, and without
which the insurgents would doubtless
take advantage of the situation, leav-
ing the United States tangled up in
international difficulties and at the
mercy of other nations after peace Is
declared.
Those who are posted know that the
most important move in this conflict
is to capture Cervera's Spanish fleet,
now at Santiago The situation at
that point is 30 complicated that to do
this has required the presence of q
portion of the army and many ships Of
the navy.
1t is true there has been no attack
made upon Havana, but at points
along the eastern and southeast coast
of Cuba, especially at Santiago, the
best fortified port in Cuba, shot and
shell have fallen as thick and fast-and
as much destruction has been the re-
sult-as ever came from any ma tion's
battleships in any land.
1t Is not and never has been the
policy of the administration to destroy
Havana If it possibly can be avoided.
With Spain's only effective fleet out
of the way, the Philippines and Porto
Rico in possession of the United States,
the stars ard stripes flying over San
tiago, the Madrid government may be
induced to see the further hopelessness
of continuing hostilities and agree to
the demands of this government in
the matter of Cuba before an on
slaught upon Havana, which contains
about 800, 900 living, breathing souls,
and is a magnificent city. No man
with a spark of humanity in his make
up cares to see death and destruction
carried into the beleaguered city if it
can be avoided. If it comes to point
where such action must be taken, the
world will zee assembled before Hav-
ana the most formidable array Of effect
i've battleships that ever lined up to
do destruction to an enemy and she
will go down before the attack the
like of which was never before seen
in warfare,
There is a savage and a humane
manner in which to conduct war. The
United States has chosen the latter,
be it said to her credit. This is pol
icy that will command approval from
both military and humane stand
point.
An exchange, speaking along these
lines, very truly says:
"This will not please those war lords
of the press who have been shouting
the battle cry of "On to Havana" but
it will appeal to the common sense Of
all people who favor effective war
fare at the minimum cost of American
and other lives"
The editor of our contemporary
seems to be one of those parties who,
from a lack of knowledge, supposed
that the United States could sail into
Spain and whip her into submission in
week or ten days, when the fact is,
the mother country for years has kept
large and formidable standing army
in Cuba and her Notifications at
Havana and other principal seaports
on the coasts of the island are almost
al impregaable as Gibraltar.
1t will be remembered that upon the
declaration of hostilities men eminent
In military warfare in this and other
nations, and who understood the sit
uation thoroughly, gave opinions that
the strife would last from two to thirty
years; but the admirable progress
thus far made by the United States
refutes these opinions. Spain will
yield, and 1t is to be hoped that peace
terms cail be arranged without a
slaughter at Havana, for there are
many other peoples and interests there
besides Sraniards and Spanish.
h6 w tSb6 VI khC
istration's pets'' to prolong the war,
the great mass of the American peo-
pie hold no such views and it is ultra
Unamerican to propagate such SEN
timent or attempt to force such opin-
ions upon the public when there is no
foundation for such statements.
During this strife it is the unques-
tionable duty of every American citi-
zen to be steadfastly loyal to the
government and uphold the hands of
the administration, 1t matters not to
what political party he belongs. Mr..
Bryan himself has said SO; patriotism
born within the true American breast
stands as q bulwark to back the senti-
ment expressed by our great Dem
ocratic leader, who has shouldered
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