The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-04-09
A BRAVE AMERICAN MOTHER.
Willing That Her Sons Should Die to
indicate Her Country's Honor.

In the Chicago Tribune of April
I'd appears a letter from Mrs. Ellen
Henrotin of that city, who, OH be-
half of the women's clubs of the
United States, wrote to President
Mckinley, urging him to take the
way that leads to peace, and u state
ment from Mrs. Shillington, mother
of Harry Shiliington, who wen,
down with the Maine.
. Mrs. Shillington was shown Mrs.
Henrotin's letter, and asked if she
thought it spoke for all the mothers
of America. Mrs. Shillington could
not read any further than the line
"On US war will fall the heaviest
forswe must give our sons"
"Ive already given one of mine
she said, my Harry; but with one
boy buried in the mud Of Havana
harbor and another on board u
United States cruiser that may be
the first to be sunk in case of war,
| have no appeals to make to the
president for peace. am a mother,
and have suffered as perhaps not
many Of the mothers who have
Joined in Mrs. Hcnrotin's appeal
have suffered, but I do not shrink at
the mention of war. We must think
Of our own, and heaven knows no
one could have thought more of her
boy than | did of the one who died
on the Maine; but there are moth
ers in Cuba who must be thought
of-moihers who have seen their
little ones starve TO death by their
sides Their homes have been de-
stroyed, and families sundered, and
men, women and children allowed
to die like cattle. l have to think
of these things. Of course, l know
the money interests Of the country
are entitled to a fall share of con-
sideration, but I believe, too, in
honor. | believe it, and l taught it
to my children, and l think they
learned the lesson, for the officers
of the navy have written to me that
my Harry never swerved from the
strict line Of his duty. He never
shrank from what was right, and
neither will l, and l can give my
other boy to my country, if need
be, as l did my oldest son.
"Charlie sailed on the govern
nent cruiser Alliance to-day. His
last letter to me said that now he
had but one thought, and that was
revenge. You see, be is only boy
of II, and the death of his brother
filled him with hatred for those who
caused it. lido not feel, of course,
the same about it as he does. lido
not feel any spirit of revenge. l
only want to see the honor of the
country INDICATED, so that my boy,
who is sailor on board United
States chip, can walk the streets of
a foreign city and feel that the blue
uniform be wears is respected, and
that if he dies, his government will
demand atonement, and that he is
something more than the iron guns
Or the plating on the side Of the
vessel that can be left buried in the
muddy bottom of harbor and for.
gotten.
II have no criticism to make on
The women who have Joined in Mrs.
Henrotin's petition. They want to
% spared the loss of their loved
'nes, and l pray God that they may
De. But he should let them suffer
Is | have dene, If tits for the sake |
If the dead and dying IN Cuba; i'll
t is for the sake of our country,
Ind her flag, and for the sake Of
he boys who were killed on the |
Maine. can only say to them, as
say to myself hundred aud a |
housand times day; 1T had to
'e; it had to be. There was no
'ther way" |