The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-17
EVENTS OF THE WAR
THE MAINE WAS DESTROYED A YEAR
AGO TONIGHT.
bri+f Outline OF Public Events that
Have Happened Since Then-A Resume
OF Things that HRvo Beeu D.acribcd
at Length In In tho Dispatches
OF Tho News and
Courier.
(News and Courier, 15th)

it will be just one year since the
battle ship Maine was DESTROYED in
the harbor Of Havana and 2GO
Americans were sent into eterni-
ty without preparation or notice. In
fact most Of those summoned so
rudely to judgment were sleeping
when the world shocking fatality
took place. When The news of the
destruction Of the good ship and
most OF her crew came it WAS gener-
ally accepted throughout the world,
when it was known that strained re-
latlons had for some time existed be-
tween Spain and the United States
that it would result in war. The
correctness Of this surmise was thor
oughly demonstrated. In loss than
year the armies Of Spain in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippine Is
lands have been conquered and two
fleets flying the colors of Spain have
found perpetual docks in the bosom
OF old ocean, there too rest forever
in company with tho hull{s that we're
once braze vessels of the famed
Armada. But the war with Spain
and the victory over the Spanish
troops did not end the tloubles Of
this country. Evou now Dewey and
Otis are holding Manila. and it's
surrounding territory by force of
arms and the study islanders each
day refuse American control with
bloody protests, Cubans are restless
under their new government, and
only day or two ago shouted in
praise Of the insurgent loader of the
Filipinos, "Viva Aguinaldo!" and
shouted derisive epithets at the
American soldiers who took part in
the funeral obsequies of Gen. Garcia.
But even this is not tho end, nor is
it the worst. Here ut home there
are squabbles and scandals, shocking
the honest folks Of the country. In
the navy Sampson and Schley are
pltted againsss each other for rank
and advancement Charges and
countercharges of demerit, cowardice
and incompetency are being hurled
at each of these commanders; the
army is split, not only by dissensions
in the scramble for place, but steal
ilg, and INSTRUMENTATION and crime
are charged against officials high in
Office. The President is oven ac-
cused Of prostitnting his office and
the gifts 10 his power for tho further
advancement Of himself and his
party. In the meantime the decency
and patriotism of the country has
been looking on IN disgust and is
unable to distinguish between the
many sides Of tho unlimited contro-
. versies that have the centre of the
stage, and ls beginning to believe
that the ent ire "kit and billing" is
unsound, unwise, fractions and cor
rnpt. 1T was a war, victorious as
far rs conquest goes, but costly to
this country in killed and poisoned
soldiers, and in tho growth Of I'M
morality and intrigue.
But to the war itself. A short his
tory on the anniversary of it's actual
beginning should be most appropri-
ate today. The News and Courier
was one Of the few papers in the
country to publish tho portontous
item in its first edition on the morn
ing Of February 1G, 1893. From
that day on this paper has been q
correct and reliable chroniclor of the
great events that have been of daily
occurrence, and from tho files of the
paper the following brief, but cor
rect, history of the war is taken:
This Government sent tho battle
ship Maine to Havana harbor on q
friendly mission. The vessel was
received by the Spanish officials,
ships and forts in the customary
manner, and tho officers of this coun-
try were shown every courtesy by
the officers of Spain in Cuba, al
though the loyalist elomont in Cuba
disliked the advent Of the vessel, and
we're discourtpous to members of the