The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-21

emy. Or, am | to believe, as | ain
very much inclined to do, that you
never seriously entertained the views
that you then expressed, but rather.
that they we're but the reflection of
the views of others that you had
read, but which as yet you had not
fully digested?"
We'll, Gen. Hamilton, to be frank
with you, hold today precisely the
same views regarding war that ex-
pressed to you on that occasion 10
which you refer. AS my views were
not based, as you suppose, upon un-
digested matter that had read, but
on the contrary, we're the result Of
long and mature consideration of tho
subject, have, as yet, found no rea-
son for changing them. | can easily
understand why war was justihable,
and the sword held in veneration in
the far distant past, for while the
historic nations of that day boasted
OF their civihkation,- and were sur.
rouhded With nuchs tawdfys nraenIfi4i
cehce, all were predatory In, their
character and ready to attack eacfY
other whenever they believed the ad-
vantage to be on their side. They
lived In an age of blood. Blood to ap-
pease the wrath of their gods. Blood
to amuse their kings and the ruling
classes. Blood to minister to their
thinly veneered savage instincts.
Blood to secure the ends of ambitious
men, and blood to add additional
glory to some already famous mill
tary hero. The sickening odor of
new-spilled blood arose in the nostrils
Of the people like sweet incense. and
they found delight in it. But we
are living in Christian age. One
that boasts Of a higher civilization
and OF Its culture and refinement An
age when the, nations OF the earth
should be competent to find some less
barbarous method of settling their
Z difficulties, than by the arbitrament
of the, sword, SO. long as this prac-
stice is adhered, to. one may have rea-
lJson to suspect that, after, all. our
'boasted Christian civilization differs
little from that of the ancjents ey-,
cept, perhaps, in the thickness of its
veneer My belief Is, that our claims
to a greatly superior civilization viii
not have made good until the glory
OF the sword has departed"
The general sat mute with amaze
nient and indignation during this re-
cital, but, when 1t was concluded.
controlling HIS feelings with an effort,
he asked in colorless voice: What
was your object in attending the
Newchester military training school?"
81 had two objects in doing So"
was the reply. "one was because my
father wished 1t. The other was the
physical advantages that such a
course of training affords"
. 'Undoubtedly two most excellent |
REASONS" remarked the general, with |
district note OF sarcasm in his
tones <sAnd then he fell silent, and
soon afteTaHarold took his departure |
ForSat,full hour after the young
man !aad gone, the general sat alone |
In the lawn chair under the naples. |
Forsla timeshe sat motionless. He
seemed like one who was slowly re-
covering from the stupor that fire..
quentiy attends a severe shock. At
last he raised his head and looked
away IN the direction that Harold
had taken to his home. There were
tears in his eyes, and they fell upon
his bronzed cheeks as he stretched
forth his hands in the same direction
with a gesture of final and absolute
remuneration. Then he turned and
walked slowly toward his house, with
look on his face like that of faith
er who was returning from the new
made grave Of a beloved son.
Madge was frightened as she look
ed into the sad. stern face Of her
father, and saw the unshed tears that
still fingered in his eyes. She feared
TO question him for she felt that
terrible had happened.
Tenderly, and In a broken voice he
said; "Madge, my dear daughter. 4
is all over. l have once ard for all |
given him up. for he has proven him
self coward. He is the son OF our T
neighbor, and In every al
tribnte save one is q most admirable
and lovable young man, We must
receive him as we have always done, I,
and treat him with that courtesy to
which he is entitled bpt--nothing fur
her. Nothing further, my daughter,
Do YOU understand? No drop of
,oward blood shall ever mingle with
blood OF mine so long as | am alive
o prevent It,"
For some time the revolution in
Cuba and the barbarous methods OF !
zen, Weyler had been assuming con-
iitions that cried aloud to the civil
zed world for interference. While
'ur government continued to main
ain neutral attitude toward those
the sympathetic heart
'eat OF the nation became more and ,
more distinct. and the blood Of the
eople was already running hot in {
heir veins when. like thunder clap,
anne the news OF the destruction OF
he Maine In the harbor of Havana. N
hen the long pentnp indignation of i
a nannIai htnla intnNo | -