Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-14
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- CONDUCTED 81 MRS. w FLFEGIoH.
C0NDOCTED 81 MRS. VI Ft.FEETON.


None of our readers will forget the ex-
citement which followed the blowing up
of the Maine, one of the largest war YES
sells of the United States, or the Cuban
war which followed
The Maine was located in Cuban waters
apd supposed to be stationed there to
watch what was going on, warlike or
otherwise.
One night there was revel in Havana
big dance, jamboree that sailor men
and military young bucks delight to fire.
quent. Many of the Names men were
participating in the frolic, when sudden
and violent explosion took place and the
great battle ship was blown up and
great many people were either blown to
fragments or went down with the wreck
to a shocking death.
1 read a great many things about the
destruction of the Maine. but my opin-
ion never wavered as to the cause of this
horrid tragedy. So many were absent
that night, intent on getting all they
could out of a frolic where Cuban and
Spanish senoritas were to be seen and
danced WITH that there was gross negl-
gence somewhere, dry boilers, perhaps,
and while these frolicsome sailors and
marines were in the midst of revelry the
accident took place.
Now, the United States government IS
endeavoring to raise the submerged re-
mains of the battle ship. An inspector
was appointed to investigate the inside
and outside of what has been raised up
and this inspector is a person high in mil
Hary circle of well established capacity
and integrity, and he renders a verdict
that sustains my constantly expressed
belief that the explosion was not caused
on the outside, but on the inside OF the
battle ship Maine. Whatever may nave
touched off the torpedo it was inside the
hull of the ship, so it was not spanish
incendiaries who did the mischief unless
hey were allowed by unfaithful men pc
longing to the Maine to come over and
inside on that fatal night.
But the people of this country were
simply '.spilin' for a fight with Spain.
The authorities were hankering after
scrap. They carried chip on each
shoulder, and dared Spain to knock them
off or make motions toward an insult.
A wink would answer. if Spain did not
walk straight, etc.
oh. it makes an old body like myself
very fearful of the future when rec9l-
lect how madly we rushed into clvli war;
and so soon afterwards plunged into "a
fight with Spain.
am told that 20 cents out OF every
dollar of our tax money is devoted to
war to pensions and the military equip
ment. leaving but so cents to building
up and repairing the waste places ana 10
give us progressive civil government
and reasonable pay for the civil estao-
lishment We are in a constant attitude
of war. The excitement which followed
the destruction of the Maine goes TO
prove our leanings toward guns and
deadly strife.
Only yesterday l CHANGED to come
across the published proceedings OF the
peace commission. so-called, which set
tied the dispute with Sapin after we had
taken over the Philippines and Cuba
and destroyed the entire Spanish navy
Every time think of Admiral Cervera,
the Spanish commander of the fleet, and
of his terrible contest and the destruc-
ton and loss of life. ! ask myself
what did we get by the efforts"
So far as / may judge, we bought
pig in a poke when we took over
nation of semi-savages in the Philip
pines. and we bought enough trouble TO
last us for a good long time.
THE untold millions of money that
have been wasted on those brown men
on the Oriental side of the Eastern con-
tinent would have made these United
States a land flowing with milk ana