The Bolivar County Democrat., 1923-05-05

The House joint resolution was ordered to be en-
crossed and read third time, was read the third
time, and passed.
The Spanish-Amercan is sometimes spoken OF
"short horse, soon curried." It's true that
America did do up Spain in record time. But 1t
was an important for all that, as will be seen
in what follows
Since 1895 Cuba had been in revolt against the
Spanlards. American sympathy was with the
Cubans, especially after the suffering and death
caused by the reconciliation policy Of the Span
ards became known.
February Is, 1898, the Maine blown up in
Havana harbor. That of meant war and
all the world knew 1t, except apparently Spain,
which seemed to think America afraid to fight.
April 19 congress passed Joint resolution decar
ing the people Of Cuba to be free and Independent.
demanding that Spain renquish her authority and
directing President Mckinley to use the land and
naval forces to bring about these conditions April
21 the American and Spanish ambassadors got
their passports and Havana bockaded. April
% congress declared that state of war had exist
ed since April 81.
May l, Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet in
Manila bay Philippine Islands. The Oregon be-
gan her famous race from California around South
America for the Atlantic coast Volunteers
flocked to the colors. June % $4,000 Americans
we're landed under General Shafter Santiago,
Cuba The battles of Las Guasimas, Ell Caney and
San Juan Hill were won Cervera's fleet went out
of Santiago offered battle and was wiped out to
the last shin. The Spanish surrendered Santiago
July IT, General Merritt received the surrender
of the Philippines. preliminary treaty Of peace
was made August ~ and fighting stopped De-
cember 10 the treaty Of Paris was signed.
Early in the war fleet under Admiral Samp-
son gave San Juan. Porto Ricos capital, mild
bombarding. July 20 General Miles, commander
in-chef of the American forces. landed Porto
Rlcan expedition the south coast He landed
do and North
across the island to San Juan. Miles defeated the
Spaniards in several skirmishes and captured a
number of cities and towns Fighting stepped
August 13 upon the signing of the peace protocol.
October 1S the Flag was raised over San Juan.
A short little war and sweet Yet It was i'm
portant war Spain thought the Yankee pigs
had no thought beyond doar-chasing and would
not fight. Probably most of Europe thought the
same. Al Las Guasimas was Lieut.. Arthur Lee
British military observer-he's Lord Lee of
Fareham. high in the British government. Lieu
tenant Lee gasped when he saw the Rough Riders
in action at Las Guasimas at Is magnificent. but
it is not war" he said The Spanards at El Caney
and San Iuan Hill put the same thing differently
They complained that the Yankees did not know
the rules of war. "When we shot them down the
breastwOrks so that the rest should have retreat
ed.' they said 'they came and tried to catch
us with ther bare hands"
The Spanish-Amercar war made the United
States world power night, with far-fune
possessions in Porto Rico and the Philippines II
destroyed the last vestige of Spain's hold on the
Western hemisphere 1t made Cuba free and
independent nation. 1t went far to heal the last
wounds left from Civil and hastened the
day for the reconciliation between North and
South which the World made complete.
The Spanish-American war an objectessor
to the world that America could fight o
humanity for the freedom of another people with
out selfish motives and that the American of 1895
was the same old Irresistible fighting man by lant
and sea.