Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1898 — DOGS OF WARGROWL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOGS OF WARGROWL

Belief that a Conflict with Spain Is Impending. DONS COULD NOT PAI. Unable to Make Proper Indemnity for Maine Disaster. Ihe Most Reliable Advices, Pending Official Reports, Are to the Effect that the 111-Fated Ship Met with Foul Flay—Senators anil Representatives at Washington Become Aroused —Governors of Many States Offer T roo I is. Since the terrible destruction of the battleship Maine iu Havana aarlior the United States has been facing the gravest crisis of the last thirty years of its history. The people have been stirred by the disaster as they have net been since the close of the war for the Union. From the South, from the North, and from the far West have come magnificent outbursts

Where some of the wounded of the Maine cretv are being eared for.

of national sentiment showing how profoundly this great nation is agitated. The Maine was one of the finest battleships afloat; one of the most perfect in construction, one of the most complete in equipment. All that modern invention, long experience and trained intelligence could do to make her efficient and safe had lieen done. And yet this magnificent vessel, at anchor iu the harbor of a friendly nation, was destroyed with greater loss of life than would have followed an engagement with the whole Spanish fleet in Cuban waters. Had the Spanish cruisers and torpedo boats attacked tile Maine, and sent her to the bottom with the loss of 250 lives, the calamity would have been hard to hear. But to have the Maine destroyed ns she was destroyed is calamity unbearable. It was useless to cry patience when there was no pntienee. It was useless to ask for suspension of judgment when judgment had been given. That judgment was against Spain, and if reversed it would be only on the testimony of witnesses who had standing in the court of public opinion. No foreign country can appreciate the full depth of American patriotism, writes a Washington correspondent, and it takes an incident of this sort to show it up in its full strength and magnificence. Gov. Tanner of Illinois was the first to offer the fighting forces of his State to the nation. Gov. Mount of Indiana telegraphed that Indiana would make a generous response to arms. Gov. Black of New Y’ork sent word that militia of the Empire State, numbering 14,(XX), could mobilize withiu twenty-four hours after orders were received. The belief is also expressed that there are 000,000 men in New York State available for service. Gov. Atkinson of West Virginia insists that he will furnish at short notice fifteen of the best regiments that can be raised in the Union. Gov. Holcomb of Nebraska will supply 1,200 well-drilled men and pledge 200,000 volunteers. Gov. Wells of Utah says his State will do its full duty when it comes to raising troops. Adjt. Gen. Sykes of Tennessee will enlist 1,800 experienced soldiers and raise 50,000 volunteers. Gov. Clough ol’ Minnesota wires: “Minnesotians are fighters, and will only be satisfied in the front ranks.” Gov. Stephens of Missouri declares that if war is declared he will issue a call for 150,000 troops. And so it goes and so Tt comes, w - ith other warrior States to hear from. There is no lack of soldiers. Spain can depend upon that. Old Glory was at half-mast because the tears were being shed for the dead in Havana, but it proudly and defiantly waves in tile breezes that blow from the north. South, east and west, and it will be well for the Spaniard if the good ship Maine went to the bottom of the Havana harbor as the result of an inscrutable act of providence. This Washington correspondent, whose assertions are thought to be reliable, says that private talks with members both of the Senate and House clearly indicate that there is a volcano at the Capitol which may burst into activity at almost any time. The pictures of the wreck received in Washington, reproductions of which are shown on this page, coupled with the general tenor of newsnaper dispatches, have gone far to convince members of Congress that the Maine was blown up from the outside. They are willing to wait a reasonable length of time for the board of inquiry to discover something definite, but as the general opinion is in favor of a torpedo or sub-

marine mine, failure to discover positive evidence of an accident will only serve to confirm this opinion. Several well-known Senators talked with say that they are being fairly inundated with letters and telegrams regarding the catastrophe in Havana harbor, and that ninety-nine out of a hundred of them look upon the explosion as the result of a Spanish plot and demand action ae-

cordingly. Conservative leaders are becoming startled by these expressions of public opinion, and they say this is eviduee of a rising tide of popular indignation which will sweep Congress from its feet unless something is done to allay the excitement. The newspaper reports indicate with surprising unanimity that a submarine mine destroyed the Maine. If these reports are not contradicted promptly and officially Congress will surely respond with a declaration of war. which is clearly within its powers, and which the President will lx* forced to obey. The people demand that if ships and men are to be lost it shall be in open warfare, and not in so-called peaceful harbors. Any police magistrate would hold the Spaniards under the evidence now at hand on suspicion and require them to prove their innocence. This is exactly the position taken by nine-tenths of the members of Congress. This opinion, declares the correspondent. represents clearly the private sentiment of Senators and Representatives. They all say that the time has gone by for any questions of belligerency and that the only point at issue now is whether the United States shall seize Havana harbor, root up its submarine mines and make it free and safe to the navies of the world. The administration fully recognizes the dangerous situation. May Ask Big Indemnity. A statement was made Tuesday by an official of the Navy Department who is thoroughly conversant with the Spanish

situation, that if it should be proved that the Maine was destroyed by an outside explosion, a submarine mine or torpedo, whether with the knowledge of Spanish officials or not, that Government must be responsible, and that President McKinley would demand an indemnity in the neighborhood of $15,000,000. The value of the vessel is estimated at $5,000,000. The rest to be paid to relatives

of officers and men who lost their lives by the destruction of the vessel. Another official very close to the administration said that there is no danger of the United States being suddenly plunged into war. Public sentiment, he said, is in favor of fighting rather than to suffer injury and insult, but the public is powerless to declare war. That function belongs to Congress, and though a provocation of war may be upon us it is a safe assumption that no ill-considered step will be taken. In case indemnity is demanded, Spain will spar for time and cause a convenient delay, and when this state has been reached the administration can do one or all of the several things. It can, at anytime, attempt the collection of its indemnity at the mouth of the cannon. Subsequent to payment, an abject apology can be demanded, and when made and the debt paid, it will be concluded that the stain upon American honor has been wiped out.

MARINE HOSPITAL, KEY WEST.

END VIEW OF THE WRECKED MAINE.

ENTRANCE TO HAVANA CEMETERY. Here lie many of the Maine victims.

LOOKING FORWARD FROM THE AFTER SEARCHLIGHT.