Washington Letter: Looks Like War
April 9, 1898
Summary
Spain’s indifference to American demands for an explanation propels the country closer and closer to war.
Transcription
The President Careful in his Movements.
A fight not sought for by the administration.
Men who desire to fight must join the militia.
[From our regular correspondent]
Washington, April 4, 1898
Hark! Hear the mighty refrain,
Of a nation, shouted again and again:
“Remember the Maine;
Down with Spain!”
President McKinley having shown the world that the U.S. was not seeking a quarrel with PSain, and having declined its last opportunity to give up Cuba peacefully, and having added insult to injury by treating the loss of the Maine as a trivial matter and suggesting that it might be referred to international arbitration, there is no honorable course left to this country except to use force in driving Spain out of Cuba. Congress will this week, upon President McKinley’s recommendation, authorize that course and then there will be war.
This war has not been sought by the administration, but every preparation has been made to fight it to a speedy and victorious close. Not that it is almost upon us, there is no doubt or hesitation in any quarter. Steps have already been taken that will result in the necessary legislation by Congress to provide the money needed to carry on war on a scale large enough to make sure that it will be short. There is but one feeling in Washington, and that is, to give Spain a thorough licking, regardless of any attempt that may be made by European powers to prevent it, either by diplomacy or force.
Captain Sigsbee, late Commander of the battleship Maine, was the guest of honor at the reception hekd by the National Geographical Soceity Saturday night. There was only one fault to be found with this reception. There were thousands who wished to honor Capt. Sigsbee by attending who were unable o secure the invitation required for admittance. There will be another reception tendered him that will be public in fact and not name only.
Those who are anxious to participate in the war with Spain can best accomplish their purpose by joining the militia at their homes, as it is generally understood in Washington that the militia will be the first troops put in the firld, and beliebed that no others will be required, outside of the regulars.
Germany has officially announced to this Government its intention to remain neutral in the war between the United State and Spain, but recent diplomatic occurrences have aroused a suspicion that the United States may be up against Germany before the Spanish war has proceeded very far. The suspicious circumstance is a claim made by Germany upon Spain for property destroyed in Cuba by the insurgents. This property was only destroyed about three weeks ago and yet Germany is talking about using force to compel a settlement. It will not greatly surprise diplomats if Spain settles that German claim by ceding to Germany a portion of Cuba or Puerto Rico, solely with the intention to defeat the plans of this Government to make Cuba an independent republic. If Germany agreed to such a plan, it would be deliberately done for the purpose of provoking a scrap with us as the Monroe doctrine expressly forbids the acquiring of additional territory on this hemisphere by any European Government and the United States has too often reiterated its intention to maintain that doctrine at all hazards for any doubt to exist as to what our position would be in such a case.
Some idea of the feeling in Congress may be gained by the following words of Representative Grout of Vermont, on of the most conservative men in the House: “I am in favor of swift and terrible vengeance upon Spain. Up to the present time I have been opposed to any intervention by force in Cuba belligerency more than a year ago, when the question was presented to the House."
A fight not sought for by the administration.
Men who desire to fight must join the militia.
[From our regular correspondent]
Washington, April 4, 1898
Hark! Hear the mighty refrain,
Of a nation, shouted again and again:
“Remember the Maine;
Down with Spain!”
President McKinley having shown the world that the U.S. was not seeking a quarrel with PSain, and having declined its last opportunity to give up Cuba peacefully, and having added insult to injury by treating the loss of the Maine as a trivial matter and suggesting that it might be referred to international arbitration, there is no honorable course left to this country except to use force in driving Spain out of Cuba. Congress will this week, upon President McKinley’s recommendation, authorize that course and then there will be war.
This war has not been sought by the administration, but every preparation has been made to fight it to a speedy and victorious close. Not that it is almost upon us, there is no doubt or hesitation in any quarter. Steps have already been taken that will result in the necessary legislation by Congress to provide the money needed to carry on war on a scale large enough to make sure that it will be short. There is but one feeling in Washington, and that is, to give Spain a thorough licking, regardless of any attempt that may be made by European powers to prevent it, either by diplomacy or force.
Captain Sigsbee, late Commander of the battleship Maine, was the guest of honor at the reception hekd by the National Geographical Soceity Saturday night. There was only one fault to be found with this reception. There were thousands who wished to honor Capt. Sigsbee by attending who were unable o secure the invitation required for admittance. There will be another reception tendered him that will be public in fact and not name only.
Those who are anxious to participate in the war with Spain can best accomplish their purpose by joining the militia at their homes, as it is generally understood in Washington that the militia will be the first troops put in the firld, and beliebed that no others will be required, outside of the regulars.
Germany has officially announced to this Government its intention to remain neutral in the war between the United State and Spain, but recent diplomatic occurrences have aroused a suspicion that the United States may be up against Germany before the Spanish war has proceeded very far. The suspicious circumstance is a claim made by Germany upon Spain for property destroyed in Cuba by the insurgents. This property was only destroyed about three weeks ago and yet Germany is talking about using force to compel a settlement. It will not greatly surprise diplomats if Spain settles that German claim by ceding to Germany a portion of Cuba or Puerto Rico, solely with the intention to defeat the plans of this Government to make Cuba an independent republic. If Germany agreed to such a plan, it would be deliberately done for the purpose of provoking a scrap with us as the Monroe doctrine expressly forbids the acquiring of additional territory on this hemisphere by any European Government and the United States has too often reiterated its intention to maintain that doctrine at all hazards for any doubt to exist as to what our position would be in such a case.
Some idea of the feeling in Congress may be gained by the following words of Representative Grout of Vermont, on of the most conservative men in the House: “I am in favor of swift and terrible vengeance upon Spain. Up to the present time I have been opposed to any intervention by force in Cuba belligerency more than a year ago, when the question was presented to the House."
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Washington Letter: Looks Like War,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1369.