in arms, against whom more than two hundred thousand Spanish soldiers operated ineffectually, and prosecution of the most devastating and cruel war so close to our borders could not fail to greatly affect our commerce and arouse our sympathies. Filibuster expeditions, carrying aid to the insurgents, evaded the vigilance of our authorities, and this help, which no amount of watchfulness could prevent, was fiercely condemned by Spain, developing feelings of intense bitterness and hate that resulted finally in the destruction of the second-class battleship Maine, in Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898. That this deed was perpetrated by Spanish officers the American people earnestly believed, and the findings of the investigating board, while not conclusive, so indicated. A denial was made by the Spanish government; but the fact was not overlooked that while the heads of that government were protesting innocence, the Spanish people were rejoicing, and all manner of indignity was heaped upon Americans who chanced at that time to be in Spain and Cuba. War was now inevitable, for though President McKinley tried to stay the tide of public passion in order to give deliberation to the mighty question before him, he was urged to demand quick reparation of Spain by the people, who spoke in a voice of no doubtful import. The intolerance, the infamy, the treachery, and the medieval cruelty that had long distinguished Spain was to be punished and atoned at last. America, youngest but yet mightiest of the nations, whose discovery and first occupation was due to Spain, was to inflict the long-merited chastisement.

CHAPTER LIII.

WAR WITH SPAIN AND THE FILIPINOS.

The Cuban rebellion that finally prevailed, through the tragic incident involving the United States, had its overt beginning February 24, 1895, and continued with such aggression that Spain sent 200,000 soldiers to the island, and changed her governor-generals there three times, each one trying a different policy, but without effecting the purpose in view. Weyler's reconcentrado plan, his unexampled cruelties, and all the shocking barbarities of medievalism, failed to repress the rebellious and patriotic spirit of the Cubans, whose battlecry was "victory or death." The people of the United States sympathized with the bitterly oppressed islanders, fighting so bravely almost in hand-reach of our shores, and assistance was demanded by all the human ties of mercy. The Cubans were starving amid the desolation of their homes, but their resolution to win independence never faltered. Appeals by proclamation of the President to send contributions of money, food and clothing, met with a quick and generous response, which relieving somewhat the distress of hunger of the patriots intensified Spanish hatred of Americans. The result of this was clearly to be foreseen. On February 9, 1898, a letter was printed by the Spanish Minister at Washington, Dupuy de Lome, viciously attacking the President, and six days later the second-class battleship "Maine" was destroyed in Havana harbor. Every American believed the disaster was caused by Spanish perfidy, and there immediately arose from every part of the United States a cry for prompt reparation, A court

in arms, against whom more than two hundred thousand Spanish soldiers operated ineffectually, and prosecution of the most devastating and cruel war so close to our borders could not fail to greatly affect our commerce and arouse our sympathies. Filibuster expeditions, carrying aid to the insurgents, evaded the vigilance of our authorities, and thi help, which no amount of watchfulness could prevent, wa fiercely condemned by Spain, developing feelings of intens bitterness and hate that resulted finally in the destructi. of the second-class battleship Maine, in Havana Harb February 15, 1898. That this deed was perpetrated Spanish officers the American people earnestly believed, the findings of the investigating board, while not conclus so indicated. A denial was made by the Spanish gov ment; but the fact was not overlooked that while the h of that government were protesting innocence, the ish people were rejoicing, and all manner of indignit heaped upon Americans who chanced at that time t Spain and Cuba. War was now inevitable, for President McKinley tried to stay the tide of public in order to give deliberation to the mighty questio him, he was urged to demand quick reparation of the people, who spoke in a voice of no doubtful imp intolerance, the infamy, the treachery, and the cruelty that had long distinguished Spain was to b and atoned at last. America, youngest but ye of the nations, whose discovery and first occ due to Spain, was to inflict the long-merited ch

CHATTER M

WAR WITH SPACK AND TE

The Cuban rebellion that fa tragic incident involving the tea beginning February 24, 1895, ant sion that Spain sent 200,000 sider a ter her governor-generals there meme different policy, but without eferant a Weyler's reconcentrado pia n all the shocking barbarities neiz the rebellious and patriotic spit of te l cry was "victory or death" The sympathized with the bitterly bravely almost in hand-reach fr was demanded by all the human te were starving amid the desc resolution to win independence era i proclamation of the President to s food and clothing, met with a cact7 which relieving somewhat the distre riots intensified Spanish hatred of this was clearly to be foreseen. Q was printed by the Spanish Mir de Lome, viciously attacking th the second-class battleship "N harbor. Every American be Spanish perfidy, and there of the United States a

in arms, against whom more than two hundred thousand Spanish soldiers operated ineffectually, and prosecution of the most devastating and cruel war so close to our borders could not fail to greatly affect our commerce and arouse our sympathies. Filibuster expeditions, carrying aid to the insurgents, evaded the vigilance of our authorities, and this help, which no amount of watchfulness could prevent, was fiercely condemned by Spain, developing feelings of intense bitterness and hate that resulted finally in the destruction of the second-class battleship Maine, in Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898. That this deed was perpetrated by Spanish officers the American people earnestly believed, and the findings of the investigating board, while not conclusive, so indicated. A denial was made by the Spanish government; but the fact was not overlooked that while the heads of that government were protesting innocence, the Spanish people were rejoicing, and all manner of indignity was heaped upon Americans who chanced at that time to be in Spain and Cuba. War was now inevitable, for though President McKinley tried to stay the tide of public passion in order to give deliberation to the mighty question before him, he was urged to demand quick reparation of Spain by the people, who spoke in a voice of no doubtful import. The intolerance, the infamy, the treachery, and the medieval cruelty that had long distinguished Spain was to be punished and atoned at last. America, youngest but yet mightiest of the nations, whose discovery and first occupation was due to Spain, was to inflict the long-merited chastisement.