In days long ago when Englishmen were struggling to found a colony in
Virginia, Spain was a great and powerful nation, and her dominions
in the New World were vast. But because of her pride and her cruelty
Spain lost these dominions one by one, until at length there remained
in the Western hemisphere only a few islands, the largest of which
was Cuba. But even these were not secure, and again and again the
Cubans rose in rebellion against their Spanish oppressors.
The Spaniards waged war against their revolted subjects in most
cruel fashion, and the people of the United States looked on with
sorrow and indignation at the barbarous deeds which were done at
their very doors.
McKinley had been a soldier in the Civil War, and had fought well
and gallantly for the flag. But like other soldier Presidents
he loved peace more than war. Like Cleveland before him he felt
unwilling to plunge the country into war. So he shut his ears, and
turned away his eyes from the misery of Cuba.
But there were many Americans in Cuba. They as well as the Cubans
were being starved. So ships were sent to Cuba with food for them,
and in this way not only they but many Cubans were saved from
starvation. Then a United States battleship called the Maine was
sent to Cuba, and anchored in the harbour of Havana, to be ready
in case of need to help the Americans.
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