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month； as any one can see it who wishes to learn the truth。 Why； English
members of Parliament go all the way to India and British Columbia to
inform themselves about those countries； they travel thousands of miles；
but only one member of either of our houses of Congress has taken the
trouble to cross these eighty miles of water that lie between us and Cuba。
You can either go quietly and incognito； as it were； or you can advertise
the fact of your going； which would be better。 And from the moment you
start the interest in your visit will grow and increase until there will be no
topic discussed in any of our papers except yourself； and what you are
doing and what you mean to do。
〃By the time you return the people will be waiting； ready and eager to
hear whatever you may have to say。 Your word will be the last word for
them。 It is not as though you were some demagogue seeking notoriety；
or a hotel piazza correspondent at Key West or Jacksonville。 You are the
only statesman we have； the only orator Americans will listen to； and I tell
you that when you come before them and bring home to them as only you
can the horrors of this war； you will be the only man in this country。 You
will be the Patrick Henry of Cuba； you can go down to history as the man
who added the most beautiful island in the seas to the territory of the
United States； who saved thousands of innocent children and women； and
who dared to do what no other politician has dared to doto go and see for
himself and to come back and speak the truth。 It only means a month out
of your life； a month's trouble and discomfort； but with no risk。 What is a
month out of a lifetime； when that month means immortality to you and
life to thousands？ In a month you would make a half dozen after…dinner
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speeches and cause your friends to laugh and applaud。 Why not wring
their hearts instead； and hold this thing up before them as it is； and shake it
in their faces？ Show it to them in all its horrorbleeding； diseased and
naked； an offence to our humanity； and to our prated love of liberty； and to
our God。〃
The young man threw himself eagerly forward and beat the map with
his open palm。 But the senator sat apparently unmoved gazing
thoughtfully into the open fire； and shook his head。
While the luncheon was in progress the young gentleman who the
night before had left the carriage and stood at Arkwright's side； had
entered the room and was listening intently。 He had invited himself to
some fresh coffee； and had then relapsed into an attentive silence；
following what the others said with an amused and interested countenance。
Stanton had introduced him as Mr。 Livingstone； and appeared to take it for
granted that Arkwright would know who he was。 He seemed to regard
him with a certain deference which Arkwright judged was due to some
fixed position the young man held； either of social or of political value。
〃I do not know；〃 said Stanton with consideration； 〃that I am prepared
to advocate the annexation of the island。 It is a serious problem。〃
〃I am not urging that；〃 Arkwright interrupted anxiously； 〃the Cubans
themselves do not agree as to that； and in any event it is an afterthought。
Our object now should be to prevent further bloodshed。 If you see a man
beating a boy to death； you first save the boy's life and decide afterward
where he is to go to school。 If there were any one else； senator；〃
Arkwright continued earnestly； 〃I would not trouble you。 But we all
know your strength in this country。 You are independent and fearless；
and men of both parties listen to you。 Surely； God has given you this
great gift of oratory； if you will forgive my speaking so； to use only in a
great cause。 A grand organ in a cathedral is placed there to lift men's
thoughts to high resolves and purposes； not to make people dance。 A
street organ can do that。 Now； here is a cause worthy of your great
talents； worthy of a Daniel Webster； of a Henry Clay。〃
The senator frowned at the fire and shook his head doubtfully。
〃If they knew what I was down there for；〃 he asked； 〃wouldn't they put
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me in prison too？〃
Arkwright laughed incredulously。
〃Certainly not；〃 he said； 〃you would go there as a private citizen； as a
tourist to look on and observe。 Spain is not seeking complications of that
sort。 She has troubles enough without imprisoning United States
senators。〃
〃Yes； but these fevers now；〃 persisted Stanton； 〃they're no respecter of
persons； I imagine。 A United States senator is not above smallpox or
cholera。〃
Arkwright shook his head impatiently and sighed。
〃It is difficult to make it clear to one who has not been there；〃 he said。
〃These people and soldiers are dying of fever because they are forced to
live like pigs； and they are already sick with starvation。 A healthy man
like yourself would be in no more danger than you would be in walking
through the wards of a New York hospital。〃
Senator Stanton turned in his armchair； and held up his hand
impressively。
〃If I were to tell them the things you have told me；〃 he said warningly；
〃if I were to say I have seen such thingsAmerican property in flames；
American interests ruined； and that five times as many women and
children have died of fever and starvation in three months in Cuba as the
Sultan has massacred in Armenia in three yearsit would mean war with
Spain。〃
〃Well？〃 said Arkwright。
Stanton shrugged his shoulders and sank back again in his chair。
〃It would either mean war；〃 Arkwright went on； 〃or it might mean the
sending of the Red Cross army to Cuba。 It went to Constantinople； five
thousand miles away； to help the Armenian Christianswhy has it waited
three years to go eighty miles to feed and clothe the Cuban women and
children？ It is like sending help to a hungry peasant in Russia while a
man dies on your doorste