按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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 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
doorstep。〃
〃Well；〃 said the senator； rising； 〃I will let you know to…morrow。
If it is the right thing to do； and if I can do it； of course it
must be done。 We start from Tampa； you say？ I know the
presidents of all of those roads and they'll probably give me a
private car for the trip down。 Shall we take any newspaper men
with us； or shall I wait until I get back and be interviewed？
What do you think？〃
〃I would wait until my return；〃 Arkwright answered； his eyes
glowing with the hope the senator's words had inspired； 〃and then
speak to a mass…meeting here and in Boston and in Chicago。 Three
speeches will be enough。 Before you have finished your last one
the American warships will be in the harbor of Havana。〃
〃Ah； youth； youth！〃 said the senator； smiling gravely； 〃it is no
light responsibility to urge a country into war。〃
〃It is no light responsibility；〃 Arkwright answered； 〃to know you
have the chance to save the lives of thousands of little children
and helpless women and to let the chance pass。〃
〃Quite so； that is quite true；〃 said the senator。 〃Well； good…
morning。 I shall let you know to…morrow。〃
Young Livingstone went down in the elevator with Arkwright； and
when they had reached the sidewalk stood regarding him for a
moment in silence。
〃You mustn't count too much on Stanton； you know；〃 he said
kindly； 〃he has a way of disappointing people。〃
〃Ah； he can never disappoint me；〃 Arkwright answered confidently；
〃no matter how much I expected。 Besides； I have already heard
him speak。〃
〃I don't mean that； I don't mean he is disappointing as a
speaker。 Stanton is a great orator； I think。 Most of those
Southerners are； and he's the only real orator I ever heard。 But
what I mean is； that he doesn't go into things impulsively； he
first considers himself； and then he considers every other side
of the question before he commits himself to it。 Before he
launches out on a popular wave he tries to find out where it is
going to land him。 He likes the sort of popular wave that
carries him along with it where every one can see him； he
doesn't fancy being hurled up on the beach with his mouth full of
sand。〃
〃You are saying that he is selfish； self…seeking？〃 Arkwright
demanded with a challenge in his voice。 〃I thought you were his
friend。〃
〃Yes； h