the lion and the unicorn-第14节

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forth　was　simplicity　itself。

〃Here　is　a　map　of　the　island；〃　he　said；　〃on　it　I　have　marked　the
places　you　can　visit　in　safety；　and　where　you　will　meet　the
people　you　ought　to　see。　　If　you　leave　New　York　at　midnight　you
can　reach　Tampa　on　the　second　day。　　From　Tampa　we　cross　in
another　day　to　Havana。　　There　you　can　visit　the　Americans
imprisoned　in　Morro　and　Cabanas；　and　in　the　streets　you　can　see
the　starving　pacificos。　　From　Havana　I　shall　take　you　by　rail　to
Jucaro；　Matanzas；　Santa　Clara　and　Cienfuegos。　　You　will　not　be
able　to　see　the　insurgents　in　the　fieldsit　is　not　necessary
that　you　shouldbut　you　can　visit　one　of　the　sugar
plantations　and　some　of　the　insurgent　chiefs　will　run　the　forts
by　night　and　come　in　to　talk　with　you。　　I　will　show　you　burning
fields　and　houses；　and　starving　men　and　women　by　the　thousands；
and　men　and　women　dying　of　fevers。　　You　can　see　Cuban　prisoners
shot　by　a　firing　squad　and　you　can　note　how　these　rebels　meet
death。　　You　can　see　all　this　in　three　weeks　and　be　back　in　New
York　in　a　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　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