第 14 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2021-02-18 22:30      字数:9321
  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