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第19章

the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第19章

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Delmonico's;〃 as he wrapped the fur rug around his legs; and with a salute 

from   the   policemen   and   a   scraping   of   hoofs   on   the   slippery   asphalt   the 

great man was gone。 

     〃That poor fellow needs a doctor;〃 he said as the carriage rolled up the 

avenue; 〃and he needs an overcoat; and he needs food。                    He needs about 

almost everything; by the looks of him。〃 

     But the voice of the young man in the corner of the carriage objected 

drowsily 

     〃On the contrary;〃 he said; 〃it seemed to me that he had the one thing 

needful。〃 

     By one o'clock of the day following; Senator Stanton; having read the 

reports   of   his   speech   in   the   morning   papers;   punctuated   with   〃Cheers;〃 

〃Tremendous enthusiasm〃 and more 〃Cheers;〃 was still in a willing frame 

of mind toward Cuba and her self…appointed envoy; young Mr。 Arkwright。 

     Over   night   he   had   had   doubts   but   that   the   young   man's   enthusiasm 

would   bore   him   on   the   morrow;   but   Mr。 Arkwright;   when   he   appeared; 

developed;   on   the   contrary;   a   practical   turn   of   mind   which   rendered   his 

suggestions both flattering and feasible。             He was still terribly in earnest; 

but he was clever enough or serious enough to see that the motives which 

appealed   to   him   might   not   have   sufficient   force   to   move   a   successful 

statesman      into   action。    So    he   placed    before    the  senator    only   those 

arguments and reasons which he guessed were the best adapted to secure 

his interest   and   his help。     His proposal   as   he   set   it   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 



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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 should 

but 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 



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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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