America 1881: Legend of the West

Chen Jianqiu looked at the firelight soaring into the sky behind him, feeling a chill in his back.

This may not be the closest he's come to death, but it's definitely the riskiest.

He never expected that the explosion of the Maine was caused by the spontaneous combustion of piles of coal.

If he had acted a little later, or the coal pile would have spontaneously ignited a little earlier.

I was afraid that like the sailors on the ship, I would be buried in the belly of the fish.

This kind of danger is unpredictable, and his sense of death cannot save him.

But sometimes that's the case, death or tomorrow, you never know which comes first.

"Extra! Extra! The Maine has sunk! The Maine has sunk!"

The next day, the early morning fog in New York was broken by the clear voice of the newsboy.

Many people were shocked by the news as soon as they woke up from their sleep.

Not only New York, but also major cities on the eastern coast, including Boston and Philadelphia, have received the news.

The newspaper tycoons headed by Pulitzer naturally would not let go of this opportunity to incite public sentiment.

Cruiser, explosion, sinking, Cuba, Havana harbor, Spanish.

Several words put together.

There is no need for newspaper reporters and editors to write anything more, and a complete logical chain comes out.

The Spanish were dissatisfied with the American interference in suppressing the Cuban revolution, so they bombed and sank the Maine on the way.

Shock and anger spread among citizens, and it seemed that the entire American society wanted its government to ask Spain for an explanation.

"Snapped!"

McKinley slapped the newspaper and telegram on the table at the same time.

"Why are the news in these newspapers faster than the news inside our government?" The president's anger was palpable.

"William, we should immediately organize people to investigate the sinking of the Maine." Secretary of State Sherman stood in front of McKinley's desk.

"Shouldn't it be the Spaniards who should give us an explanation?" Roosevelt said aggressively from the side.

"Theodore, there are some diplomatic things that you don't quite understand. The truth must be in our hands! Otherwise, we may have to face war with Spain!" Sherman expressed great dissatisfaction with Roosevelt for interrupting him mid-sentence.

But Roosevelt showed his toughness.

"Sherman! That's our warship! It sank outside the Spanish-controlled harbor! They went to war, do you understand?!"

He growled uncharacteristically, leaving McKinley and others in the Oval Office stunned.

"This is the worst betrayal of faith by the Spaniards." He stared at the president and strengthened his voice, "The United States needs a war. This is honor and dignity!"

After a brief moment of surprise, McKinley quickly regained his composure.

He waved his hand to Sherman, the Secretary of State in charge of foreign affairs:

"Sherman, go check with the Spanish ambassador and see what their attitude is."

Sherman nodded and walked out the door.

McKinley then turned to the Under Secretary of the Navy who was still in the office, who had come to communicate with him in advance about some naval equipment matters.

He spoke not quickly but very clearly:

"Teddy, I know what you are thinking, and I have never said anything about some of your actions. However, I hope you can stay calm before things develop to the point where a war is necessary!"

Roosevelt took a deep breath:

"No problem, Mr. President."

Then he turned around and walked out of the President's Office.

After two people went out, another person came in.

Marcus Hanna, McKinley's old partner and senator.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Congress?" McKinley looked up and asked after seeing Hanna.

"Let me see what you think." Hanna got straight to the point.

"I don't know if it is a good choice to go to war with Spain now. With Roosevelt here, the navy should be well prepared, but it is still not sure whether it can take advantage of the Spanish."

McKinley held a pen in his hand and repeatedly tapped newspapers and telegrams on the table.

He actually has a very clear mind and is well aware of the situation within the government.

"But the army is a complete mess. Ajie has no experience at all. The army is in a mess both in terms of personnel and equipment. They are not prepared for war at all."

Hanna looked at his partner and shook his head:

"I don't know whether the military is ready, but one thing I want to tell you is that if public opinion is really aroused, you and I will have no choice."

"You remember? We got into this office in large part because of the divisions within the Democratic Party."

"If you and I stick to the original point of view, it is very likely that we will be backlashed."

The two people were too familiar with each other, so Hanna's words were very direct without any euphemism.

"However, we still don't know the real reason why the Maine sank." McKinley looked up at Hanna.

Hanna held his hands on the edge of the table, leaned forward, and stared at the president intently.

He whispered:

"William, does the truth really matter? Do you think the people need the truth? They only believe what they want to believe."

"Just take it one step at a time." McKinley sighed.

The backlash from Hanna's mouth did not keep the president waiting too long.

A few weeks later.

House "czar" Reid is facing the most tumultuous moment of his political career.

He sat on the speaker's seat and looked at the members of the House of Representatives who were speaking in the audience.

Old Rhett had never seen anything like this.

In addition to the original Democrats, Democrats and a few Republicans who had always advocated war against Spain, those original Republicans who had reservations also joined the ranks of the war faction.

The one who is speaking now is a man named Ferdinand Brooke.

"I used to resolutely not advocate sending troops to Cuba! But the USS Maine is not closed, and all the words are of no avail."

"We sailed the ship to Havana and didn't do anything to them. We were just trying to protect our people! But the Maine was sunk!"

"This is a betrayal of Americans! Breach of faith and inhumanity permeate the Spanish blood! Any country that allows such an offense should not exist in the world!"

"I'm a Republican! But I'm an American first!"

His speech resonated with most people in the audience.

"We should act immediately! Immediately!" A Democratic congressman stood up. "We have no time to discuss any more! Our president is a coward!"

"War! War on the Spaniards! Teach those Spaniards a lesson!"

Old Rhett looked gloomy.

He used his lifelong political experience to end this House meeting that he would never forget.