The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-23
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 90, 1879.
The Democracy Promoting war WIN
England. N

The Democratic party has a singular taste
in respect to wars. 1t has an appetite LOT
those only which are unjust or unnecessary.
If a province is to be wrested from a weak
mower. like Mexico, if little collection of
huts on the Mosquito coast is to be lombard
ed, if piratical expedition is to be fitted out
against Cuba or some other foreign depend
ency, the Democracy are always, with more
or less unanimity, in favor of hostllitles.
But when the perpetuity of the hepuDhc,
the hopes of mankind, liberty and equal
rights are at stake, they suddenly become
strangely pacific. Bloodshed, in that case,
fills them with CONSERVATION. But they are
now apparently eager for an unnecessary war
with England. By argument, ridicule, de-
nunciation, threats, expostulation and en-
treaty, Democratic journals and Democratic
speakers are dissuading the President and
the Senate from taking such steps as may be
necessary, without sacrificing the dignity or
honor of the country, to secure the success
of the treaty of Washington. Every patriot
and every lover of his kind must hope that
the administration will not yield to this par
tisan pressure. There is iodr in the ques-
tions that will be left open in case the treaty
fails; not war immediate or soon perhaps, but
war potential, likely enough to flame out sud-
denly in consequence of some accidental col
lision happening at an unfortunate moment
of mutual evaporation on the part of the
two nations. The seizure or destruction of
an American fishing vessel, dispute about
the navigation of the canals or the conduct
of the United State, as neutral in case
Great Britain should engage in war with
some other power, would be ample oc-
casions for one of the most deplorable
and disastrous conflicts the world ever
saw. We have SO many points OF
contact, moral and physical, with Eng
land that it should be the chief employ
ment of American and British statesmen in
times of peace to put out of the way all posi-
BILE occasions and pretexts for war. The
treaty OF Washington is admirable in re-
spect to its comprehensiveness. From the fool
ish San Juan dispute about nothing to the
formidable Alabama claims quarrel, it gathers
up all the existing differences of any impor-
lance between the two countries and pro-
vides means of adjustment alike satisfactory
and honorable to both parties. The framing
of that treaty is the ripest fruit Of modern civ
ilization. 1t is the first practical effort to in
troduce in adjusting international affairs the
same code of morals that govern the relations
of individuals. If successful, it will save a
waste of energy, treasure and life and amoral
deterioration growing out of an armed con-
f1ict, that are beyond human computation.
Among all the crimes of the Democratic par
ty we count this one of the greatest-that it
is willing from purely selfish motives to cast
aside the treaty in the most wanton and need
less manner How often have its leaders
pointed to the suffering caused by the sup
preston of the rebellion! Ho ~ truthfully do
they describe the consequent burdens that
still rest upon us How justly they declare
that the burden, the suffering and the loss
fall mainly on the poor, while the rich and
prosperous commonly escape scot free or ac-
tually add to their wealth and increase their
prosperity! Anddo they not know that awar
with England would scarcely leave this coun-
try Republic-and that, at best, it would
leave us bankrupt? The determination of
the administration to make the treaty sue
cessful is most praiseworthy, and there ought
cere or unintelligent popular clamor.