The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-23
War.

War.
Of our present writing there will, probably,
SOON be war between the United States and
Spsin. The Spanish people are very
very brave and very we'll satisf- |
ed of their own prowess. To us the idea
that Spain should permit herself to fall
into war with this country under any
circumstances whatever, If she could pos
sibly avert it by any honorable concessions,
is almost inconceivable. We have about
the same appreciation Of the joke that Tom
Allen would have If faced by belligeren'
newsboy. The fact 10 that Spain thinks
she can whip any other nation and the
United States think they can whip tie
whole world.
Both these estimates may be q little
exaggerated, but when we consider the
present condition of the Spanish people,
unable to conquer the Cubans, divided at
home into three factions, bankrupt and
| paralysed, we must conclude that the
policy of Don Quixote still holds consider
able sway among them if they court war
with this country.
They have splendid navy, it is true,
far superior indeed to ours, but it must be
remembered there are two kinds of navy
a fighting one and running one. The
running one will answer our purpose in
this war. That purpose will be simply to
take Cuba. Swift running transports to
land twenty or thirty regiments on that
island will be enough. AS to any fears Of
their invasion of our coast, they can be put
aside. The monitors are an over match fol
sea. going vessels. Letters of marque will
sweep their commercial marine from the
sea and the, Yankees will sell theirs tt
the English.
We sincerely hope that war may b
. avoided. 1t is a mighty scourge, not onl!
. physically, but morally. Yet Government
must protect their citizens, sometime
at the cost of an evil as great even as that
In the present instance, the United States
government can not honorably avoid de
manding reparation from Spain which
the present temper of that people will no
, permit them to contemplate for moment
The extreme Republicans of that country
like CASTELAR,, and the extreme Radicals {
this, like Sumner, would sacrifice anythin
rather than endanger the Republica
movement now in progress there. B1
;. when the popular heart is on fire it do'
not make much account of dresIsers an
:. theorists.
War is terrible, but nothing is 80 b'
~ that there may not be something of goo
connected with it. A Spanish war vi
emancipate our Southern States. The a
:, ray of carpet-baggers will vanish before
- like the hobgoblins Of a nightmare
~ fore the waking reality of broad day. IT
= general administration will become frien
a ", if not fond. 1t will desire cooperate
and forget the animosities of late "
in the fraternity of new one. Once II
~, the iron yoke could not be fitted to
"a shoulders afterwards.
It is fearful to contemplate the blood o
carnage of fierce warfare, but apart fire
20 the flowing of human blood, no sacrifi'
90 hardly, would be too great to purcha
such q result. The memories of our IL
struggle are bitter, but they are sen
~ ment and sentiment must give way
:, reason. If our Southern States can regs
=, their perfect standing of equality and sc
ha government in the Union, We see no reas
~ why they should now desire it's dssoluti'
The past is irrevocable, and we can p
ceiye no compromise of principle in n
=. regarding as beneficial, Union viii
under different circumstances, we fou
70 injurious.