The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-11-22
THE THREATENED WAR.

There can be no doubt of il; the voice of
the country is for war. Old mon and
young men, lawyers, doctors, preachers,
cdiiors-an thu good people Of the land
have became as sanguinary as Modoc
Indians, and are shouting tor blood The
president is "a man of blood :" he has no
objection to tho clang Of arms he step
pea out Of ono war into great honors, and
may hope that GU. of another he might be
able to climb to greater honors and
moro power; at all events no has nothing
to lose by war aud his party, now sink
ing under the popular displeasuro, de-
| mands that the thoughts Of tho people
shall DO diverted from Its crimes and
shortcomings; wherefore it is probable
We shall soon DO engaged at tho work of
Strengthening Spaniards
We do not mean to intimate that we
can honorably decline to indulge in a bout
of arms with tho propretors of the
"Pride of tho Antilles" Their servants
have .grievously insulted our flag and
have been guilty of such butchery as
makes civilization shudder They should
soothe our outraged honor by ample apol-
ogies, punish tho Cuban butchers and give
US security for the future. Failing to do
so, the government should unshcath its
sword and compel the Spaniards to sat
isty our demands.
But is there necessity for inconsiderato
haste? Is it wise having been wronged, to
push Tho government over tho precipico
into the turbulent stream of war--to do so
before contemplating the probable conse-
| quences, and without giving the second
sober thought time to lead the judgment Of
the nation?
While it is true America ought to have
| Cuba, and the late massacre of American
citizens furnishes an excuse to us to 90 and
take the island, should we therefore forget
that Spain is now passing through n crisis
in which republican institutions will eth
or triumph or be trampled under the foo,
of the one man power2 The man who
stands at tho head of Spanish affairs is q
great statesman, an advocate and true
champion Of popular government and
warm friend of tho Unitod States. Ito re
grets the brutality Of the volunteers, and
if We are not unreasonably impotuous
will punish them, and salty our just de
mands
While therefore We believe that GU
! government should demand and obtain al
that justice requires at tho hands of Spar
, We hope our demands may be satis fled i
! peace. War is at best dreadful gam
. to play at. Whatever the thoughtles
may believe, moro evil than good result
from it to any nation that engages j
, the bloody pastme, 1t introduces d.
moralization into the private family al
, into the public Offices. In monarchy
4 strengthens the hands Of tho despot an
in Il republic undermincs the power c
the masses. While it occasionally dove
q, opes tho nobler qualities of huma
nature, i, lets down the gait
that dam the floods of IL
bad passions OF mans heart and sends d,
J .truction abroad on their current to mal
Q desolate the fair folds and happy HON,
. Of the world. There are times when
= should be invoked-when liberty strul
% Cling demands the aid OF the sword-whe
y apeople must take their lives in their hanC
= to vindicatc the rights that make Ii
worth possessing but we may well pau
ard inquire whether We now confront OF
OF those times-whether our honor d.
y mapds that we shall walk In blood to sa
Us isfaction for the conduct of the yoluutee
. Of Cubs-whether there is not u peacefy
. path by which We can gain tho end v
=. are now walking towards, cursing rs ,
" 60 and breathing dire threats of We
~ geance.