The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-25
The Spanish Question.


popular excitement as to force the govern
ment into collision with Spain. A very
strong suspicion exists that a large proportion
of the special dispatches upon which the
popular apprehension and indignation are
chiefly based are sheer fabrications, made in
Washington and New York and given cur
repcy by sensational journals which thrive
upon public furores and care more for striking
than for reliable news, which would publish
anything permitting display heads. whatever
its source, and welcome war, floods, pesti-
lence or famine as means of selling papers.
Such journals serve as the organs of certain
interested parties who are intent on embrOil-
ing the nation fer their own purposes. These
par ties consist of Cuban "patriots," who are
fighting the battle of their country at safe
d 5tance from the unpleasant whzzing of bull
lets, spectators who have invested in Cuban
bonds, soldiers of fortune and adventures OF
all stripes, with everything to make and moth
ing TO lose by an upheaval of things, public
men of damaged regulations which they
would like to obscure by the glamour of war
fare, Democratic politicians who wish to push
the government into the risks and response
bilities OF war for all whose disastrous in
cideuts and consequences it will be held &C
EQUITABLE, however successful the final result,
and also,it is fair to say,some honest but mis-
guided men who think that we should annex
Cuba and that the present opportunity for
quarrel with Spain should not be wasted.
The efforts of all these classes and the infam
atory reports and exhortations which they
have placed before the people, have had the
natural effect and many uren are warlike on
the impulse who will be inclined to peace ON
furlher reflection.
War at any time and under any circum
stance is a calamity, and to the United States
just recovering from the effects of a terrible
struggle, no conception can be formed of its
disastrous results. We are now paying the
interest of an immense war debts it SO
much national blessing that we desire to
increase it? The country has for years been
suffering from deprecated currency,-is it
desirable to postpone resumption now almost
in sight? Congress has relieved the country
of nearly the whole of the odious in
ternal tax,-have weso forgotten its hardship
IudL we are WHllUS W udFC IL iO-OhoCtCu'
The commerce of the nation was neary
swept from the ocean by the war of 1875
and now that we are slowly and painfully be-
coming competitor for part of the carry
ing trade-are we ready to see American
ships swept again from the ocean? just
now the balance of trade is turning in oul
favor, our manufacturers can compete with
@I,o ol,,% hoe,
advantages? There are many incidents O.
war besides ''glory," and thoughtful men
will hesitate to advocate fighting until the
resources of negotiation has been exhausted
While war, however, is to be very seriousl,
deprecated, no American citizen would for
moment consent that it be avoided by any
concession derogatory to the national honor
We can i'll afford war, but we cannot at all
afford the slightest tinge of dishonor. A pa
cifc attitude on the part of our government,
with no buster, but firm, quiet and dign
ged insistance upon what we ought fairly to
claim and nothing else, is far more nKe1y t.
lead 10 satisfactory results than the threaten
ing and arbitrary tone which is urged by mel
to whom war seems desirable.
THE morning train eastward from this city
carries no mail, the want of which is serious
ly felt in all that broad area reached by this
train on the Maine Central ard the Knox d
Lincoln Railroads. No mail leaves this city
eastward until 1 p. M, six hours after il
might have have been carried on the a. M
train from here, A delay Of six hours each
day in the receipt of mail is very important
matter, especially as il precludes the posi-
bility Of answering letters on the same day
The daily intelligence by the morning paper
IS also subject to similar delay except in the
larger towns where they are carried by ex
press. Brunswick, Richmond, Augusta, Bath,
Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Rcckland and th
numerous smaller towns subjected to this ii
convenience should join in petition to thu
Pot Office Department for better mail &C
commodations. Our postmaster here i, al
ways ready to advocate all proper extension
of facilities for the convenience of the public
and can be relied upon for assistance in this.
An effort on the part of the citizens to b.
specially benefited is sure to be effective and
it is to be hoped immediate action will b.
taken in the premises. Portland will cor
daily cooperate as it will be essentially ad
vantageous to our business men to have earl.
Ter and more frequent means of communica-
tion with this region.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE, who has al
ready earned reputation FOR the most noble
philanthropy, has been giving some attention
to the question of prison discipline and re
nv,a IF fI,a xrI,; oh Oh
has arrived is that certain crimes, like theft
for instance, should be punished by colnpel
ing the criminal to work until he has perform
ed labor equal to the amount stolen. Sht
thinks that reformatory prisons, as at present
managed, are reward for crimes rather than
penalty. As an illustration she points tt
the case of one OF the four American forgers OIL
the Bank ofEngland, who was but just out OF
prison, where he had been confined for SIM
liar offense. Were such characters compelled
to pay back by their own work the price OF
their forgeries, she believes there would BE-
fewer of them. In the case OF the prcsent
afflicted Tweed, the adoption of Miss Night
ingales suggestion would insure that worthy
to life service if some Democratic governor
or bought judge di not interpose in his be
half. If, too, the system should be made t.
apply to defaulting treasurers and cashiers.
and cause them to be considered as thieves,
it would teach them the value of money earn
ed otherwise than by speculation. 1t strikes
us that Miss Nightngae's plan is worthy o.
consideration.
TF the Ar0us wi II refer 10 papes "a and 5E
of its World Almanac for 1878, it will find
that Judge Davis was the Republican candi-
date for Justice of the Supreme Court, re-
ceiving 56,076 votes-a little above the aver
. Renuhlican ticket. that the Tammany