The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-11-23
COLIJMBI.A.,; 81 G.
Sunday Morning, ). November %, 1873.
'FiIrasy1 y1Pro,+.ts.

nave been held here.it was argued, in
support OF q war with Spain for the so-
QUESTION Of Cuba. that the time was
particularly auspicious; that a large
number OF people were out Of employ
ment, and would gladly embrace tho
opportunity OF going into tile service.
This strikes us as very inhuman senti-
ment. Who ever heard of poor men
improving their condition by hard SER
vice in war25 Such motives ore the lust
which ought TO be entertained. They
are untrue and delusive, as regards tho
distressed and poor classes themselves.
If it be meant. as it must be meant, that
the stringenoy Of fhe times has thrown
large number of people adrift and
made them desperate, and. therefore.
they can be aeAsily enlisted, it is still
more reyolting. Itrests upon the view,
that the poorer man is. the more
pinohihg the condition OF his family,
the more uncertain their future support,
the better fitted he is to incur the pri-
vations of soldiers life. Iu other
words, his life'is Of little moment; ho is
only food for powder; he is poor
devil, and can well be spared.
Equally delusive and unjust. we
think, is the view attributed to Mr.. Ste
phens, Of Georgia that the "taking of
CUBA would produce good feeling be-
tween the North and South" Suppose
that it would-have We right to take q
portion Of the territory of friendly
power. to accomplish such an object?
Spain's right to hold Cuba in no way
hinges upon the composition or arrange
ment of SECTIONAL differences between
the North and South. How would it
produce good feeling? Why is there not
good feeling now2 We do not believe
that Southern men can have their re-
speot for Northern men increased by
any sqch process. resulting from war
entered upon hastily and from improper
motives. The, real difficulty between
the North and South is not so much the
civil war which qnhappily divided them
so long and so aesoely. It is that, under
forms OF law. lin time of professed
peace. the popular sentiment of the
North has operated TO despoil the States
OF the South Of their freedom and pro-
perty. The 'envyfand hatred in which
the,waE originated survived the day of
surrender, and have been active in every
conceivable way ,sgRinat the prosperity
OF the SOUTHERN people and the South
ern States; y the people Of the North
wish really 10 oonoiliate the epeople of
the South, let them do them Justice
The plan is simple one. The eill-feeling
cannot be wiped out 30 long as the in
jury remains. s It is the merest stuff to
suppose that an unrighteous seizure OF
Cuba by Northern and Southern SOL
diers jointly. will bring any permanent
reconoiliation, with,is.
Men who talk so glibly about war are
wide of their reckoning, if they suppose
that it will be holiday affair. Who can
foresee the loss of life, tho destitution
OF families, and the immense suffering
that it would entail upon the innocent
and the good? Are not our taxes high
enough already? Is not the public
debt large enough? II We have war,
war taxes will, OF course, be levied, and
instead Of! a reduction of the debt, We
shall havo it added to. The expenses
will be enormous. The brunt of battle
wil!:fall upon tho poor, and the profits
whioh-will accrue will not be shared by
them. Already, it is stated, and We
have no doubt correctly, that certain
parties, who are appearing on tho snr-
face, are of character identical with
the "sho idyites," who vaunted their 10y
atty so loudly during the late contest,
while at the same time filling thoir
pockets from the miseries and misfor-
tunes Of their country. Suoh are tho
people to profit by war. Is it desirable
to play into their hands? Beneath all
the passion and bluster Of the hour. VIC
think that We perceive the real senti-
ment OF the country, demanding judi
cious measures, and believing that they