New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-24
PTBLIC OPINION.

"A SUPERFICIAL observer might nave supposed,
any day last week, that the whole nation was
clamorng for Spanish blood. We heard on
every side of us rafting scabbards, and mar
tial cries, and the uproar of excited war meet
ings, and the echoes of beicose oratory. But
when we look at the situation closely we find
the community calm and self-possessed. What
ever the prevailing sentiment may be, there is
no great popular agitation. The clamor is
confined to comparatively small body of
professional agitators-noisy people of not
much value and hardly any influence. As for
the vast multitude, its temper may be reso-
lutte, but it certainly is not angry and for
this reason We can await the next steps in the
coming troubles with satisfaction and con-
tdencc.
II is i'm times like these that the bather-
sixties of politics look for their opportunity.
The ragged and starving adventurer, the dis
graced politician, the Back Pay grabber
bushing under tho reproaches of his cOnstitu-
ents, the fallen statesmen Out-at-elbOws, the
Office hunter who has been unlucky,-all these
men, the curse of American public life, are
watching for the swell of great popular
commotion to raise them into place and for
tune. hey WtlCOllt IL HtdoOu VI
as the wrecker welcomes the storm. They
long for war, or even for menaces of war,
that they may wrap the patriotic bunting
about their dilapidated characters, and whelm
the memory of their past career in the prom
ises of their future. To some of the promi-
nent party leaders on both sides this threatened
TO be an inclement Winter. There were rents
in their regulations which no arts could con-
ceal. The searching winds of popular dscOn-
tenti have risen to an alarming extent Con-
gress is about to meet, and no protection has
been devised against the coming storm We
would not accuse any man of rejoicing in the
msfortunes of his fellows but it is evident
that more than one honorable gentleman must
have hailed the Cuban outrage with un-
bounded satisfaction and will be deeply con-
cerned if the excitement die away without a
clash of arms. One war made Butler a Major
General; another might give him a character.
The tide of patriotic ardOr which rose in 1861
lifted many hulk that lay stranded on the
shore, and foated it off to glory and a mill
tary uprising to-day might save O good many
who are in danger of going to pieces.
1t seems to US that the people understand
this state of things perfectly well. They are
not deceived by the calculating enthusiasm of
platform orators. They stand by listening to
the band and watching the banners and the
calcium lights and go home afterward quite
calm and self-possessed. The fact is, they
have lost confidence in politicians. They have
had bitter experience lately of patriots and
reformers and Christians. and it has taught
them to think for themselves and to follow
nobody's lead. Most of them probably have
made ND their minds what ought to be done
about the seizure Of the YIrginius, but they
are not disposed to throw up their hats and
burrah for anybody's bidding. Never, perhaps,
has question of national honor been weighed
by community with so little passion and
such fixed resolution neither to do wrong
nor to suffer an atfront. A temper like this
augurs well for just, honorable, dignifed,
inflexible management Of the quarrel but it
makes the worst kind Of weather for profess
siopal patriots.