The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-21
The President Recommends
Preparation for War.
RETALIATION ON THE SOUTH.
Effect Of the Election of a Confederate
Senator from Missouri.
RECIPROCITY WITH HAWAII.
Passage of Annual Appropriations
in the Senate.
Another Congressional Witness
Incarcerated.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

lnC9pcepateQ.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1878.
TEE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE URGING PRKPARA-
TIoNs FOB WARTS EFFECT ON POLITICAL
sPEcuLAToRs.
The special Message from the President which
reached the House OF Representatives this after
noon, just before the adjournment asking for
appropriations for the sea coast deiences, has
excited good deal OF comment and Is con-
strued BY the friends Of Cuban independence to
mean war. 1t means, OF course, preparations Tor
war, but 1t does not mean actual hostilities
and there Is no immediate danger OF war with
SPAN. 1--WE are not now prepared for war;" said
q prominent republican tonight 1.-THE Spanish
iron-cads are more than match for ours. They
are well built and are the most formidable OF
their class IN the world. They could play havoc
with our coast, and would soon make
the war unpopular. What would be the
use OF our ravaRinR or capturing Cuba II
the Spaniards should meantime blockade our
porte lombard those cities which they could
reach and do more damage In month than would
pay twice over for Cuba" 1.-THE President is too
shrewd to play his Cuban card now" said
another. HE will reserve 1t until he gets
uomoCrattC COnSfeSS oeIOro ntus anu tnen put
the democrats IN the fatal position OF
peace party In time to catch them tripping
in the next election" ut means really
no hing" said third. "and is mischievous only
because 1t Will excite the hopes OF Cuban bond
gamblers II the appropriation asked for had not
been brought before the country In q special mes.
sage from the President, but had been quietly
suggested and put In the appropriation bills, no
fuss would have been made and the money
would have been given; for 1t is neces.
sary, even II we did not have war for
twenty years. But in It's present shape 1t will ap-
pear an extraordinary and threatening measure,
and may be used for stockjobbing purposes both
here or abroad" 1--WE shall have no war with
Spain Tor a year at least" was remark which
closed the conversation. The Message was
referred to the Committee on Military Az
fairs in the House, and the Chairman
Of that committee said he had long known
that what the President now recommended was
absolutely necessary. Our heavy seacoast guns
are not dr to meet modern ornaments, and tho
Message, 30 far from being o threatening docu.
ment Is really confession OF our weakness and
inability, for some time TO come, to defend our.
selves against foreign attacks.
4 RETALIAToRY POLICY TOWARD THE WHITE
LRAouERs ND1cATrD-oUnT IN THE SOUTH
FATAL TO REPUBLICAN HOPES.
suggestion made In the New Orleans tele.
graphic correspondence OF the Chicago Inter
ocean, and sent here to-day, attracts some atten.
ton, and Is believed to indicate the next step in
the Louisiana troubles. The correspondent who
II strong administration man, wrttes:-"The
White Leaguers who participated in the septem-
Der massacre In this city will be called o. wit
nssses before the Congressional Committee by the
Republicans, ana II they admit that they
ared shot, they Will be arrested on
their admission ana tried. These men are
guilty OF murder, and the republican members
VII take the offensive and have them punished"
Df course II Louisiana were governed by law this
would be an idle rumor; for witness before an
investigating committee cannot be held for his
testimony or admission there.
But 1t u feared here that the attempt to make
Wholesale arrests OF White Leaguers on the charge
OF murder may bring on violent resistance and
trouble which Is probably what II wanted by the
Kellogg people, who would thus secure
longer or permanent guardianship OF the army.
There Is no doubt that the continued peaceful
attitude Of the New Orleans conservatives IL EN-.
barrassing the extreme men here, who anticipated
the occurrence OF riot down there before thls to
help them in bringing forward and Furnishing them
by retalatory legislation. It has been discovered
BY the friends Of what Is called vigorous policy"
here that they cannot carry out their designs
unless they have the help OF violent connections and
ourbreakings no matter how temporarily. in some
part OF the South. The bloody shirt has been hung
out 20 often that people longer heed 1t. Actual
boodshed Of kind which con be construed into
revolution 10 needed to excite the public and help
70 push through Congress extreme and retaliatory
measures. Quiet In the South 10 fatal to all their
plans and hopes.
UNAVOIDABLE EFFECT OF MIssoURIs sESA-
ToR1AL CHOICE UPON THE DEMOCRATIC Yu-
TuRE-Tm ISSUE OF 1875 UNCERTAIN.
The result Of the Missouri senatorial cleo ton Is
discussed here by leading democrats with good
deal OF DISAPPOINTMENT. 1t Is said that the wtsest
course for the Missouri democrats would have
been to re.elect Senator Scnurz; but II they
would not do this 1t was Q peculiarly
ungracous and stupid act In them to replace him
by Confederate General; Tor they ought TO have
remembered that the enfranchisement in Missouri
Of the men who had served in the Confederate
army, tue very act, that Is to say, which enables
General Cockreu to be elected, was due to the
vigorous efforts and arguments OF Senator Schurz
aud bis friends. The old Confederates who have
Just elected Cockrell to the United States Senate
could not have held seats In the Missouri Legsla-
ture had not the labors OF Senator Schurz secured
them equal political rights In their State. There
u no doubt that the result OF the Missouri and
Pennsylvania Senatorial elecl0ns Is felt here by
the leading democrats to weaken them, and It IL q
eur1ous fact that while many, or, indeed, most
republicans are Respondent about the future
OF the party, the leading and shrewdess
democrats are not 1t all jubiant or even
hopeful OF their own future. They
begin TO see that they have to deal with many
discordant and perhaps irreconcilable elements
within their own party lines, and that, II the re-
publlcsns should show nrm. and united front In
1879. the democratic party might easily be
beaten. Leading democrats count upon the third
term designs OF the President and his adnerents
to help them and reckon this one OF the most I'm.
portant elements In the political battle. They ad.
NIT pretty freely that II the President should MAKE
an open and decided declaration agatnss third
term this would be II blow TO the democratic pros.
A M