The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-12
The Approaching Presidential Con-
test-A War with Spain.

supposed bearing on the success of parties
or candidates in the Presidential canvass
OF course good things as well as bad things
may be attempted with this view for there
is no reason why good project should not
be popular The art of canvassing is a hunt
for popularity, and the methods of seeking
popular applause are as various as the men
tai peculiarities of the men who engage in
chase for Office If Governor Tilden hangs
out the banner of reform, if Mr.. Blaine dis
plays a sudden zeal for non-sectarian schools,
if President Grant tries to push the country
into foreign war, their respective hobbies
are means, not ends it is the Presidency
which lies at the bottom of their efforts.
Each values the horse and his caparison only
as means of reaching the goal And yet
reform is not bad thing because Governor
Tilden rides it out of breath in pursuit of
the Presidency, nor is non-sectarian educa-
ton bad thing because Mr. Blaine has
adroitly slipped into the saddle in the place
of him who brought out the steed; and
whether the forcible pacifcation of Cuba, as
proposed by President Grant, is bad thing
depends on it's success and cost
1t is quite possible that all these Presiden-
tial steeds will unhorse their riders. Gov
ernor Tilden has made so many democratic
enemies that his control of the State Conven-
ton for appointing Presidential delegates is
more than doubtful the report that Mr..
Blaine was bred a Catholic throws an ex-
quisite air of ridicule over his new
on the religious question and it is
altogether probable that if the President
puts forth his hand to shake the tree of war
somebody else will gather the fruit What
Mr. Blaine has done for him respecting the
school question some victorious general or
admiral might also do for him in relation to
Cuba 1t is hazardous game to play from
motives of personal ambition.
The democratic party played a similar
game thirty years ago in the Mexican war,
and lost Although that war was successful
and brilliant-a career of victories without
an important reverse-the democratic party
was defeated in the next Presidential cleo
ton. A popular wing general carried off the
prize. Even a successful war does not
necessarily aid the political party that begins
it, but an unsuccessful war is necessarily
fatal. We suppose nobody doubts the
ultimate result of o war with Spain, but
the chances are more than even that we
should encounter humilating checks in its
early stages, and tide of discomfort would
set in against the administration. If we
had had Presidential election in the
autumn of 1861, after the Bull Run disaster
in the preceding summer, with President
Lincoln as the republican candidate, it would
have resulted in political Bull Run for him
and his party. If President Grant forces the
country into war with Spain during the
coming spring, and the campaign should
open with reverses the republican party
would be past praying for in the Presidential
election.
1t is altogether probable that, in a war
about Cuba, the first successes would be on
the side of the Spaniards. Spain is in a
state of efficient preparation, military and
naval She has been dealing for several
years with formidable rebellion on
the Peninsula and another formidable
her ornaments to the highest point
of efficiency warranted by her financial
condition. Our own preparations for war
are yet to be made, and it is work which
requires time and effort We cannot
increase either our naval or our
military force until war shall have
been declared, and Spain would accordingly
have every advantage of us at the beginning
of hostilities She would be at the maxi
mum of her strength at time when our
ornaments were yet to be created In the
course of six or eight months we could be-
come infinitely her superior both on land
and at sea but meanwhile, taking advan-
tage of our transient weakness and want of
preparation Spain might strike sudden and
effective blows which would be q severe
shock to our national pride. The chances
would be altogether against us in the earlier
months of the contest, and during those
earlier and unsuccessful months the Presi-
Dental canvass would be virtually decided,
and, of course, decided against General
Grant if he should be the republican candi-
date.
Spaniards are excellent fighters. What
the Castilian blood lacks in dash it makes
up in obstinate vigor, and, man for man,
with equal numbers and advantages on both
sides, Spanish force is no contemplate
enemy, even for Americans. Spain has at
present well equipped army of two hun
dred and sixteen thousand our effective
army does not exceed twenty thousand.
in a state of complete efficiency, whereas our
ships of war amount to only one hundred
and sixty-six, all told, including the old
tubs and vessels in a state of dilapidation,
which figure in the statistics, but are of no
,.nlrn for snrrinn We shnrld he no m ntch for