New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-14
THE WAR CRY.

1T Is rather an Ouu COnullOn Oh tninSS tliaJ
with the whole country bent upon peace and
economy, and with Congress, to which the Con-
stitution has committed the war-making power,
in daily session, there should be a feeling of
uncertainty even at the Capitol whether we are
not on the brink of hostilities with Spain. 1t
is true that our relations with that country are
to all outward appearance more satisfactory
now than they have been for many years.
Many of the specific causes of complaint which
we made against tho Madrid Government have.
been removed. Others are the subject OF
decorOus negotiation. Since the Virginius
difficulty there has been no fragrant disregard
of our rights, and even i'll that melancholy
affair it is now admitted that part of the orig-
nal fault out of which it grew was ours. or
angry feeling between us and Spain there Is not
now n trace. The Cuban rebellion is a misfor-
tune to us as well as to Spain, and to Cuba,
and. to IA large part of Europe. but it must be
confessed, even by the warmest friends of the
insurgents, that our people watch its slow pro-
gress with an equanimity that amounts almost
to indifference, and whatever injury it may do
to our trade there is little disposition to make
a grievance of it, And yet large part of
the public is afraid of being forced into war
without its knowledge.
IL is superfuous to say that war under
the present circumstances would be- little less
than n crime We are not conscious of
wounded honor that calls for an avenger, or
impered national interests that need de-
Tense We are well aware on the other hand
that the imperative need of our depressed
country is to rctrench its enormous expendi-
lures and repair the waste of national capital
begun by the civil war and continued by ten
years of reckless fast living since the peace.
These are good reasons why We ought not to
20 to war 1t will be more to the purpose
perhaps to point out circumstances which
render war improbable. There are
strong grounds for believing that the rumors
of trouble mdustriously circulated last Novem-
bcr the headlong preparations of the Navy,
and the menaccs of the Presidents message
were intended to test and If possible stimulate
the temper of the country. If the people had
gwen favorable answer, war with Spain
would have been the Administration cry for
the next political campaign. But the expert
ment has failed; failed 80 hopcles'ly that the
President can be in no doubt as to the
truth There is literally no popular
sentiment in favor of the scheme.
According to present appearances it would
damn any party that took it up. 1t is
true that a rapid succession Of victories would
rouse the warlikc spirit of the country, and
surround the Administration for a time with n
little halo of glory but the victories would
come too late to help Gen. Grant. There Is
little doubt that the fortune Of war at first
would be all against us. Spain has a navy of
formidable proportions, vastly superior to ours
in the number, quality, and size of tho ships
and the weight and efficiency of the guns. We
should beat them after while, but not until
we had suffered many humiliatOns, lost ships
and men, and spent millions OF money. Before
our day of triumph came, the political cam
paign would be virtually over. The Cuban
card therefore does not seem TO be good one
for Grant to play.
All these coGjectures however proceed upon
the supposition that the question of peace or
war remains in our own hands So far it does.
But the President may provoke the Spanish
Government into a demonstration which we
shall have no choice but 10 resent and this
seems to us the real danger of the situation.
The House Of Representatives should call at
once for light on the pending ncgotia ions
with Spain, and copy of the note which Dir.
Fish has addressed 10 the fG;cign powers.
little iudicious advice from the people Of the
United States will be os great help to the
President in reaching peaceful solution of
the difficulty he has 80 needlessly exaggerated.