The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-21
Extracts from Christian NeighbOr
Two Great BIunders Of Congress.

WAGl lUlO IL lUu Oul loVldu NVlS nooA
Two Great RIunders Of Congress.
"Great men are not always wise !;
neither do the aged understand judg-
mcnt." To us it seems difficult to-
account for the scheme which provides
for an enormous and expensive in
crease of the United States navy,
Notifications and war vessels, involving
of course a corresponding outfit of
ammunition, and men. The gods Of
whiskey, powder and military glory
must have maddcncd those men in
Congress who carried that measure
through. Symptoms-Vanity, ambi-
ton, blindness raviug. The people in
taxes will have to foot the ten thous-
and fat-job bills, support the thousands
of officers and others that will be
required to man the vessels and hold
the forts in time of peace, waiting for
something to call them into exercise.
Such men rs think they see the need
of hurrying up preparations for war,
will not be long in finding or making
an excuse for using them. Much
wisdom is not required to get up a
quarrel.
Concerning the other stupen-
dous blunder-"The Chinese Exclus-
ion billD-- and also the one already
referred to, we find our own views SO
we'll expressed in the following article
by Josiah w. Leeds in Banner and
Herald, as published also in the
Messenger of Peace, that we give the
article entire In lieu of what we might
further say, but not say so well:
THE SHADOW OF WAR.-Is it not
occasion for profound regret, that
whereas the platform of that political
party which four years ago contained
a strong enunciation of the desirability
of applying the principle of arbitration
to the settlement of international
disputes, should this year be altogeth-
er silent upon so momentOus subject? ?
And yet, u strenuous demand such as
has sprung up in Congress the present
session for greatly increased expendi-
lures OH war vessels and coasts fortiti-
cations, consequent, in the main, upon
the agitation OF the fisheries question,
would ill consort, it must be admitted,
with platform plea for the peaceful
settlement Of all international dis
,putes.
1t is gratifying, nevertheless, to OBJ
serve, that the declaration of principles
Of the political party which favors
"home protection" as against the ter
rible liquor-drinking evil, forbears, on
the one hand to ask for any war ex-
penditures, while with consistency, on
the other, it places itself upon the high
plane of the amicable adjustment of
International and trade disputes. A
woman's paper published in Pittsburgh,
the White Ribbon, favOring the above
humane and sensible plea, thus re-
marks:
"Closer bonds of friendship between
the women of different nations may
help to strengthen the idea of interna-
tional arbitration in the settlement Of
all differences ; that thus the whole
military system, now draining the very
life-blood and wealth of the people in
the old world, may be completely over
turned, and war, with its crimes and
mlseries, ended forever"
Onr naval authorities are now felici-
tating themselves Oh the fact that our
former ettete navy is rapidly being re-
placed Dy q fleet of war vessels Of
stauncher build and greater speed than
perhaps those of any other nation.
And it is greatly to be feared, at the
same time, that, going forward in
our boasted strength, we will not fail
to manufacture opportunities for bring
ing those great vessels and big guns
| into deadly requisition. We have al
ready, as u nation, represented by the
treaty-making branch Of the govern
ment, perpetrated within few days
such All act of gross indignity towards
the Empire of China (in the Chinese
Exclusion bill matter us would have
sui1lced, had it occurred in connection
with any of the European powers, to
have called out declaration of war.
For the present the great empire be-
yond the Pacific may smother it's
wrath, and no overt hostilities ensue,
but, meanwhile, we have been instruc-
ting the Mongolians concerning the
most improved military and naval
appliances, and at the port of Shanghai
they have established al immense
arsenal and navy-yard, which, should
the day arrive when the autocrat at
Pekin should order an avenging host to
pour forth, may deal terrible retribu-
ton for the wrongs inflicted upon
Chsna by the opium wars and the Ex-
clusion edicts of the Anglo-SaXons.
Only by getting down to the benefi-
cent principle of the golden rule in our
State affairs, will our country be saved
from those awful calamities which
will otherwise sureley overtake us as a
Judgment for our national and social
crimes. s.-Banacr and Herald.