St. Landry democrat., 1891-06-20
The Edge of the Knife.
Evansville Und.) Standard, April 2.

Evansville (1nd) Standard, April2 2. /
Is there to be war with ItalyY
Certainly the abrupt manner in which
the Italian minister has been withdrawn,
and the hostile tone of the Roman and
Neapoitan press, go to show that we
are on the edge of a most serious quar-
rel. The shadow of the sword falls
across the nation, and it is as amazing,
as it is glorious, to note how readily the
republic responds to the first mutter Of
the long roll. A people, like ours,
whose title deeds to freedom lie, not III
solemn conventions of paper treaties,
but in the manhood of Columbia's sons,
deserve liberty and will defend it.
We do not want war. We deplOre
war. We believe it to be barbarous,
inadequate and most cruel method OF
settling a dispute but if war is to be
forced upon us, then, surely, Americans
can guard America.
There is talk in the dispatches that
Italy is to make its issue with Louisiana
directly, ignoring the general govern
ment. OF course this is an ignorant
misstatement. Louisiana is bone of our
bone and flesh of our flesh. He that
strikes at her must count at once with
souri, and Indiana, with the solid North
and the solid South, the solid East and
the solid West. With a menace to the
Union politics disappear: we are no
longer Republicans Or Democrats, ALI
| ance men, Probibitionists or members OF
the Labor party. We are to Il man
Americans purely when it comes to a
| rally about the colols.
Care la tOache!
The fighting spirit is not dead in the
United States, as Italy and her menac-
ing allies may learn to thciI heavy cost
if the expected sequel is to follow Baron
de Fava's departure. We are in the
right and threats will not move us. 1t
Italy were wise she would appeal to the
republics justice, not to the republics
fear.
The same sunlight that sparkles flom
the bayonets OF the boys OF the Pelican
State will tip with silver the steel OF
thicker than water. 1t our Southern
brothers have to go behind the cotton
bales once more, Yankee soldiers will
be touch and touch with them, and
Yankee guidons will dance in the South
ern breeZes, side by side with the Pal
mettO flag and the Lone Star ban
neret.
The veterans that almost generation
ago met each other face to face, may
yet dress in one long line, where blue
and grey will once aud forever fade into
loving comradeship, and mutual en-
deavor for the Union. War would be a
misfortune, but if it could show the
South the real heart of the North if it
could prove to our kinfolk how warm
is our love and our loyalty; how strong
the buckler that we stand ready to place
between their bOsoms and foreign foe,
it would do more to bring these United
States back to the good will of Wash
ington's days than century of peace.
The nation has at the helm an admin
istration that it can safely and wholly
trust. The honor of the republic and its
welfare is in the best hands. We can
count upon proper peace or upon a just
war. And if it is to be war, which God
forbid, then war be it, in Gods name
We will show the world that there are
no parties in the State when the sword
is drawn but that Democrats and Re-
publicans, loyalty, CALAMITY will close
up behind Harrison and Blaine, just as
Republicans and Democrats would have
followed Cleveland and Bayard had
this crisis come upon US four years
ago.