The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-15
ILLTHERE BE WARP
ARMY AND NAVY MEN HOPE FOR
A ScRIMMAGE WITH CHIEI.
Is It Necessary to Have a Fight During
Each Generation?-Our Navy Is Grow
inc-Some Beautiful and Instructive
Models of Our New Ships.


ing-some Beautiful and Instructive
Models of Our New Ships.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Jan .4.-There is now a
sound of revelry day and night in the
American capital, for the gay season was
ushered in by the presidents New Year re-
ception at the White House, but for the
first time in many years the joys of ball, of
feast and of society's gay round are tenn
pered by the fear of war. The war cloud
still hangs thick and threatening in the
south, and | noticed at the presidents re-
ception that more than one matron, hang
ing proudly on the arm of her liege gen.
eral or admiral, sobered at the mention of
possible hostilities. There was plenty of
war talk in the East room, as there is plenty
of war talk in every drawing room in Wash
ington, in every club and public office.
II don't think we shall have a war, )" said
! to handsome young lieutenant of the
marine corps at the White House recep
ton.
please don't say that" he responded;
at hurts me. Predict war and lots of it if
you want TO make me happy"
=
South America and have those ferocious
Chilians get after your"
Il am indeed. If / knew were to sail
for Chill tomorrow | should be the hap
piest man in America Give up the de-
lights of Washington society! Certainly,
and without "A pang of regret. You would
have the same views and hopes that have
were you in my place You newspaper
Ia, no.
day of your lives to distinguish yourselves
You have a chance to do something, to
rise, to grow, to broaden. But war is the
only opportunity that comes to an army or
navy officer, and how long is it since we
had WARP More than quarter of CEN
fury. Every generation should have at
least one war. 1t is only by fighting that
the fighting spirit can be kept alive in US.
War would be positive blessing to the
army and navy, and, in my opinion, to the
country at large. Have we become so pro-
sale in this day and generation that we
live merely to eat, Sleep trade, manufac-
ture and die? Are we to permit chivalry,
valor and sentiment to disappear from
among us?"
Il suppose you would like chance to
fight your way to a promotion"
''That is true. want promotion, and
am willing to fight for ito run my
chances of death or injury for it. Fifteen
years ago, while a mere boy, entered An
napolis Naval academy, having adopted
the navy as my profession. l have seen six
years sea service, am still a lieutenant,
have not a dollar in the world, and, will
confess to you, am engaged to be married
/ have been engaged for three years, and
yet cannot see my way to matrimony
Why? Cannot support wife. If l could |.
get promoted to rank which would give me |
a larger salary and a house to live in at the !
post to which | might be assigned when on |
shore duty-why, then / could wed. But |
how long do you suppose it will take me,
in the ordinary course of events, to reach !
this desirable rank-this summit of my |
ambition? If everything goes well, eleven |
years more. Yes eleven long, weary years
Do you wonder that | am eager for a
chance to fight Chilians, Turks, savages,
Christians, heather or anything or anybody
that will give me chance of promotion?"
The case of this lieutenant is typical Of |
the surroundings of many young officers of
the navy and the marine corps. But there
are other people who want war-the adj
venturous spirits who yearn for opportuni-
ties to distinguish or enrich themselves. !
have been much impressed during the two
weeks of pretty warm war talk which we
have had at the capital with the thought
that now that our western frontier has
been moved to the Pacific ocean, and the
Great DESERT and the wild mountains of
5he Occident have been conquered by civil
zation, the young men of America are look
ng for new outlets for their energy and
Ever since the foundation Of the republic
5he constantly narrowing unknown and
region to the west has offered
inducement and fascination to
he enterprising youth of the older COM
nunities, but now the day is not far dis
ant in which, like England, we shall need
IN Australia or an India to take up the
surplus energies Of an energetic race All
his element of our population is stirred by
he talk of war with Chilli, and whether
var does or does not come of the present
lificulty, it is the prediction of many pub
ic men with whom have talked that ere
many years have passed this country will
,e forced by public opinion into war of
such as was the Mexican war of
he forties.
walks and talks at the capital during this
var season-all classes of people uphold
he government in its demand on Chill for
pology and reparation. Republicans are no
more eager than Democrats to uphold the
ational honor, and public men from the
orth are not whit more patriotic than
heir brethren from the south. 1t is a
urious fact that neither of the two sea
len of the Baltimore killed in the affair
{ Valparaiso was American born, and one
f chem, | am told at the navy depart
nent, was never naturalized "a citizen;
nut these facts make not the slightest
Inference. 1t is enough for Americans to
now that the victims of the fury of that
mob wore the uniform of the United
tates, and that the wrong done them as
and this nation rs their spon-
ors, has not been righted.
Now that have said this much about the
lillian difficulty, think il well to go fur
her and tell you what trifiing thing it is
hat stands between the two countries and
auses them to frown at each other, The I
ispatches in the daily newspapers describe
0 much of what occurs from day to day
r what is believed to have occurred-that
be reader becomes somewhat confused
nd loses sight of the main question. More
yer, the original question at issue between
be two countries has been considerably
loditied by negotiation and explanation.
nd the dispute now remaining is a very
mall matter-so simple and trivial dis
ute that il is incredible a great nation
1uld for one moment have thought of 20
X 10 war about it
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