New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-17
A SHAMEFUL APPEAL.

II was not to be expected that "Thc Evening
POST would be able to keep up forever Its pre-
tence of disinterested and sublime devotion to
the cause of peace with Chill at all hazards. We
felt sure that sooner or later it would have to
choose between dropping the mask or sitting
behind it, The former alternative was the more
probable, but we did not suppose that the ex-
posure would be so sudden competc and com
nlacent. We thought we should hear "The
POST, pasping for breath and see it struggling
to get free But to the disappointment OF this
reasonable anticipation it stood forth yesterday
without disguise or a compensatory blush as
the uncompromsing advocate Of peace, because
q war; forsooth would Swamp all other issues"
Ii assured the Democrats "whO control one
branch of Congress- that war would extingulsh
" the tariff question, the currency question and
the Treasury deficit question for the time being
as completely as though they did not exist"
Nothing more would be heard of Investigations
or even of a desire to investigate. A war would
increase National disbursements and stimulate
National pride and promote PATRIOTISM all to the
advantage and credit of the party controlling
the executive branch OF the Government. All
the feathers would be worn, the banners waved,
the drums beaten and the torchlights carried by
and in the interest of Republicans, and nothing
would be left to the Democrats but shame and
the voting Of supplies.
This category Of distresses was sufficiently ap-
palling, but "The Post' had a sorrows crown
of sorrow in reserve. A war with Chill would
make statesman of Pat Egan." The country
might possibly survive in condition Of com
parative comfort all the other consequences OF a
bloody conflict, but that events should be per-
mitted TO put an end to the calumnies and in
rigues against the Minister of the United States
at Santiago to vindicate his character and justify
his conduct-in short, to make statesman Of
him in the estimation Of the public-that is some
thing not to be endured. The task Of ayerting
a catastrophe like this is fit to enlist the con-
science and the intellect Of every citizen. We
recall no other obligation quite so insstent and
enn0bling, unless it be the Obligation recently
assumed by "The Evening Post" Of demonstrat-
ing that chastity is not an essential virtue. What
over happens, or doesn't happen, "Pat' Egan
must be insuled in Chill and despSed at home,
the dogma of Free Trade must be promulgated
investigating committees must invent scandals,
expenditures must be curtaled, the executive
branch of the government must be prcjudged
distrusted and shackled, in order that by means
of peace, with or without honor, Grover Cleve-
land if possible, and if not some other Demo
GRAFT, may be the next President Of the United
States.
This, at last, is confessed to be the motive OF
l"The Evening Post" But these arguments dc
not quite exhaust its ingenuity or its baseness
1t even sinks below the level of mere partisan
ship by appealing to the cupidty of the Ameri-
can people 1t acknowledges that through the
Operation of the Reciprocity policy or by some
other means we have the promise of larger and
more profitable trade with South America provid
ed nothing be done to stir up hostile feelings
against us" II only our humility proves equa
to the strain we may continue to make money
out of Chill and her sensitive neghbors. "Fol
Heavens sake' is the common form of adjura
ton, but "The Evening POSI- introduces varia
ton For the sake of the earth and the fulness
thereof, says "The Post" let us keep the peace
that we may pocket the profits. Ii a more un
patriotic, sordd and altogether contemplate
series Of considerations and appeals was eve