The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-01-23
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Congress And The JingOes.

We are apparently in some dan
ger of drifting into Il war with
Chilli, unless Congress, represent
ing the sound sense of the country
shall lay heavy hand of restraint
upon jingoism.
There is no occasion for such a
war and there would be no sense
in it. There is no honor even for
our arms to be got out of such u
conflict. 1t would reflect no credit
on this great nation to get the hest
of little nation in a contest OF
physical force end of capacity to
spend money.
Whatever quarrel we have or
may have with Chilli may be set
tied by diplomacy or, failing that,
by arbitration. We are peculiarly
bound to seek arbitration rather
than war in such case, because
we have been the instigators of IA
convention to make arbitration the
sole last resort in international
controversies on the American
continent. We are pledged in a
hundred ways to that policy, and
we cannot violate our pledges with
out national shame and the surren-
der of great national enterprise
of peace, undertaken in the name
of humanity and civilization.
The President is reported as say
ing that our grievance against
Chill is one which we cannot hon.
orably submit to arbitration. The
President has never before said
anything so foolish and barbarous,
and there is reason to doubt that
he has said this. But even if it
were true it would still not b. nee
essary to go to war to assert the
dignity of the United States. That
dignity is in no great need Of self.
assertion, and we might sufficient.
ly assert it against such a state ms
Chilli by the simple suspension ot
diplomatic relations as a last re.
sort.
The danger of war arises from
barbarous selfishness in three
forms. There are forces in the Ad
ministration that desire war as 8
means of reviving the Republican
party's prestige and popularity,and
securing for it new lease of pow,
er at time when the people are
manifestly intent upon dismissing
it for unfaithfulness. In brief, jim
goism is partisan devise for elec.
tion purposes. In the navy there
Is a desire to try the new ships and
to win "numbers" in the promotion
list-in other words professional
desire to get on, which finds ex,
preston in wish for war. Final
ly the hungry crowd ofspeculative
cOntrac tors want war to make bus
mess for themselves. These are
the forces that make for war. Op-
posed to them are the humanity OF
the people, the good sense of the
community and the indispositior
of sensible men to be further rob
bed by needless taxation. 1t is fol
the House of Representatives tt
give voice to these silent but pow
erful sentiments.
On the economic side especially
the House should object with de,
cisive emphasis. A war with Chill
would cost us not less than a hun.
dred millions, and all the glory tt
be got out of it is not worth hal
the money. This congress is elect
ed to cut dOwu expenses, not tt
swell them by needless war, and 8
war with Chilli is utterly needless
We can take perfectly good care o
the national honor and dignity
without it, and there is no pretenst
that there is anything else to be
taken care of in the case.
If the Administration is found t.
be given over to iingoism, Il,
Washington reports indicate, Con
gress must cry "Haltp with the
authority of those who guard the
strong box.