The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-14

The Detrimental wal rake.
AS if the spell of bad business had not
been long enough. the New York newspa-
pers are busy organizing a new sensa-
calculated to tie up money and
Sheeck industry. This Is the Spanish war
scare. 1t is no doubt a fabrication out of
whole cloth. We are not likely to go to
war with Spain. There is no reason for
us to do so, and the idea that Spain viii
force a fight on us is rather far-fetched.
1t Is certainly in opposition to all out
ward indications of the Spanish policy.
But the 'sWorld" and the Journal
and even the SUM-" must have their SEN
stations to keep the public in a state of
thrill and sworn CALCULATIONS at high
water mark. Therefore we have alleged
recommendations by Consul General Lee,
cabinet conferences, recalls of Dupuy de
LONE, and warlike activity at the Brook
lyp Navy Yard. The effect, as might be
expected, has been a setback in stocks,
and a feeling of uncertainty among in
vestors. But what does the Sun care
so long as it can beat the lingo tom tom,
and what regard have the World and
Journal for the general welfare. while
they are trying to outshriek each other
In. appeals to the gullibie section of the
community?
INh1n fh11 nnolya 1z~1~ff01e ot.o,< a.
policies of the Government, it is hard to
contradict them. They are dealing with
things which are necessarily secret. No
body kaows anything and one guess or
one lie is as good as another, or better.
But when they get down, to as~certainable
facts. they show at once the weakness
Of their case. Thus. the columns which
they expen on an account of the prepare
lions to mobilize Admiral Bunce's
squadron, and place It in a state of
belligerent efficiency become Iudicrous
when analysed An examination of the
list of vessels in the Navy Yard shows
that there is not one sign of wariike
preparation in the work going on there.
We find that the New York. which is
Admiral Bunce's flagship, is simply
moored there. waiting for the Admiral.
who Is In Washington. She is having
nothing whatever lone to her. The In
5uries which she sustained in a storm
at sea on her last cruise, that is the
breaking of her turret fastenings, II Is
rather hard to make a "wariike prepara-
ton" out of that The Maine is having
a little minor tinkering done, as have the
Montgomery and Katahdin. The Texas
well, everybody knows about the Texas.
The Puritan is merely in process OF con
struction. The Essex is an old wooden
tub, fifty years hin the age, which is
used as a practice cruiser and is being
remodeled to make her more commodious
for that purpose. The Chicago is be-
ing entirely remodeled and is getting com
plete new engines and boilers-a proceed
ing which makes her wholly unavailable
Tor months-and the Atlanta is simply
aid up with a prospect of radical repairs
before she win be put in commission
again.
Inc ordinary c-ommon-sense man VIII
see that the alleged wariike preparation
theory is a malignant fake In view of
these simple ~facts-which, by the way,
me fake newspapers naively print, them
seives-but so many people only read the
headlines and fail to reason over the con-
tents Of the article themselves that great
mischief is done.