Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-04-01
Jacobin Jingolsm.

O0CVWAM Olu6VAoMs
The Jacobin jingoists of Congress,
as the New York Herald says, are now
making presidents which, SO far from
following Washington's advice as to
interference in foreign affairs, present
us in the attitude of conspiring against
the peace of mankind. IF We can in a
wanton spirit launch thunderbolts
against England and Spain, what is to
prevent our continuing the sinister
fascinating practice and arousing en-
mites in every part Of the globe?
The trouble in this whole lingo busl-
ness is that we are governed by Con-
gress of Jacobins. Consider how little
has been done since Congress assem-
bled. Where is its eloquence, its
craftsmanship, it's business common
sense? With a multitude of national
home interests imploring aid, nothing
is achieved. There are no wholesome,
instructive debates. Bills necessary
to the peoples welfare are put aside.
Our legislature recalls the Jacobin rul e
which swayed France about century
ago. Danton throwing the head of a
king as gage of battle at the feet of
kings; Robespierre with his guillotine
red with the beauty, valor and genius
of France; the French to stream over
Europe preaching fraternity and prac-
| %ic.v, nj oil fos n
noble in the Republic to go down and
vanish in military bra W.
Our Jacoblns-Senators as expert
enced as Sherman and as conservative
as Mills-do not in their hearts crave
hostilities, and therein they deserve a
severer censure than their prototypes.
The French Jacobins were in earnest,
meaning what they said in truth, and
not as a bit of rhetoric hurting a kings
head at the feet of kings. and march
ing barefoot in the snow to defend
their opinions with their blood. But
our poor counterfeit Jaeobins have no
such heroic purpose. They are simply
in the whirl of Presidential year and
need a stimulus for the campaign.
What more stirring than war? He
will lead who howls the loudest. All
parties are in the bowling business.
President Cleveland began with the
Venezuelan menace against England.
Republican Sherman, Northern
statesman, answered with an arraign-
ment of Spain. Democratic Mills, a
Southern statesman, caps them with
his demand for the immediate invasion
of Spanish territory. Populist Stewart
screams in assent. In the meantime,
prudent, peaceful people, whose chief
stake is in prosperous country, are
in despair. One of our most eminent
financiers presents the case in a sen
tence:-"No business man cares to
make many ventures with the shadow
of a foreign war hanging oyer his
head"
The shadow" is not that of for
eign war, but of the Presidency
Everything gives way to this quadren
NAL DEVILS Auction of a Presidential
canvass, wherein the lowest and most
despicable bid for the demagogues
support can only succeed. And while
this goes on-that is to say, until No
vember-the business of the people il
put aside and the members tables
groan under the burdens of unconsid
cred legislation. Members avoid ex
pressing an opinion or voting upon lily
ing issues, for the Devils Auction is iI
full blast-the Jacobins block the
wheels of the government. Be it Cubs
or Venezuela or Armenia, be it ever
the revival Of the long hushed ami
mosities of the civil war, as Mr.. Bou
telle would have it, the Jacobins are
in power. The daily reports of the
proceedings in Congress show nothing
but the avoidance of public business,
horse play. invective, wanton colo
quies called debates, which read like
the annals of the old French conven
ton, when, with France bankrupt anG
starving, Marat was screaming for the
heads of suspects and Anacharsis
Clootz was declaiming on the brother
hood of man.