The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-10
A Wall Concerning Spain.

A good deal depends in this world
upon the point of view. Persons can
find sunshine or they can find clouds
In most any subject at most any time.
accordingly as they adopt rational or
irrational points of view. In another
column we reproduce. this morning, an
interesting picture of modern Spain
originally contributed to the Philadel-
phia Bulletin by staff writer OF ex-
tended experience in the matter Of Eu-
ropean travel. His picture is timely by
reason of the possibility. in his judg-
ment near but in our Judgment very
remote, that we may become embroiled
In war with Spain because of our
sympathy for Cuba. From the stand
point of the average American. sympa-
thy for Cuba is as natural as patriotism
itself. and as commendable. But from
this writer's point of view, it is crimi-
nal nonsense; and for variety's sake We
give his side OF the controversy:
IF the action of congress results in
a war with Spain, as there is every
reason to apprehend it will. we shall,
says the Bulletin writer. mot have a
picnic in conquering the proudest race
in Christendom. We shall, of course,
defeat Spain in the end. But our vic
tory will be tarnished by injustice and
greed, everything in the nature of
meanness we loathe in the English. We
shall have Cuba on our hands, a GEN.
tury before we are in position to deal
with it. We shall have enriched, per-
haps, ten thousand, perhaps fifty thou
sand soulless money-makers, who SIM
ply regard war and government for
what they can make out Of them! Our
civil war created a million parvenues.
who have for thirty years ruled us,
shaped our legislation, dictated presi-
dents and made life shambles. A war
with Spain will fasten fifty years Of
misrule upon us. OF course, there will
be glorious victories! We shall.
when the end comes. record the lists,
say half a million killed, half million
wounded and half century Of PEN
sions to unborn millions, related by
passing ties to the soldiers and sailors
killed to make Cuba free!' We shall
liberate Cuba at cost of perhaps ten
billions of dollars. twice the indemnity
France paid Germany; we shall sacri-
flee half million lives, we shall turn
over our government to brawlers and
ignoramuses for the next fifty years,
and we shall for half century stop
the processes of civilization, to give a
few swarthy malcontents in Cuba, the
privilege Of turning the island into a
civic pandemonium. But the majority
SO order and protest Is useless"
It perhaps would not be worth while
to take this petulant outburst seriously
and endeavor to show wherein 1t lacks
substantial foundation. 1t Is sufficient
to quote the Outburst as a fair speci-
men Of the frenzy to which overrripe
minds are sometimes subject when an
issue Of humanity calls for determined
treatment. Much the same kind Of
petulance used to be prevalent before
the question Of human slavery was set
tied in this country by the arbitrament
Of arms. Able and scholarly men, men
who In private life would scorn to
stoop to cruelty or oppression, were
very wont, prior to 1861, to scoff and
jibe at the prospect of going to war
'for the sake of blank lot of niggers." I"
Yet the conscience of the plain people
went to war, just the same, and freed
those "niggers" while at the same time
wiping out a singing stigma upon the
honor Of the great republic. The result
of that Acknowledgement is written,
among other ways, in a subsequent
progress of the negro race such as has
never before or since been equalled in
the history of liberated peoples.
War with Spain is highly improb-
able. There is scarcely the remotest
possibility Of it, But If it should be
forced upon this nation in the line of
inevitable duty, the grave issue will be
met with true American manliness,
and civilization will not be the loser.
-
The opinion seems to be pretty well
disseminated that the Raines bill has
made New York again a doubtful state.
Fortunately, with the right kind of
ticket-building at st. Louis this will
not give Republicans uneasiness. They
can. for once. snap their fingers at
pivotal commonwealths.