The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-28

with whatever is on hand that Affects
that island that Is important. He Is rep
resented by a dispatch from Baltimore
recently as stating that he believes inc
meeting of Congress next Monday VIII
be made notable by "A message from tho
| President recommending the recognition
OF the Cuban bclligcrents. and that the
followincW cdncsday will see a declaration
OF war by Spain against the United states
General Johnson may not. Of course
have said this. or. If he aid IT, ne may
not have had reliable Information about
the Presidents purposes. We hope most
sincerely the President will be very care
fl in any reference he may make TO
Cuba.
We. and almost all Americans, have
the sinccrcst sympathy for the Cnbans'
and they have this country's most earnest
wishes for success in their effort TO
throw of the yoke Of Spanish tyranny
But that sympathy Is not sufficient pasls
for this Governments interference in the
matter. IT IS no part Of our plan OF
government to 20 to the rescue Of every
oppressed people in whatever part OF the
globe they may be enduring oppression
merely because they are oppressed. Yet
We can understand no reason that would
require US to so to the assistance OF
the Cubans that would not equally re-
qulro us 10 20 TO the assistance OF me
Armonians. We are not required, there
fore. to take up Cuba's quarrel simply
because Spain oppressed the Cubans. 1T
is no affair Of ours.
There IS every reason why this Govern
ment should. at this time, steer clear Of
every possible foreign complication. Our
wrotchod financial system, aided by pro-
toctive tariff. has cultivated social dis
orders in our midst hat recently threat
cned the very existence Of our Institutions.
These social disorders are by no means
allaycd. They stin exist, and VIII con-
tinue TO exist until they are wisely treated
from a broad standpoint OF equity ana
Justice. All of our attention TO our own
internal condition will be called for for
some time If we would avoid troubles
that mas be far more serious even than
those that have recently confronted us.
We want no wal with Spain. therefore,
we want peace and quiet that We may
renovate our own health and become once
more the peaceful and prosperous people
that We have been.
We can imagine no greater calamity
TO this country. in its ultimate conse-
quonces. than a foreign war at this
time. The evils Of the protective tariff.
of course. contributed their share toward
the popular discomfort. but its basic root,
after all. is in the Government %greenback
and the National Bank act. Public opin-
ion is slowly but gradually working up
TO the point Of abandoning the greenback,
and there is great hope that there may be
a modification Of me National Bank
law. which. while not giving the people
their old State banks-what is their right
will yet give them n far more liberal
system than the present.
But If we should become plunged into
a foreign war, that would mean the
creation of another large debt, another
issue of an indefinite quantity of green
backs. initiation, disappearance of gold
and a recurrence OF everything bad IN
our old condition that brought about the
troubles Of to-day. All our sacrifices Of
the past few years would 20 for nothing.
and we should again, a few years after
the war. have TO go through with all we
have recently passed through.
The prospect is intolerable, and not to
be thought of. We want no foreign. wars.
We want peace and quiet, ans an oppor-
tunity to heal the discomfort Of our peo-
pie.