The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-02

have war. and war with such power aS
Great Britain. 1t would be well for us 70
heed carefully what Mr.. Medill says be-
fore we enter upon II. The generation
that is passing away knows what war
means. and what its horrors and calaml-
ties are. When General Lee invaded
Pennsylvania la July, 1863. the war had
been a long time IN progress, aud every
body knew what q terrible thing war
was The war records which the GOV
eminent has now published disclose the
panic that Leo's invasion of PennaylNaiha
created I'm the North The 2th Noluihe'
Part III. contains the frantic appeals 10
Nr. Lincoln from Pennsylvania, New Jei-
sew. and New York for protection. IL
looks as though these people thousnl
General Lee was going 10 attack them
from the rear and swim around anu AZ
tack them at the same time from the
son front. The iron-ciad Roanoke was III
New York harbor at that ime. though she
xyas ordered away On June =. 1850. me
Mayor Of the city telegraphed the secie-
tary of the Navy page 800 urging tina
this ship be kept there until the city
can devise other means Of securing It's
safety from naval attack which It's
Importance TO the nation imperiouaiy de-
mands." on June 18th General John =.
Wool I'm command AT New York tele-
graphs the Secretary of the Navy page
2ag urging that the Roanoke be LEFT there.
He said: 1--WE shall be at the mercy OF
any privatcer that may think proper TO
assail this city" And on July % he tele-
graphs him again page 4s0. setting out
his want OF offences. and saying. by all
which you will discover that Siooo9oo@
of property may be destroyed in few
hours by any vessel or the character and
speed of the Alabama
New York city is but little better de-
Tended to-day than she was in 1903 In
deed. she is no better defended against
the ships and guns Of to-day than she
was against the Alabama then. An Eng
nsh feet Of iron-clads can lie of the
coast at Comey Island and throw shells
Weighing more than half-ton each into
New York city. The bursting OF one or
these shells just above a block Of build
inrs would PROSTATE half Of them. Fires
would be kindled from the wreck and the
explosion Of one hundred such would
create a fire in the city that nothing could
extineuish And we are absolutely power
less 10 resist such an attack, and every
city on our scacoast ia liable to just such
a visitation Gentlemen say We will build
ships and forts 10 resist these iron-clads.
But il would take not less than two
years to build and arm a frst-class iron
clad under the most favorable circum-
stances. and ii takes a year 20 make
empowered cannon that can make any
impression upon an iron-clad. We have
next to none Of these. II we should 20
to war. therefore, with Great Britain we
might invade Ind take possession OF
Canada. and we might do England's com
,,erce q great deal Of harm. But she
could take possession Of all OF our sea
coast cities and hold them as hostages
for any harm we did Canada and her
commerce. IT seems to us there would
be what amounted TO no war. She would
blockade our ports. leaving Canada TO us
until peace was made. and the whole
war would consist in our impotently
shaking our fists at her ships.
4 few nights back the famous restau-
rateur. John Chamberlain, gave a banquet
in Washington city to General Nelson a.
Miles commanding officer Of the United
States army and amongst the guests
was Colonel William +. Cody, Familiarity
known As Buffalo Bill. General Miles
nada q speech. in which he said that so
long as he was commander of the United
States army no foreign invader would
ever set foot on American soil. and Colo
mel Cody said: If they do, just write to
me"
That sort Of thing will do very well to
stir up the patriotism di "the boys just
before an election and when they are
half seas over" but the old soldiers who
SAW war. and know what war is know
very well that when We fight a great
naval and military power Ike Great
Britain we shall want something more
than midnicht promises from General
Miles and the champagne patriotism OF
bunalo Bill We shall want ships and
guns and forts. and it is folly for us to
talk of engaging in a war with England
until we have them.
but better. far better, that we should
attend 10 our own business and leave
England and Venezuela TO attend TO
theirs. and then We shall have TO need
for ships or guns or forts. or Buffalo Bill
or Dutch courage either.
one Of our exchanges is becoming
skeptcal. "Tho Scriptures" IL says