The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-09
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, lsos.
wEALL BACK THE GOVERNMENT

II was most crcditable 10 Mr.. Hay tho
representative in Congress OF the Seventh
Virginia District. that on Monday he
avowed in open House that he would 10
longer oppose the bill providing for two
new artillery regiments, but that he
would give it his hearty support Mr..
Hay is a member of the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs and this bill was
peculiarly within the scope Of his duties.
Prior 10 our relations with Spain he
coming so strained as The developments
Of the last few days have made them, he
was oprosed to providing for these regi-
ments But when he saw the risk OF
war that our country was confronted
with, like a patriotic citizen he abandon
ed all Of his preconcelved objections and
saw nothing but the safety OF the cOun-
try ana the necessity for providing for
that before anything else was thought
of. This was unselnsh and patriotic
conduct ana Mr.. Hay is entitled to have
Il brought TO the especial attention OF
the people Of Virginia. We sincerely
wish Mr.. Jones the representative of the
First District had done the same thing.
But he adhered to his opposition to 'he
bin with a good deal Of the Chicago plat
form talk about government by in
junction" and military suppression Of the
people and all that sort Of thing. But
this IS not time for that kind of dis
cussion. II does very badly al any time
and sets the teeth OF a conservative man
who loves order. upon edge. whenever ne
hears it, We can get along with 1t
though when nothh g is IN question but
the election to Office Of the people who
think they can win votes enough TO elect
them. But at such q time as this when
the country seems to be I'm danger Of
real war, that sort Of talk should be
relocated to tho echoes and memories Of
political campaigns in which statesmen
declare 10 the people thai they have a
magical contrivance for turning nifty
sents into dollar II IS IN order as
part OF that sort Of statesmanship but
1t has no place in emergencies like that
before the country now.
Nor can we fail TO notice the perform
ance OF Mr.. Bailey, leader Of the Demo-
cratic side of the House in this connec-
ton. lie. too. II not an opponent of the
measure was an obstructionist. and put
himself and thereby the Democratic
party in the position of embarrassing IT
when every Democrat in Congress should
very best OF his ability Mr.. Bailey and
Mr.. Jones DO not represent the Demo-
Gratis OF The country In this action. The
Democrats OF the country and Southern
Democrats especially, are united and as
earnest as men can be IN their determi-
nation TO back the government with every
dollar and every man they possess II war
fs to be forced upon the country. That
is their policy and none of these repre-
sentative men should say one word or do
one act that could be construed into
. want OF harmony with that purpose.
We think II probable now that thore
will be no occasion 10 use these two ar
tiilery regiments. They are intended TO
luTulen ulth 10 man NNt tltAl GUNS tNht
we are planting at our seaports. We
believe now that there will be no war
and therefore the srtillerymen, Heaven
be thanked. Will not be called upon 10 fiji
their guns. Nevertheless, the way to
avoid trouble Is TO be prepared for It,
and the expense Of these two regiments
is q mere tribe compared with the risk
OF having an undefendod seaport de-
stroyed
or Monday morning. wo thought that
the country had war directly IN front
Of II. The Spanlards had been making
faces at US so long and threatening fire
and sword until We really believed that
the demand for General Lees recall was
the first move IN a declaration OF war.
But as soon as they saw that this coun-
try had made up It's mind 10 light II Spain
insisted upon a fight, the demand was
abandoned and the wind bag burst. We
csndidIy believe the war is ended. II Is
another case OF abandoning the trail OF