Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-08
-, avn BUSINESS.

"a often asked, mo"
80 nov with Spain affect business
n,, &c e. not easy for any one " e''
accurate answer. ,,a uron
mich Of course. would dcponu upon
.onoos AT the outset. we might
-. violent disturbance oil '"e
ponev and stock markets. pu' 90
vent on the public could be couh'eu up"
:. ,.or Tho situation squarely IN inc iao''
- Relieve. II would be found theh
49, - securities would not be sacri-
ecod except where holders were hopo
,osslv messed TO the wall. we nls"'
-, a,ctuations from day to day--oe-
80 accompanying reverses 10 our
-. ~,sos Following our victories. Anu
certain lines OF business wouiu DC ue
dressed. while others would become very
active. -, ,.o,,do
,org the latter we would inciude
80 transportation companies which
,,i5 he extensively employed !"
carrying troops, war supplies ana coa'
for onr cruisers. There would be great
ac,,v,tv. also, at all Of the ship-yards
"a rayal stations and depots for 'ne
distribution of coal to the vessels OF our
navy. So, too, there would be Huch
work for iron manufacturers that are
,ronared to supply armor-plate. cannon
ana small arms and projectiles of va
r,ous sorts. Clothing and accoutrements
for soldiers and seamen. wagons anu
harness. tents and camp equipage gene
rally would also be urgently neeueo'
Ana the result would be that many thou
sands of men would thus find employ
ment.
Per contra. war would paraiyze some
other industries. and trade could not pos
siblv thrive along our coast or In the eX'
posed cities of our seaboard.
We believe it is expected by a greal
many that all cereal products would rise
greatly in value; but we cannot be roc
euro about that. Our export trade III
grain is very large. Suppose it should be
iuterfered with by the enemy's naVa
operations? Wouldn't that be quite like
ly TO throw back upon our own markets
q considerable portion of our products
But IT may be said that the calling OF
Of large bodies of troops would withdra"
from industrial pursuits many pro
ducers. Yes; but the odds are that TN
chief burden of furnishing these mel
would fall upon the seaboard states
which are not great grain-growini
States A war with Spain would probabl!
he war I'm which the militia would r.
largely used to guard localities where /
might be thought the enemy would seel
TO make desultory landings, and 1t woui'
be the militia of the East, and not OF tn
West. that would have to be depende'
upon for this service.
We are for peace, so long as IL can d
maintained without sacrifice of nationa
honor. Looking at the question from tn
most sordid point of view, 1t would no
nav for us to sacrifice honor TO busi
ness" Should there be war, let it be
war for principles sake, not on accoun
Of business or politics, either.
We have spoken of some of the bushes
temptations that a war offers. There ar
political temptations, also. Many war
have had their origin in the desire of pc
Htical parties to keep themselves
power, and it may be that the Republ
cans will be thus tempted to try to re
tain control of the House Of Represents
tiS,.- b. as--es.i.>e fsS'bli~ attention f"o'
their failure to give prosperity to IN
country. They ought to set their face
against this temptation. If ever wa
should become necessary, let it be plai
to the people that it is a war for nf
tional honor and supremacy not for n
preservation of a political party.