The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-06
ingalls,
On the
Conflict

A little over q month ago congress,
on the recommendation of the president.
passed bill recognising the existence
of state of war between the United
States and Spain. an interval brief, but
momentouA and crowded with prodi-
gious eventa
War Is q vortex which engulfs na-
tiona Society becomes elemental. Men,
institutions. purposes, habits, disap-
pear. Inter arma leges silent is the old
phrase. Everything else is silent inter
arma.
In the last 80 days Organism, Popu-
lism, free silver, socialism, sectional
ism, Republicanisn, Democracy, female
suffrage, Prohibition, Dingleyism, the
Klondike, all have vanished, submerged
In the abyss The republic Of Cuba. the
army Of Gomex. the starving reconcen-
trados the ostensible occasion of the
war, over whom 90 much eloquence was
wasted and SO many tears were shed,
are schoolboy's tale, no longer sub
jects of interest. or discussion. Probably
by this time they are all dead, victims
of Spanish cruelty and the pacific block
ade. Gomez is shadow and the repub-
lie dream.
In the place Of these, against the hori-
zon Of public thought, loom vague and
large the specters Of an Anglo-Saxon al
lance, Of international complications,
of the conquest Of the Philippines, of
the Nicaragua canal, of the empire Of
the Pacific, of the policy Of the tweh-
tieth century; all unconsidered 80 days
ago. 1t is like the box in the Arabian
Nights" drawn up by the fisherman in
his net, from which, when opened by
the magic key, emerges the genius in the
shape Of vapor, that soon took ON the
form Of q giant reaching to the zenith.
To the exulting enthusiasm that follow
ed Dewey's inspiring achievement at
Manila has succeeded the reaction Of
impatience and depression. Victory and
peace do not seem SO likely by midsum-
mer as they did about q month ago. For
bankrupt and senile nation Spain has
so far shown herself TO be no despicable
antagonist. The race has been to tho
swift and the battle to the strong. But
though all that was anticipated has not
been accomplished, there is encourage
ment in the reflection that no nation
ever did so much in 80 short a space be-
fore.
The vast appropriations made by con-
gress have shown to the world our mex
haustible resources. We are not war
like people, but Of the 125, 900 volun-
teers called for April 90 more than
10000 have been mustered and are
now in camps Of instruction or march
ing to the front. No more effective
army has ever been assembled, and they
have been mobilized and concentrated
wish rapidity and safety unknown in
military operations before. Rations,
stores, supplies, munitions and equip
ment have been accumulated with in
credible activity and ample provision
made for the future.
Upon the seas we have assembled
magnificent fleets, tho ornaments that
thunder strike the walls of rock built
cities, making nations quake and mon
archs tremble In their capitals.
And, best of all, the people are united,
patriotic, with fixed purpose and un-
daunted resolution, animated with the
spirit that has inspired the heroes Of
every history and the martyrs Of every
religion. Possibly Dewey's success has
made the people unjust in their estimate
of naval operations in Cuban waters.
He set up ON unapproachable standard.
His example will be the despax Of all
rivals. His feat cannot be repeated, but
to outsiders and laymen it seems that
Cervera has made monkeys of Schley
and Sampson either by superior subtlety
in maneuvers and stratagem or through
the intervention Of the mysterious "war
board, which sits daily In an upper
room in the granite pile at Seventeenth
street in Washington with maps and
charts and scales and compasses and red
and black pins to guide the whirlwind
and direct the storm. 1t is easy to criti-
else and cheap to cavil, but with the
best disposition it is difficult to avoid a
suspicion that the war board is an ex-
crescence. Theories and problems and
calculations are we'll enough in their
way, but war is not an exact science,
and the power to compose learned treat
Uses does not necessarily imply the power
to plan successful campaigns. Caesar
was one of the few who have been
equally great with the sword and the
pen.
Dewey disposed of the Asiatic feet
without the assistance Of the war board.
Quite likely the Atlantic problem was
different, but in these waters the Span
ish fiotilla has been in more widely sep
arated places at the same time for
longer period than any expedition since
the Argonaut sailed to Colchis for the
golden fleece As stereopticon per-
formapce, with dissolving views, on the
ocean ae m ocrocy, f;fti,,cy frcy,, Cad;1 a.,