The herald., 1898-03-20
Is 1T DONE TO FRIGHTENP

Almost daily there are dispatches on
the attitude of European nations in the
threatened imbroglio between this coun-
try and Spain. We are told what Aus
tria, France, Germany, Russia, and
even Great Britain, are going to do
There have been dispatches from which
1t may be inferred that all European
nations are against us and are about to
mobilize their armies and navies to help
Spain. If the dispatches do not go as
far as that, they convey the impression
that European sympathies are adverse
to this country.
Why Is all this stuff dinged into our
Pile? They have made it known through
out our entire history that the more
formidable the enemy the more patri
otic, courageous and energetic they be-
come. If the cause is just they do not
stop to count the foe. They are not
stupid, nor ignorant of facts and condi-
tions.
No doubt there is a sympathy on the
part Of Austria with Spain. Ever since
Charles V the blood of the Hapsburgs
has flowed in the veins of Spanish kings
except Joseph Bonaparte; the present
boy king is partly of Austrian lineage.
But Austria has her hands full a home,
in the strifes between Germans, Hun
garians, Czechs and the other nineteen
factions of her conglomerated popula-
ton. Austria, too, is almost as bank
rupt as Spain.
That French capitalists hold a large
number of Spanish bonds is no doubt
true, and they want to get their money
But the French government is repub-
lican, and the French people would never
tolerate war to support monarchical
and oppressive rule Of any people.
Germany is disgruntled by our tariff
legislation, especially by that feature
Of the Dingley law which increases the
duty on German sugar to the extent
that Germany pays a bounty on that
which her people produce for exporta-
tion. A war on the part of that coun-
try to perpetuate Spain's oppressive and
popular and would exacerbate the spirit
which in that empire is agitating for
larger liberties for the people
Russia has been our consistent and
continuous friend, and has schemes of
her own in other than European lands.
1t would do her no good to assist Spain
to retain her plundered dependencies.
Great Britain has endless complica-
tions and her true interest is to remain
at peace with us.
The sensational dispatches in regard
to the attitude of the great European
nations are manufactured for a pur-
pose; not to frighten the American peo-
pie, but the American president. They
proceed from bondholders and stock
jobbers. Wall street is alarmed. because
business has slackened and securities
have fallen in price in consequence of
the war furry. They know the oblipa-
tions Mckinley is under to the money
power in providing funds to secure his
election, and they are making use of
their leverage to control him. They
recognize lhat IL is an influence more
potential than the sentiment of the
people.
The president has announced that he
will not wage an "unholy war" 1t is in
evidence that he may be in a frame of
mind to be pulled down. Though he has
displayed energy in preparations for
war, there is a lurking feeling that il
has been done as a bluff and for the
purpose of securing diplomatic ad-
vantage.
An "unholy war. What war can be
holier than one in behalf of human lib