The record-union., 1898-07-16
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.

maXlmS or war is tnal an dtlSHipt "
overpower a central force by converg-
ing columns is almost always fatal to
the assailants"; the proposition holds
good to-day, that force in the center
by virtue of it's position has nearly
double the strength of the one on the
circumference. 1t seems to have been
the position of our army at Santiago,
and but for the navy General Shafter
would have had a hot box. Had the
conditions been reversed the Spaniards
would have been annihilated.
SUFFERING IN WAR.
Portland Oregonian: We hear good
deal about the suffering of the nom
combatants in Santiago. And siege, as
history tells US, has its horrors. But
keener suffering and more poignant
misery is that of which we do not hear
the thirst and pain of hundreds of our
wounded lying out in the blazing tropic
sun or drenched with the falling rain.
The agonies of the battle field after the
day is done have made men sick of war
who stood the carnage and shocks with
out f1inching. The seamy side of war
is not all with the vanQuished.
THIEvING CONTRACTORS.
lington is said to have hanged two or
three thieving contractors who swind-
led the English Government with poor
supplies. After that example there was
no further trouble in that direction.
There is no law to fit the case of the
rascally contractors in San Francisco
who have been palming off rotten uni
forms on the soldiers, but there can be
no question if a couple of them could
be hanged, as they deserve to be, there
would be a very sudden stop to such
sWindling in the future. Any man who
would take advantage Of the soldiers in
this way would sell his own fathers
corpse for coin. The Government ought
not to hesitate moment in exposing
tht 4 to the scorn of the public and
making them suffer financially, at least
Tor their mean dishonesty
THE RED CROSS.
Los Angeles Express: Next to the
valor of the soldiers we must admire
the noble work of the Red Cross So
ciety. Only the wounded soldier can
fully appreciate that work. We all
know, however, that its object is mer-
ciful devotion to humanity. and that the
purpose is pursued with Christian zeal
and fortitude. And while members of
the society are devoting themselves to
the good cause on the battlefield and in
hospital, much can be done at home to
aid them by furnishing means for en-
larging their field of usefulness.
A MISTAKE CORRECTED.
Placerville Democrat: Many people
believe that the United States has rec
1a ~
ban Republic, but such is not a fact.
The resolution of Congress simply rec
ognized the independence Of the Gu
bans. There Is said to be a Cuban
Republic, and it has adopted a Con-
stitution and elected or appointed off,
GERS, but it has not received, recogni-
ton by Congress or the President
When the time arrives the President
will issue a proclamation Of recogni-
ton and send an American ambassador
to that country.
RICH AND POOR.
Pasadena News: Now what do we
see when the test comes? We see the
poor and the rich, those comfortably
off and others a little better fixed than
they, all donning the uniform of the
United States and rushing to the de-
fense of the country and f1ag-Han-
ford Sentinel
Yes that antagonism against the rich
and the assertion that they are so
wrapped up in their dollars that there
is no patriotism in their souls is being
cleared up when young men like Ham
ilton Fish, Jr., Of New York City fall
at the head of their company in behalf
of the old flag. Under the baptism of
fire, shot and shell men from Wall
street and the Bowery drink out of
the same canteen.
COMMERCIAL EXPANSION
Fresno Republican: So far in the
history of the United States, foreign
commerce has been to some extent
incidental; we have necessarily had a
considerable foreign trade, but our
main effort has been directed to the
development of home market for
home products. Far-seeing men have
long known that this policy could not
be permanent, and many have there
fore regarded a protective tariff as
only a temporary expedient. A few,
and most clearly the late James G.
Blaine, saw that we might profit by
the experience of England in develop
ing foreign commerce without departing
essentially from our established policy
Of encouraging home industries. When
Mr.. Blaine added the reciprocity idea
to the Republican principle of protec-
ton, it was regarded by many as
merely a dodge to catch the votes of
low tariff men, while others looked up
on it as being, like the Pan-American
conference, the visionary scheme of an
enthusiast who saw too far into the
future to realize the present. Perhaps
to some extent it was the latter, but
events have moved SO fast as to bring
the distant vision into nearer reality.
The opening Of Asia, which began with
the Japan-C Chinese war, and the more
active interest Of the United States in
Oriental affairs, growing out of the
present war, make the development Of
Oriental trade an Immediately prac-
tical question.
Fortunately the climatic and indus
trial situation in these countries diff
fers so greatly from our own as to
furnish an ideal field for the application
of the principle of reciprocity, either
in it's original form or through special
treaties or colonial laws. What we can
produce to the best advantage they
can produce to least, and vice versa,
and a relaxation of trade restrictions
will therefore be of mutual advantage.
THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA.
Los Angeles Times: The United
States has pledged itself, so far as Con-
gress can pledge the nation. not to an
mex Cuba. Cuba will be free from
Spanish domain, and then, as soon as
the people are competent to establish