The record-union., 1898-07-25

~ less than S2,UUW,DUO. Before Spain
,, is subdued-the aggregate will doubtless
| approximate the estimate of Senator
Hale, when the war revenue measure
| was pending, S700,O0O,eOO, or nearly
S10 a head for every man, woman and
| child in the country.
The law under which a volunteer
army of a quarter Of a million men
| has been assembled provides for it's
| reduction to a peace basis upon the
| close of hostilities; but when that law
was enacted the idea Of territorial ex-
pansion, with all that it comprehends
| in men and money, was scarcely more
! tangible, in the minds of our wisest
and most far seeing statesmen. than
| a dream. Were the war to end to-
morrow, it is not likely the Govern
ment would soon or before Congress
again meets, see its way clear to the
mastering out of single man from the
new army or navy.
LOST THEIR GRIP.
San Jose Mercury: The silver and
| paper money men in Congress who op-
posed the war revenue bill and the pop
ular loan have permanently lost .heir
grip, and they will give the Government
and the country no more trouble. The
/ Whites and Jones have been sized up
accurately by the people and have been
shorn of their power for harm.
A SHUDDER.
Alameda Argus: We shudder when
we think what the horrors of peace are
| likely to bring forth as to the big
dailies of San Francisco. Even now
when so much is doing in the way Of
warfare between nations and so many
| pages are necessary to confuse the
| public as to the real news, the journals
find time to discharge rapid firing mud
batteries at each other, causing terrific
bespattering and mighty odors. What
/ will it be when the war as to Spain is
over and nothing remains to these great
engines of wrath but to do each other
up? There will be such terrible times
to those who read that they will re-
gret that the more peaceful doings Of
Dewey and Sampson have come to an
end.
OBSCURATION.
| Stockton Independent: Senator Man
tie admits that the silver question will
| be practically obScured in the next
campaign by the determination of the
American people that none Of the con-
quered territory shall be released. He
is strongly in favor of the policy of
expansion. Senator Mantle did not
mention in his remarks that with the
obscuration of the silver issue many
who have thrived by its agitation
would also be obscured. He might
properly have disclosed this, for he was
not one of the original shouters.
/ INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Stockton Record: The initiative and
referendum, if not unworkable, will be
found to be clumsy method of ascer
| tanning the Will of the people in a
State the size of California. Besides,
it is superfluous. If legislative bodies
will not carry out their pledges a way
can be found to make them. Ostracism,
or in more common phrase, social and
| business boycott, can be resorted to,
| and if this be insufficient there is the
more drastic method of Judge Lynch
American statesmen God save the
mark are sui generis. Once in Office,
they represent nobody but them
| selves. In no country under heaven
are the peoples representatives as in
| solently independent as in the United
/ States. Some of them bold
ly disregard the wishes of their
constituents, but the more preferable
method is that of so framing an Act
that the courts will nullify it. Then
they can say to their constituents, 1--WE
did y6d BID, but mercenary court
knocked us out" Now there is but one
cure for dishonesty of this kind-the
penitentiary or the halter. When men
learn that they cannot betray a public
| trust except at the risk of premature
| Immortality, they will be careful The
men in politics for revenue only will
p
White pattern will elect to resign SOON
er than differ from their constituency.
THE SPANISH VAMPIRE.
Los Angeles Times: The gross dis
honesty and greed of the high Spanish
| officials have been as stab in the
back 20 the Spanish nation in the pres
ent war. Admiral Cervera, when ask
ed why the Colon did not make a show
and fight, said that she had none of
her big guns aboard.
Where We're they?" he was asked.
I'm Italy," said the Admiral, cor, per-
haps in the pockets of our Chief of Ord
| nance"
The gallant Admiral could not have
offered a more striking illustration Of
the methods that have been sapping
the financial life blood Of Spain and
her colonies. The same policy was pur-
sued in the Philippines. When the Viz
caya was in New York harbor last
| spring, the contractors for repairs and
| supplies We're told to double the price
of everything, in their bills. The Off
GERS Of the ship pocketed the difference.
Cerveras fleet was sacrificed to the
/ ambition of the war party at Madrid.
which is controlled by the representa-
| tives of the army. There was nothing
to be gained, so far as the Americans
were concerned; but there was one
chance in hundred that it might af-
ford an excuse for prolonging the war,
or, on the other hand, for the establish
ment Of military dictatorship. So the
useless sacrifice was made
A DAY OF RECKONING.
Redlands Facts: A day of reckoning
between the people and rulers Of Spain
| will surely come and it will be disas-
trous to those now in power. The CO.
lossal lies, which have been and are
daily told to keep the masses in ignor-
ance of the real situation and to make
them hate and fear our country and it's
citizens, will be chickens coming home
to roost" before long. Not only are
| they led to believe that defeats are
glorious victories, but such stories are
circulated that troops and common peo-
pie are impressed with the idea that to
| surrender or become our prisoners is
equivalent to being butchered like so