Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-26
SATURDAY.. FEBRUARY 26, 1898.
MORGAN's CONSERVATISM.

We have. and for good reasons. we
think, been disposed TO regard Senator
Morgan, Of Alabama as decided jingo.
He has been, and is still, one Of the most
intense Cuban sympathizers in the coun-
try, and has, by speech and resolution,
been ia the forefront of those who have
advocated a more aggressive and pro-
nounced Cuban policy than the govern
ment has up TO this time pursued. In
deed. he has been recognized as the
leader of the anti-administratiOn party
on this issue. and was the author of a
joint resolution which passed the Senate
on May 20, 1887, declaring that a condi-
ton Of public war exists between the
Government Of Spain and the govern
ment proclaimed and for some time main
tanned by force of arms by the peopl, Il
Cuba. and that the United States of
America shall maintain a strict neutrality
between the contendng Powers, accord
ing to each all the rights Of belligerents
in the ports and territory OF the United
States"
we are. therefore, particularly pleased
To find that in the present excitement
and crisis Mr.. Morgan is counselling con-
servatism,
Wednesday, when the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill came up IN
the Senate. Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska,
offered as an amendment to II the above
belIigerency resolution, which had a few
lays before been reported unfavorably
by the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations. In so doing, the Senator from
Nebraska not only emphasized the fact
that his proposed amendment was San
exact and literal copy" of the Morgan
resolution, but claimed that it was
the substance, practically, of two reso-
lutions passed by the Senate during the
Fifty-fourth Congress. He then pro-
ceeded to criticise severely the commit
tees report.
Nr. Morgan, in reply. contended that
the resolution re-enacted now and put
upon an appropriation bill under the ex-
listing circumstances might very we'll be
interpreted by Spain as being a declara-
ton OF war. AT the time, he continued.
that the Senate passed the same resolu-
ton in substance in the Fifty-fourth
Congress. and at the time it passed the
resolution in identical terms in May Of
last year. the circumstances attending
the relations between Spain and the
United states were very different from
what they are to-day. The temper of the
people of both governments was, he ar
gued very different from what it is at
present. The resolutions adopted in the
FIfty-fourth Congress. and that of May
last, were not belligerent resolutions, so
far as we were concerned. They indicated
no spirit OF hostility toward the Spanish
people. They constituted an act that
any nation had a right to perform with
out giving any umbrage or offence to the
nation I'm reference 20 whom the declara-
ton was made.
',nr. Morgan further stated that the
declaration made on 9th occasions. was
not a declaration tcrvention, but a
declaration that We syald not intervene,
ana peace measure instead OF war
measure. our repetition, at this juno
ture. OF the resolution passed May 20.
lsyl would.he held "be justly considered
by spain as an unfriendly act, and that
is what il would mean"
whne experience does not sustain Mr..
Morgan's position regarding the past ac-
ton OF the Senate. seeing that that ac-
ton further strained our relations witn
rne siadrid Government for the time be-
ing. and caused great and dangerous ex-
citement. both in this country and in !
spain. certain II IS that wisdom sus-
tasns him as for the rest Mr.. Morgan /
did not 20 too far in asserting that the \
re-nn9ctmeDt Of his resolution under |
prosent conditions might ''mean war" I
t,isoucstfcnably. it would be little less
tnan'a challenge to war.
shooid conditions and complications
arissa that would render war necessary
70 the preservation OF our honor and
prestige. we must not count the cost. But
thfse conditions and complications have
pot'yct arisen In their absence, we may
well count costs, 10 the end that we do
rot precipitate hostilities un3ustinablv.
We may well ask. Have those who have
been carried away By the rantlngs Of
the jingoes, the Dlatherskitcs, and fhe
ife-eaters. given serious thought to what
war would mcan?' TO say nothing Of
fbe sacrifice OF life. Il would mean nm
settlement Of values general business
unrest, and thorough Generalization OF
our eommefee. In view OF the pension