The record-union., 1898-03-23

IN the ndnQS or the HreSideut, 10 De uSSA
at his discretion, has convinced Spain
that the United States is not buffer
The unanimity with which the leading
nations of the world, with one or two ex-
ceptions, have approved the attitude or
this nation and the policy of the Admin
istration since the Maine disaster, has
shown the Spanish Government that 1t
cannot hope for substantial help II 1t be-
gins war against this country. What
ever may be the external policy or
Spain, it cannot but know that opinion
is unit in expressing the belief that
the blowing up of the Maine was an act
Of treachery.
SMALL SOULS.
Alameda EncinaI: Some time ago
gentleman named Griffith made pres
ent to the city Of Los Angeles of 5000
acres of valuable land to be used
for park purposes. Now comes a lot OF
seventy nine newspaper scribblers and
abuse Griffith because he allowed or
wanted the city to stand the expense OF
drawing up and recording the deeds.
These little souled chaps never heard
anything about looking a gift horse in
the mouth, and in the schools where they
were educated the department of com
mon decency" was manifestly unknown
TO GIVE EN- BLUES.
Oakland Tribune: If it is really true
that Mckinley is figuring on war with
Spain, what a lot of hypocrisy there Is
about the tone of the official commune
cations between the two countries. For
instance, when on Saturday the new
Spanish Minister was presented to the
President, he conveyed the wishes Of
my august sovereign for your personal
happiness and for the prosperity of the
people of the United States" In re-
Spouse to which Mckinley requested the
Minister to state to the Queen Regent
my desire that happiness may be her
portion and that Spain and the Spanish
people may enjoy the blessings of peace
and prosperity" How do the yellow
journals that are shouting war like that
kind of talk-it is enough to give them
the blues
CUBAN DEVASTATION.
Tulare Register: The unutterable
devastation of Cuba by reason of the
war which Spain has waged with dew
ilish ferOcity can be understood when
it is brought to mind that as many
lives have already been sacrificed in
that little island as the Civil War cost
this country. The armies of the North
and South fighting for more than four
years lost in killed, deaths from wounds
and sickness only about 500, coo men,
and, according to estimates made and
reported generally, Cuba has already
lost that number of people by the rifle,
bomb, machete or starvation and dis
ease, chiefly the latter. Nothing could
be more inhuman and less in accord
with the principles of civilized warfare.
WHAT WASHINGTON SAID.
Los Angeles Times: The following
passage, which occurs in Washington's
farewell address, is about as applicable
to present conditions as it was to those
which existed at the time it was deliv-
cred:
"One method of preserving the pub
lie credit is to use it as sparingly as
possible, avoiding occasions of expense
by cultivating peace, but remembering
also that timely disbursements to pre-
pare for danger frequently prevent
much heavier disbursements to repel
! it."
ALL ONE.
Suffer Farmer The United States is
like big family that, while discordant
at times, is drawn closer together when
danger threatens. The present war
scare has had the effect of arousing pat
riotism throughout the nation, and mill
ions of men are ready to stand shoulder
to shoulder in defense of the honor of
the stars and stripes. 1t does the ma
ton good and makes her people better
citizens.
SOLD INTO SLAVERY
NaIInxr Tj1iOorS. Can o1Io11 tbinoC
be in a land dedicated to freedom? The
dispatches say that two negroes viii
be sold into slavery at the Courthouse
door in a town in Kentucky on Monday
next, the first in that section since 1863
The two negroes have been repeatedly
convicted of vagrancy, and the county
has advertised their services for sale
for the time of their conviction. The
purchaser must house and clothe them
and in return can use their services in
any manner he sees fit. We opine that
the State has no right to make such dis
position of her criminal element. 1t vio-
lates the idea of governmental paternity
and of human rights.
A DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
Los Angeles Herald: If there is any,
thing calculated to make an intelligent,
weary, it is the small bore attempt of
the Republican politicians and organs
to make political capital out of the fact
that the money was in the treasury to
meet the $50,OOO,000 appropriation for
the national defense They have tried
to make it appear that the surplus" at
present in Uncle Sans strong box was
the immediate and particular product
of the odious and inefficient Dingley law
Everybody who knows anything at all
about the national finances knows that
the present treasury reserve has not
been enhanced by the Dingley law.
which at it's best has produced a deficit
and which promises to continue produc-
ing deficit for the next year under the
most favorable conditions possible.
Everybody who knows anything about
the national finances knows that the
present large reserve was produced,
first by the sale of bonds under the
Cleveland Administration, and second,
by the sale of the Pacific railroads. The
Herald is not defending the Cleveland
bond issues by any means, but it is hon
est enough to admit that the money
that has just been appropriated for the
national defense was the product of that
function.
AN ABSURDITY.
Dixon Tribune: The latest absurdity
in connection with the Maine disaster
is that in the event the Board Of In
quiry finds Spain responsible for the
destruction of the battleship and the
death of $50 marines, and that the
demand of the United States Govern
ment for indemnity be met with re-
fusal, that the whole matter will be
gu hr1a TIED to arbitration We are not