Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03
SEE THE OTHER SIDE.

A New York contemporary lays DOWN
| the law that I'm case OF war with Spain
which Heaven forefend, IL we can SECURE
peace with honor--we must make the con-
nlct sharp short. and decisive o"'
contemporary then proceeds to ten us
somewhat In detail. how we must go
about accomplishing this. Its plan oi
campaign is very pretty on paper but tna
carrying out Of it in some OF Its essehliai'
Is another question. We. OF course en-
terrain no doubt as 10 the final result OIL
n war between this country ana spain'
hut as TO the struggles consuming just
a little time off from business, we arc noi
sure. We might as well look certain cola
facts squarely in the face. 1t Is alto
eether probable that we could, win Dut
little difficulty, rush an army over 10
Cuba and make the Independence OF the
island an accomplished fact in very short
order. But would that end the war? 1t
does not by any means follow that such
would be the case.
II has been well said that Spain Is all
sting and no substance. AS she has little
or no commerce, she could not be mate
rally hurt by reprisals in that line. She
has few ports TO tempt bombardment'
and her seacoast is comparatively limited.
Although SPANS navy is about equal to
our own, we would have no fears touch
ing the outcome of a stand-up fight. We
do not question that we could make the
conflict sharp, short, and decisive in our
favor. should Spain prove sufficiently ac-
commodating TO invite conclusions in
single naval engagement or series Oh
naval engagements. But would sheF
There's the rub. We have 5000 miles OF
seacoast TO defend, and SPANS natural
tactics would be to strike and run-wou'd
be to worry us. We are told that we
have fast cruisers that would be con-
stantly on the watch for Spanish demon
STATIONS. True. But the ocean Is quite
exhaustive. and sometimes it is no easy
matter to locate the positions OF vesseIs
that are sailing il. During our CIVIL war
the United States navy was for a con-
siderable period sufficiently amused In
irving TO locate the Confederate cruiser
Alabama.
We have never wavered from the posi-
ton that should war be necessary to vim
dicate the honor of the United States ana
discharge our obligations to humanity
we must accept war at any cost. War
under those conditions would be duty
But it is a duty to keep to the front what
war might mean, whether Jusuhaple
or not. The plan Of campaign laid down
by our New York contemporary, and the
loose talk about wiping out Spain in
fifty" that has been INDUCED In by other
naners. are calculated to create a false
and unfortunate impression among the
thoughtess. They are calculated TO re-
cruit largely the army OF those VINO are
for war, anyhow. They are calculated 10
make greater fools than they otherwise
would be. of those who, in this crisis, are
being carried away by excitement ana
who. in default of having given the sub
iect a single sober thought anticipate war
with somewhat of the same feeling that
they would anticipate a grand spectacular
performance for the recreation OF the
great public. And the education OF any
considerable portion Of the people. up to
taking this View OF war, is to encourage
the politicians to bring on war for what
they can make out Of it politically
No. The question Of war Is terribly
serious one, and cannot be looked at too
seriously. 1t might be possible for Spain.
by guerilla tactics at sea, TO make the
conflict a decidedly long-drawn-out one,
It might be possible for her to deal what
shipping interest we have a blow from
which It would not recover for many
years. And the longer she could protract
the struggle the greater the burden OF
increased taxation that would be piled up
upon the masses in this country-and the
greater the business unrest and de-
moralization. All considerations inspire
us to hope that II the conflict comes, we
shall be able TO make it SHARP, short
and decisive" but it is well to know and
wise to weigh the possibilities on the
other side, and what they may bring to
us before our final triumph.