The record-union., 1898-05-15


only bad manners, but absolute unfit
ness to be soldiers when they kick and
squirm and burn officials in effigy and
mutter and refuse to play at all if they
cannot play in their own especial back
yard. 1t is a great privilege to serve
in the splendid United States army.
no matter where soldier is. Each
mans valor and modest worth will be
duly recognized in any case. Let us
have no more kicking.
THE END NEAR.
Stockton Mail: Spain presents four
vulnerable points to the blows of our
navy-the Philippines, Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Canaries. The Philippines
are ours. 1t is a matter of few weeks,
perhaps days, until the Stars and
Stripes wave over Porto Rico and the
Canaries. There is no doubt that Samp-
son will smash Spain's last and most
powerful fleet whenever he sights it.
With both fleets and all the bases of
naval operations in our hands, Cuba
falls of it's own helplessness. Havana
has only to be bottled up by the block
aiding fleet until the stock of provisions
is gone and hunger will raise the white
flag.
The Island Of Cuba has been so thor
oughly devastated by the Spanish sol
diery that it cannot furnish the capi-
tai city food, even if there were no
American siege lines drawn about that
capital. The sea is the mouth through
which Hayanas food comes. And the
fleet has that mouth stopped tight
We may confidently look forward to
an early peace, If the signs fail not. 1t
is quite likely that the next Fourth of
July will see the war gloriously ended.
After that we will sit down to count
the cost and see how much of the spoil
it suits us to keep.
SPAIN'S PITIABLE PLIGHT.
Los Angeles Times: The condition of
Spain is indeed most pitiable. 1t would
excite the sympathy of the civilized
world, were 1t not for the fact that the
civilized world we'll knows that Spain
is not deserving of sympathy. For CEN
turies she has been sowing the wind,
and it is not surprising that she is
reaping the whirlwind. 1t is rather a
cause for wonder that the inevitable
punishment for her misdeeds has not
come sooner.
The fact that Spain is confronted
by foe which is in every essential
respect her master is not the great
est factor of her humiliation, disgrace
and weakness. The most serious men
ace to Spain is internal, rather than ex-
ternal Her most dangerous enemies
are not the foes arrayed against her
in open hostility. They are her own
people, who are raising the banner of
revolution at a time when their coun-
try is at war with a powerful nation.
REMEMBERED THE MAINE.
Alameda Argus: Admiral Dewey and
his brave men remembered the
Maine" It was the first formal remem-
brance that this country has manifest
ed, but it was not the last The Maine
is likely to be remembered" till Spain
is forgotten-at least until it disappears
as a nation and a power worth bother
ing about. 1t was a most unfortunate
thing for Spain when its cut-t throat dis
position was manifest in the sinking OF
the Maine in a time Of peace, with her
266 brave officers and sailors. There
are officers and sailors left, and every
one of these is keyed up to a pitch
highly dangerous to Spaniards by the
slogan, Remember the Maine."
COULD NOW QUIT.
Chico Enterprise: Spain still has
ships and guns, but the loss of her
Asiatic squadron and the fall of Ma
nila should impress upon her Govern
ment and people the uselessness of con-
tinuing the war. She has made a good
stand. Her courage has been demon
strated, If that was necessary, and her
honor" vindicated. She could with
draw from Cuba now, conscious that
she had made the best of a bad cause
by backing her protests with arms
NO BAD EFFECT ON BUSINESS.
Eureka Californian: Much of the
popular apprehension that war with
Spain would adversely affect business
seems baseless. s. M. Nickerson, Pres
ident of the First National Bank of
Chicago, declares business on so firm
foundation and industrial and com
mercial conditions so greatly improved
that a war at sea, such as this must
necessarily be, could have. in checking
the new era Of prosperity, no effect
whatever. He points out that for Spain
to land troops upon American soil
would be simply impossible He doubts
whether the multiplicity and gravity
of. its other duties will allow the Span
ish navy time and opportunity to inf1ict
damage upon our coast cities. He ap-
prehends that nothing in the power of
Spain to do can interfere with what
ever commerce we.may carry on in bot
toms flying the English or other foreign
flag. Not only would England permit
no interference with her carrying trade.
Too well established is the law of neu-
trality between nations to permit it,
COMMENDABLE CAUTION.
Woodland Democrat: Many people
have been wondering, ourselves among
the number. why the President long
age did not direct SIMPSONS fleet 10 de-
stroy the Notifications at Havana Now
comes a piece of information which. if
true, shows that the Administration
acted wisely In not ordering this attack
until there has first been a decisive
naval engagement between the COM
bined fleets Of Sampson and Schley and
the Spanish fleet that has been an
chored at the Cape Verde Islands.
It is said that in the Santa Clara bat
terry at Havana there are two thirteen
inch Krupp guns and two twelve-inch
Armstrong guns. These are among the
most formidable weapons in the world.
and might do great damage to the ships
of Simpsons fleet If any of them should
get in range. OF course Simpsons fleet
also carries some very heavy arma-
ment, but a chance shot might give
Spain temporary supremacy on the
seas.
SPANISH METHOD.
Alameda Encinal: Reports from Cuba
are to the effect that the Spaniards con-
tinue their usual unvivilized methods