The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-20
NATIONAL HONOR.

NATIONAL HONOR.
Ancnt an article I'm these columns yes
terday on Lovers OF Prosperity" we
| clip the following from the editorial col
umns OF the Louisville Dispatch, the or
gan in Kentucky Of the Free Siler party;
In the campaign OF 1896 when the
/ flag OF the country was prosttuted 10
the promotion of the selfish purposes
OF political faction, and TO class
! then seeking 10 strengthen its hold on
the powers OF the Government, the honor
OF the country was everything. Now TINS
same class asks. What is the loss Of 20
lives compared with the utter demoraliza-
ion OF business and depreciation In Nalue
OF every branch OF commerce. And II
might be added, What Is the honor or the
country when put In the balances against
the financial interests OF those who nave
managed to have absorbed the results
OF other mems labOr?' Nobody IS sur
prised at the information from Wash
ihgton that immense pressure is being
brought by the money power 10 prevent
the administration from taking any de-
cisive action i'm behalf Of Cuba, or to re-
sent the insults and Outrages which have
been heaped upon this country by Spain
And II might well be replied that in
the campaign OF 1896. when all other ques-
lions were subordnated 10 that Of free
coinage. the prosperity of the country
with the Louisville Dispatch and its as
sociates was everything. In ain did the
advocates of sound money plead for ma
tional honor and the maintenance Of ma
tional credit: the reply came that national
prosperity was what the silverites de-
L ff1lN
through the free coinage Of silver. Now
from the same source comes the cry
of national honor and war with Spain
and TO the dogs with prosperity. 1t is a
strange thing, truly. that those who in
1896 were 20 clamorous for the national
welfare should now be so utterly ndiffer-
ent 10 IT,
But is the charge against the admins
tration at Washington sustained 1t is
not our purpose to pose as champion Of
the Mckinley administration. but, in all
fairness. we must say that the President
has acted with becoming dignity and con-
servatism, and yet with courage, and
with entire respect. so far as the public
knows to the contrary, to the honor Of
the nation. There is absolutely no ground
whatever for the charge either that the
"money power has attempted to infiu-
ence the President, or that he has been
influenced in the slightest degree by any
consideration, save the good of the nation.
He has been on the qui vive from the
beginning. and has not relaxed his ener-
gies to put the country in readiness for
war, If war be necessary. Yet the Presi-
dent has respect, and it is entirely proper
that he should have respect, to the mate
rial welfare Of the country. and he will
not, we believe, plunge this country into
mortal combat with Spain If, IN honor,
such war can be averted.
But what is this national honor about
which so much is now being said? And
what. pray, is necessary to vindicate the
honor of the country and to establish 1t
among the nations of the earth?
NO American capable Of sober rehec-
ton" says Carl Schurz. can seriously
hold the belief that considerations Of ma
tional honor would require. or even that
its moral dignity would permit. this great
nations Of the world with a chip on its
shoulder, shaking It's fist under every
bOdy's nose and telling the world on
every possible occasion that we can
whip any Power that might choose TO
resent this, and that we would be rather
glad of an opportunity for doing so. \
private individual taking such an attitude
would certainly not be called a gentleman.
He would be considered a vulgar bully.
Z ,.ff ~.f,r Tool
he would be feared by some. esteemed by
nobody, and heartily detested as public
nuisance by the whole decent part OF the
community. A nation playing such role
would deserey and meet with the same
judgment in the family Of sivilized ma
tions, ana at the same time II would cul-
tivate within itself those forces Of evil
which are always developed by perver-
sion of the sense of honor, and the conse-
quent loss of true moral dignity and of
genuine self-respect.
Neither would any American having
the honor of the country sincerely at
heart find IL compatible with the true
moral dignity of this great republic that
the American people should always be
nervously on the lookout for something
to offend or affront It. and eager to con-
strue as grievous injury or a deadly in
suit anything in the slightest degree ca
pdDle OF an unpleasant Interpretation, in
order TO avenge It. He would remember
the common experience OF private life
that the honor OF the hero" Of many
so-called affairs OF honor" the ever
ready duellist is apt TO be not the genuine
article and that few things are more
derogatory TO the character Of a gentle
man than propensity to pick unneces-
sary quarrels-that is. quarrels which
might honorably be avoided"
That is a gentlemans view OF national
honor and the correct view. The United
states Is not bully, but a dignihed.
"gentlemanly" nation. and the present
administration will. We doubt not. fully
maintain the country's good name
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