The herald., 1898-06-19
POLITICS AND WAR

Politicians are already speculating
upon the party advantages growing out
Of the present war. Our Republican
friends, especially, are very jublant over
the victory at the polls which they claim
must result to them from successful
war. They may be hoping in vain, and
instead of victory they may be treasuring
up a most successful licking. This war.
unlike that of the rebellion, is not between
different sections, but is against COM
mon enemy. The only advantage, there
fore, they can hope for in the present
war is by making brilliant campaign,
bringing it to a successful close and finally
settling the many questions which must
lrise upon the cessation of hostilities.
If our Republican friends are figuring
upon a brilliant campaign through the
lnstrumentality of the present admins
tration, they may be left in the lurch. If
the present administration has shown any
brilliancy it has not been discovered.
Admiral Dewey has done some good fight
ing at Manila, but this, as several bave
already suggested, was because heVcut
the cable, finished his job and then in
formed the board of strategy what he had
done. This peaceful board must have
been greatly surprised at Dewey's rash
performances. This administration may
attempt to share with Dewey a part of
the glory of his well-planned and decisive
victory over the Spanish, but nearly
everybody believes that if the admins
tration had been managing the details of
the Manila affair, Deweys squadron
would still be maintaining a peaceful
blockade or would have drifted ashori
somewhere on the Asiatic coast for the
want of coal.
Coming nearer home, what shall be
said of the conduct of the war in and about
Cuba? Cuba lies within few miles of,
our shores. For six weeks prior to the
formal declaration of war it was known
that war was inevitable. This time was
or could have been utilized for necessary
preparation. If it was utilized for prep
aration, then the administratio ought
II l &
campaign, and if preparation was not be-
gun, and continued during this time, then
the administration stands self-con-
1emned
This war was brought about for the
purpose of freeing the Cubans Cuba is
Ind must be the seat of war. One of the
ways to free the Cubans is to gain foot
nold upon Cuban soil and then to drive
but the Spanish. Another is to block
ade and starve the Spanish. The
after seems to be the policy
Of the administration, and if it con-
.inues this policy much longer, it will
have the campaign advantage of freeing
the Cubans by starving them also If the
administration is proceeding on this the
Dry of war for campaign purposes, it is
welcome to ali the glory it can get out:
of it,
But now suppose that, instead of the
starvation process, the board of peaceful
strategy had discovered what any citizen
already knows, and knew three months
ago, that the United States forces must
at some time capture one of the harbors
of Cuba as base of operations for the
Invasion of Cuba. The wise board of
strategy has kindly waited some two
months before attempting to move in
this direction, and of course the Spanish
have fortified the very places we now
want to capture.
Dewey, 5000 miles from home and of
course 5000 from base of supplies. with
half dozen unarmored ships. in a min. d
harbor between strongly fortified forts.
engaged the Spanish fleet and annihilatud
t, and now holds the key to tire situation
the Philippines. This was done within
iix days after the declaration of war.
The administration and the board of
strategy, within seventy-five miles Of the
.nemy's coast. having at their command
me hundred fighting craft of all kinds,
rom Ihe battlcship to the unarmored
ruiser. and two months after the dccla-