The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-10
WAR TALK NOT RAMPANT.
Bulletin Board Crowds Small Com
pared with Election Times.


'I have been entirely in sympathy with
the Morning News in the conservative
course which it has pursued in regard to
the Spanish imbroglio" said Mayor Mel
drtrn. VIXEN the subject was incidentally
mentioned in the course of conversation
yesterday. "War is 10 be avoided except
as a last resort believe this TO be the
sentiment OF the great majority of our
people, both in the city and in the coun-
try. l was in Tattrall county recently
upon some legal business and sounded
the people whom 1 met to some extent
upon this subject. The opposition to war
was almost unanimous. Yet, if there be
war 1 know that Chatham county and
Tattnan county and the other counties
of our section and doubtless of the whole
state will furnish their full complement
of men and more to the service of the
government"
Without intending any self-praise the
statement made by Mayor Meldrim in his
opening remark viii doubtless be endorsed
by at least % per cent. of the business
men and the community generally. In
fact, practically the same statement has
been made by numbers of business men
already. If there is any war sentiment in
Savannah it has failed to develop itself
sufficiently to make it's presence known.
There are a number of people who believe
that interference by the United States in
Cuba is justified and that the position
assumed by the President should be main
tanned at any cost. even that of war.
Peace without honor has no advocates in
savannah, but peace with honor has
many, and it is the generally expressed
desire that an honorable peace may be
effected.
President Mckinley has doubtless re-
| ceived more approval for his conservative
| course on the Cuban question than any
| Republican President ever received in Sa-
| vannah on any question 1t is true that
there are some who think the President
is too conservative and too DESTROYS of de-
| lay, and that more might be accomplish
| ed by bold stand, but judging by the
present situation the President has been
| sufficiently bold to satisfy even the lin
goes.
The Morning News bulletin boards give
| a pretty fair idea of she feeling here. II
| there were a desire for war the boards
would be thronged with an eager crowd
! grasping at every piece of news and en-
thusastic at every indication of aggres-
| slYeness on the part of this government
| On the contrary the crowds have beer
| small and administrative. Until recently
| more than half Of those who stood around
| the bulletin boards have been negroes
| and a percentage of the white has beer
| those who had nothing better to do In
| the last day or two more interest has beer
! manifested. Business men occasionally
stop al the boards and study the latest
| dispatches. But there Is no excitement
! ana no enthusiasm. The crowds are Sc.
| rious and take the news seriously
or course it will take only a day atc
change all this. A declaration of war OF
| the certainty of an impending declara.
ton and ian immediate outburst of the
war will follow. The suspense will be
over Men who a day before counse7et
against war will Immediately become
strongly warlike. There will be but one
voice and that voice for war. Savannah
will do her fun duty
Col w. w. Gordon returned to the cit,
| yesterday, after an absence of severa
days in Atlanta, where he attended tn.
meeting of the military advisory board
| and in Gainesville.
Col. Gordon had nothing to add to wha
has already been published concerning tn,
meeting of the advisory board. He ha.
received no iptimatcn as to what action
Gov. Atkinson will take in reference t,
the recommendations of the board in ia
vor of the immediate equipment of tn
state troops.
Like other military men. Col. Gordon |
seriously and closely watching the situa
ton between this country and Spain. 9TH
prospect is very serious one" he said
but L trust that war will be averted."