The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-06

China and is not open for European
colonization or conquest. While we pre-
fer trade to fighting, while in time of
peace we rather exaggerate our peace
fulness, yet when war comes no people
set closer or quicker together than
Americans-and there again, it is be-
cause each man feels that he is part of
the government, and he has a personal
interest in upholding it.
1t may be observed that Uncle SANS
navy while rather small in comparison
is mostly composed of modern ships of
the best types with heavy batteries of the
finest guns. Some foreign navies, whose
numbers exceed, and whose guns are
more numerous, are after all not so
much superior.
1t has already been shown to some ex-
tent and later developments will further
prove, that not only are the United States
ships and guns superior to those of the
Spanish navy, ship for ship, but that the
officers and crews under the stars and
stripes are far superior in intelligence
and ability to those under the blood
streaked yellow flag Of Spain. AS we
have before said in these columns the
Spanish have kind of bravery; they are
ashamed to run, but they don't know
how to fight, and are easily whipped.
This statement is made from personal
observation, and a perusal of history,
particularly the war with Mexico and the
present war in Cuba between the insur-
gents and Spaniards.
1t is to be observed how badly we need
coaling stations. Commodore Dewey
had just two things to do. He had eth
er to sail for San Francisco or take Ma
nilla for coaling station. Fortunately
he had the ships and ability to do the
latter; but it is easy to see that he might
have not been so we'll prepared, and yet
if he had had an island mile square in
that locality he still might with much
smaller force, have been able to remain
on that side of the Pacific to protect our
interests, even if not able to take Manila;
but under neutrality laws no port is open
to beligerents, and that is why we need
a coaling station in far Pacific, why we
ought to have Hawaii, and why we
should buy the island of St. Thomas in
the West Indies. A slight change in the
strength OF the combatants and circum-
stances and the fleet of Commodore
Dewey might have become total loss
for the want OF place to go and stay.
The departure of troops from our own
North Dakota towns, to the encampment
at Fargo, brings grim war pretty close
to thetprairies, and the tears OF mothers,
wives and sweethearls, already prove the
sorrows war. 1t brings bac< the men,
ories of 1861, to the old soldiers, who
pray that these need be the only tears,
and that the boys all come back without
having to go to the front. But now as
then, it is the women who suffer most.
1t is not SO hard to fight when everybody
about you is fighting, where all is excite
ment, but to wait in silence, in the quiet
of home, for the boy that may never
come back, takes more enduring courage
than to carry gun on the battle field.
These "boys of ours" that have gone
to Fargo, get about SIG month and
board. They could get at least $40 to
work on farm. Havn't they made a
mistake? Or is it true that the question
OF pay has hardly entered into their cal
cuations? All, man who goes to war
for SIG month is certainly fool.
There's lots of easier and less dangerous
jobs at better wages.