The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-23
The War SPIRIT.

Editor Of The Times:
Slr'-Nhl you not permit a word Of pro-
test against the tone OF the leading edito-
RAJ III your issue OF the -lst Instant In
answer 10 your positive declaration that
there Is no war spirit IN Virginia" II
might he equally convincing to assert that
you are misinformed and that there is a
decided war spirit in this State. Ger
fanny IN SO far rs the city OF Richmond
Is concerned the temptation 20 DEM your
unsupported statement is well nigh ire
sistible, and az least n can be asserted
mat the writer's experience has been very
inherent from that Of those whose duty
II is 10 find out the news FOR he verify
believes that nine out Of every ten men
IN thls city have for weeks past felt that
war between Spain and the United states
was inevitable and that this country's
course has been an that justice and hu-
manity could dictate.
There may be some few OF the volun-
teer soldiery I'm this State who will seek
TO avail themselves OF their supposed
statutory right TO refuse 10 go with their
commands beyond the limits of the United
States, but 20 their infinite credit be it
said, the great majority of them have
agreed 20 do their duty and 90 wherever
the military authorities shall order them.
1 must confess 20 some surprise at the
evident approval With which YOU quote
your liarrisOnburg correspondent that
TO say we intervene for the sake Of hui
manity in behalf Of the starving Cubans
Is TO forget the many valuable lives that
will be lost and immense treasure sunk
before peace comes again" Since when
have Nirginians counted the cost, wheth-
or it be in treasure or in lives when hui
manity calls2
And does not humanity cali aloud IN
behalf Of the 100000 helpless women and
children and non-cOmbatanls who have
been starved and butchered and slain by
their cruel Spanish tyrants In tho past
four years?
This statement Is not imaginative It IS
the condensed result OF conservative IN
vestigation and cold blooded official re-
ports.
But our demand has been "peremptory"
you say and brings an instantaneous
crisis, which even If successful. after the
design and contemplation OF those who
passed II. Will place the United States
I'm the position Of o truculent bully who
would admit OF nothing except obedience
to his own dictum. and who was both
ignorant Of and Indifferent 10 the rights
OF others" Have not the last admins
tratiOn and the present one devoted three
years to the task Of harmonizing our
duty 20 the suffering Cubans and our con-
siderate regard for the domestic troubles
Of a uominally friendly nation? Could
diplomacy go further? How many years
longer should We have waited before
final demand which would not be con-
sidered too 'peremptOry?'
And what OF the Maine and Its 800
sleeping sailors "slain by foes deceit2'
Was their murder 20 90 unayensed? Was
not six weeks Of patient waiting and
rigid investigation long enough TO sac
isfy the demands OF conservatism
How many more warships should we
have suffered to be treacherously de-
stroyed how many more of our gallant
sailors should we have allowed TO re
murdered. before raising our strong
hand TO punish the mIrcerers and pro-
tect the remainder OF our navy?
II will not do 20 say the crime IS not
proven. That the Maine was blown up
by a submarine mine has been 1udicially
determined beyond all doubt. and no one
learned in the law OF nations will deny
that the responsibility IS upon the nation
in whose harbor the crime was commit
ted. The obligation was upon Spain to
show clean hands 10 punish the offender
and 10 offer reparatiOn and she has done
neither. In the eyes OF the world she IS
guilty Of this awful crime against hui
manity and punishment should be swift
and sure.
Richmond. Va, April q. 1893.