The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-08
New York HeraId.)

tNew 1OTk dSTafu-t
The Washington news means that
peace has been torn from her last en-
brace and that Spain admits no alter
native but war.
Well, Wat be il then
We have deemed this war sentiment
artificial, much OF It the outcome OF
an unscrupufous propaganda-polFl-
clans who would cripple the admins
tration. juntas who have abused n
hospitality Of our flag. shameless jour
nalists who nave dishOnored the free
dom of the press, adventurers to whom
the war is the gamblers chance, mer-
cenaries Of contracts, supplies and pri-
watering.
Deplore this Is we may, our duty
now is not with the auseS but with the
conduct and consequences Of war. 1t
Is no longer the time for debate, but
for action.
1t is a war for which Spain is to
blame.
There has been no time when Spain,
by looking truth in the face and tax
ing advice as to Cuban rule. could not
have made this war impossible. She
| has been headStrong even as Pharoah,
and would not let the people go. Gu
ban misrule makes his a war OF hu-
mainly. Every nefghborly suggestion
to Spain, the advice of Grant and
Cleveland and Mckinley, has been
spurned until patience was mistaken
for weakness and friendship threaten
ed to become the ~condOrement OF crime.
It must not be a mercenery a
| The sword must not be drawn in the
interest of syndicateS, banking houses
and the holders of Spanish or Cuban
bonds. There was a time when peace
might lave had a price. Spain has
thrown that chance away. There would
be no credit in a Syndicated war, no
honor in a Shylock peace.
The wal must be swift and decisive.
There is no horror in war like that of
a protracted, ~irresolute campaign. For
| the sake of peace We must be unSpar-
| ing in our conflict. The relief of Cuba
should be our first duty. Porto Rico
would be a West Indian point of van
tage. Sooner or later, It the end that
no enemy may have a base of supplies
contiguous to Dur shores, these islands
on the Atlantic and Mexican seas must
be under the protectorate of the Unit
ed States. The Philippines would give
US a potent voice in that mighty drama
of the East now pressing to a consum-
nation . Heavy blows could be struck
in the Mediterranean. With the excep-
ton of Cadiz, all Spanish towns are
vulnerable, while Barcelona is especial
ly at u mercy. This can fbe left to the
skill Of our accomplished officers, with
the injunction that war is humane
when fought to a swift, relentless con
clusion.
There car be no peace without the
independence of Cuba.
1t is best that all men should be free.
Even so hath the Lord appointed. A
free Cuba under our moral protecto-
rate would be another Holland or Bel
gium. Freed from the d~eadening in
f1uences of Spanish rule, freedom would
mean new life to Cuba. Not alone
would its enfranchisement be our con-
tribution to universal peace, but it
would be an end of the Cuban ques-
ton, which for generations has been
a distress to the United States.
We have exhausted diplomacy in the
hope of peace, and we now accept the
arbitrament of war. Spain devolves
upon us his duty. The u might
have passed away could common sense
and reason have been heard. 1t might
even pass were headstrong, bel
lfgerent Spain to hearken to the voice
of wisdom. She prefers war. War he
it, hen We draw the stainless sword.
Unstained it Will return to it's scab-
bard. The president will not fail. Be
hind the president are our lives, our
fortunes and our sacred honor.