New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
A D4NGEROrS RISK.

II is to be feared that the exceedingly able
and energetic manner in which the newspapers
intrusted with the National honor have conduct
cd the war up 10 the present time may lead 10
overconhdence on the part OF the seventy mill
ion American citizens who catch these news
papers on the fly as they come from the press
and read them while they are hot. Some folks
may say. Of course, that there IS no war. But
some folks don't know a war when they see IT,.
II we haven't had war Of the most devastating
character and the bloodiest red for the last SIX
weeks we haven't had anything II it isn't
war that we have been enjoying ut the COM
parativey low price OF twenty -four pages for a
cent then nothing is war: all the verities have
vanished; truth crushed 10 earth under job type
six inches deep cannot rise again. And Error
clad IN the most gorgeous garb Of the space
writer's opulcnt vocabulary, instead Of writing
and dying, Just stalks abroad with several brass
bands In front Of n procession OF her wor-
shippers
War. or course It's war. II II isn't war
then the newspapers which have consented In
the most selfsacrifcing way to become the GUS
tOdans Of the Nationa, honor have been emit
ting lies at the rate Of about n million n min
ute and that Is simply inconceivable. That IS
10 say, It was inconcevable before the posi-
blty Of Issuing and selling for cash million
| newspapers a minute had been demonstrated
by the actual aflidavits Of well-known votarcs
Of truth But-of course-since then Still
such an amount of lying Is hardly probable. 1t
| must be that we are in the midst Of war Two
wars In fact For what makes the achieve
ments OF these newspapers most notable IS
| that they have carried on war against Spain
| and against this Government at the same time.
! Both wars have been handled with consummate
| skill, but Of the two the war against this Gov
| ernmcnt in tho person Of the President has
| been prosecuted with the heavier verbal ord
| nance and the more rapid-fring ard longer
range vocabulary. For the war with Spain II
has only been necessary up to date to call into
action language suitable for the characterize
ton Of hghhanded tyranny. cold-blooded ,rli-
| tally and insidlous treachcry. The war with
this Government called for more vigorous cpl
thets The President has consequently been
assaed with great eloquence for his cow
nrdice, his poltroonery and his subservieucy to
the Money Power.
The war with Spain. which has been con-
Quoted on the part Of that Government by cor
tain newspapers in Madrid and Havana with
as much vigor as the limited resources Of the
Spanish language would permit, and replied to
by our newspapers out OF the unparalleled rich
ness Of our own mother tongue has been en-
tlrely satisfactory In It's results 10 our side. No
dslnterested neutral spectator can read what
has been said on both sides without reaching
the conclusion that in the matter of viupera-
ton which has been the essence OF the con-
fct our newspapers are at this date several
hucklebcrries ahead and rapidly gaining The
war with our Government is slill on. and tie
newspapers engaged in II prosecuting It
with such uncommon ardor that the President
against whom IL is directed. has not yet opened
his mouth In reply. So soon as the issue can
be made plain to the American people, and the