The Atlanta constitution., 1898-02-28
"FOR WHAT PR0F|TETH IT A MAN2'

The dispatches in the newspapers Thurs
day morning described the efforts of the
federal administration to settle its differ
ences with Spain, growing out Of the wreck
ing of the Maine, on a basis Of dollars and
cents. and those who are familiar with the
foreign policy-foreign III more ways than
one--which has domina ted this government
since James G. Blaine died. VIII not be in
ciined to doubt the accuracy of the news
conveyed. The death of Blaine is mention
ed in such connection only because he
was the last man in high public office 10
assert the visor and dignity of his govern
ment. which began with Washing ton. and
which Monroe. Jackson and Lincoln were
called upon to demonstrate during their
terms of office-a vigor and dignity which
has effectually disappeared since Grover
Cleveland and William Mckinley became
presidents of the United States
This is not lingo appeal. 1t is no. an
assault upon Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. McKin-
ley, or any of those who believe that il is
better to receive money than TO resent in
suit. 1t is an honest effort to reduce to
a common sense and mathematcally accu-
rate basis the policy already outlined by
our administration. For. if two successive
presidents assert that money is to be ac
Cepteo as a recompenSe for all international
ills and gold is to be the sole basis of ar
bitration whenever some foreign power
aims its boot at Uncle Sans disteuded
coat-tails. then it is permissible to arrange
a schedule Of prices that will permit such
foreign nations TO act with an intelligent
understanding as to what their bill will be
afterwards.
There are many OF us who do not like to
look upon the picture which the newspaper
correspondents have painted. 1t does not
seem right to few of us, whose IDEAS are
stiil old-fashioned. to watch President Nc
KinieV end Senor SagaSta diSputing over
the cost of the Maine and Contendtng over
the value in cold dollars. Of the 80 light
iug American marines who went down with
her. Some OF those marines are not even
buried vet. and we would rather call the
whole thing off than continue the dicker.
But the RothsChids stand by the Sen0r
jingling their gold. and back of Mckinley $
chair stand Senator Hanna and Senator
Hale. watching with hungry eyes every d
tail of the game as it proceeds They want
to see that the honor of their country,
which they have placed at not less than
$1l,5G0 600 is maintained
It is pretty hard Just now to figure ON
the value of the life of a Jack Tar. for
the most part they are reckless fellows VINO
have drifted so far from home that they
have no home at all, and Il lot of them are
GuitlcsS of ever having been born in TINS
country. Some of them are brave men.
some are reasonably patriotic. and some
go into the thing just for the money and
the fun that is in it. But theyn all fight
and they all wear the same uniform, and
they all hope for war because War is ther
only profession. and they ar" anxious th"t
their ship should show what she can do.
Among the whole lot there isn't one Who
does not really love his ship above himself
ami who wouldn't defend her III honoranl"
warfare until there WAS nothing lcll to