Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-17
SOUTHERN SOLDIERS.

congressional fame. has suggested that
the troops FOR the invasion or CUBA
should be selected from tho Gulf states
believing that they could Withstand tho
climate there better than any other OF
our men. To this suggestion the Mont
geometry Advertiser raises objection con-
STRUNG It as an insinustlon that the ell
mate OF Alabama, for instance, IS akin
TO that Of Cuba.
on the face OF the question 1t would
seem that soldiers from the lowlands OF
the South would be better campaigners
I'm Cuba than those who come from the
up-country. Certainly the resident of the
southern coast is more accustomed 70
Iong-contlnued hot weather than his
brother whose home is on higher ground
and in higher ATTITUDES.
We look upon Spain almost as a tropl-
cal land. but it has great mountain
ranges. some Of which have peaks that
are forever covered with snow. In the
South Of Spain, however, the almond
date. fig. orange, citron. pomegranate,
pineapple, and banana are grown in great
quantities. And yet. Spanish coHscripts
drawn from the several provinces Of that
nation. formed into battallons and sent
TO cuba. have sickened and died in fear
ful numbers.
All accounts go 10 show that these
youngsters were not subjected to the
sanitary discipline that should have been
imposed upon them upon their arrival in
cuba. But It is likewise apparent that
the fact that they came from a country
of hot suns did not save them from the
diseases which usually attack new
corners. IT would be interesting 10 know
If the mortality was equally as great
among the conscripts drawn from the
coast provinces as frsHn those drawn from
the highlands. but we have seen no sta
tistics upon the subject. We should, how
ever. be surprised TO learn that the lat
ter stood the change Of climate as well
as the former. Surely the fact that
man has spent all Of his life under n burn
ing sun would count for something in
Cuba. II might not carry him unframed
through the sickIy season OF that treach-
erous island, but it ought 20 give him
better chance for survival than others
would have.
General Lee IS quoted as saying that it
would be safe for an American army 10
invade Cuba at this time-that it would
be safe as regards climate and every
thing else, We take it that he had in
mind an army organized in obedience TO
the strictest laws Of hygicuics; an army
clothed and provisioned suitably; an army
whose camps would be clean, and whose
men would be willing TO exercise the ut
most prudence and care in all these
things the Spaniards have failed misera-
bly,. From all accounts that come to u.s.
their men have been poorly fed. tho:c
barracks and camps are filthy, and their
medical and surgical corps is ill-organ-
lied and m-provided with stores. We
conclude. therefore, that an American
army in Cuba would fare better there
than the Spaniards have done.
The suggestion Of General Wheeler has
some force in it; but whether it would be
entirely practical we DO not know. We
much doubt II it would be. And there
would be an obvious injustice in laying
upon that section OF the Union that has
done little to bring on the present condi-
ton of things, and can hope for no sell
fish gain from war the weishtiest bur-
den OF sustaining our arms.
There is n suggestion. too, from various
quarters that we would better form the
army Of invasion Of southern negroes;
that. being accustomed to the malaria Of
the river bottoms. they would not sicken
I'm cuba as our white men would. This
might or might not be so. Certain it is
that now that the blacks are fully
acdced citizens Of the country, they must
expect TO do their part as citizens and soil
diors; but the future Will prove-f that
future involves war-that the southern
whites have no disposition to shuttle their
duties off upon their former slaves.
The southern congressman have been
much I'm advance Of their constituents in
favoring war. but if war it must Toe, the
sens and grandsons OF the men who fol-
lowed Lee. Johnston, and Kirby Smith,
will be heard from, 10 matter where
duty calls; no matter whether it
be i'm the cancbrakes Of cuba or in de
fence of our own coasts. The most they
ask is that they be brought together as
far as practicable, and that Immediately
over them may be placed that leader
whose name ia a tower Of strength among
us, and who I'm his own person, has given
eminent evidence OF combination of the
family traits for war and statesmanship-
Fitzhugh Lee.