Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-08-05
The Sunburst of the World.

There is no mind unless it be
indifferent to the startlingeven
of the times but is filled with |
awe, wonder and solicitude.
Rich, fertile islands hanging like |
clusters of fruit on the borders of
a land vast in extent and full of
undeveloped resources are peo-
pied by a race of beings made in
dolent by voluntary supplies of
edibles and dreamily magma
tive by the abund ant display of
allkinds of exotics. Such peoples,
low in instincts and apprehen-
sions, and indolent in execution,
and without plans and purposes
could, by a system of wise diplo-
macy, have been made to quietly
respond to the wants or avarice
of a powerful nation. Under
such treatment (sinilar to that
of Great Britain to her colonies)
they would have been docile, in
different, and made the passive
instruments in contributing to
the benefits of a mother country.
Such races could be aroused only
by singing wrongs and the
most avaricious oppression, and
scarcely thenifthe superior power
had maintained a motherly or
conciliatory exterior. But Spain
took them in charge. She was
not only oppressive and exact
ing, but sent emlssaries among
them who were naughty, AFRO
giant, cruel and vile, and who
stirred up a personal and savage
contempt for them and through
them to the mother government.
Spain might by judicious man
agement, without lessening her
benefits from them, have elevated
them in their character and con-
duct so as to have invited the
approval of mankind. AS it
was for a long time she applied
her abuses with such relentless
vigor as to overawe her subjects
and create in the world such a
contempt for their inferiority
and abject submission as to keep
their wrongs so obscure as to
make the world Indifferent to
them. But when such people as
those of Chile, Buenos Ayres, Peru
and Mexico broke from bondage
the dead, dull, yet internally
miserable spell was broken. TIE
half-civilized islands saw the
light. They could not compre-
bend it but it revealed to them
their situation; and almost with
out design or organization they
made a mad rush for their op.
pressors. And out of it has come
the war which can be traced tc
no single cause.
A mighty nation had grown
powerful and expansive. it,
commerce had brought it's PEG
pie into intimate relations witt
the people of these islands. 4
mighty power had brought civil
ization in contact with a crue
barbarism. God appeared il
history, and by a elimination o
events which no earthly powe
could prevent the storm came. |
brought those sacrifices and mis-
cries usually attendant upoi
war. 1t brought it's compensa
tons, enterprise, energy courage
fame and military renown to tn
whole country, and in whic]
Vermont shares abundantly. TIL
condition is inevitable; the crisi
is on and the decree has gon
forth that she who rules not i
righteousness shall perish fror
the earth"
However we may deplore til
action of men and measure
which have been adopted; how
ever much we may regret the di
graceful pugilistic exhibition
connected with the beginning {
the war in congress, or tt
naughty, arrogant, wild scheme
for war of conquest, every 10y;
citizen must regard the war
being carried on for wise ar
just purposes, and that it's +
suits will be limited to a wise ar
conservative appropriation
the proceeds of the war, (whit
may be done before congre
reassembles). In any event II
complaining citizen forgets mar
things. He forgets that he is G
ing back on himself; that wht
war was declared he declare
war himself; that every man
the country is a party to the a.
of the government in declarir
the war. that a war betwe<
this government and that
Spain is a war between the inc
viduals of this country and tho
L