The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-08
NOT TOO SHORT 4 WAR
Nor YET Too Long, But Just
Long Enough
TO UNITE THE SECTIONS
Test Modern Methods and
Give the Boys a Chance.
TO UNITE THE SECTIONS

New York. Mag s.-A Washington spe-
ciai to the Evening Post says:
II the truth must be told. the fear most
commonly expressed in Washington in
this first week in May is that the var is
going to end too quickly. The victory
il the Philippine Islands naturally set all
sorts Of reports on foot. the general nature
OF which was that Spain in discourage
ment would ct once give up the fight
This was not what me Washington pub
lie wanted TO hear. They. Of course, desire
short and decisive war. out one Just
loEg enough TO accomplish certain Incl
great moment
The chief OF the glorious effect Of war.
which might Do lost by too speedy a ter
minAtion Of hostilities, is the cementing
Of North and South into cordial national
fellowship. In the border state region of
which Washington Is 8 natural center, #
IS commonly observed that nothing could
be more helpful than 20 ha=e the term
''tfs last war" transferred from the civil
conflict to one with foreign power. AL
the recollectons OF the bloody war now
go back to 1861-'s5. when each side looks
TO the other As its enemy. Some sharp
fighting on the island OF Cuba would
change all rhis. especially with the vol
unteer army under che Lead OF Fitzhugh
Lee, Joe" Wheeler and one or TWO vet
Grams OF the Union army. Soldiers from
all parts OF the country could then vie
with each other in recounung the details
OF their military prowess and common
victory for American arms. The North
and South have in 3. measure been looking
for just such an opportunity. and the sen
timeut IS very strong among enistIng SOL
diers from borr sections TO serve with and
beside those representing their former foe.
In Washington the enthusiasm for F1tz-
hugh Lee is something prodigous, and
youth from the North or OF northern an
tecedeats are as ca ger as the boys from
the South 20 fight under his command
Among the District militia it is the chief
aspiration 90 march behind Fitzhugh Lee,
and every effort is made 10 learn If the
local troops areto be part OF his COM
mand. Perhaps this is in part due 10 the
feeling that he viii be the Macgregor
whose presence viii determine the head
OF the table, but in any event IL is clearly
observable sign OF the times" South
erners are no less eage< 10 fight under the
generals who formerly led armies against
them or their fathers. and altogether
there is a strong desire to make the pre-
sent Spanish war an occasion for wiping
out all the old scores. and putting the
latest achievements OF American valor
and heroism upon E plane 90 which all
sections can alike look with pride and sat
isfaction.
This Is only one Of the expected results
Of the war. but one so much desired, par
ticularly in this neighborhoOd. that moth
ing would be a greater disappointment
than TO have the controversy end with
out giving Northern and Southern soldiers
a chance to march and fight side by side.
OF course, there are other things OF the
same sort which the public. az reflected
in The sentiment OF Washington. are de-
slrous Of seeing done. They want modern
navies tested 70 see what kind Of warships
are most serviceable and where money
had better be expended in future prep
arations for national defense. They desire
TO try the smokeless powder. 20 see what
changes electricity has wrought IN war
fare, and TO test the question OF the su-
premacy OF coal in determining the out
come OF war under modern conditions.
In short. ii cannot be said that Washing
ron is quite ready 10 have the war ended
yet, and Il is unfortunately true thar the
sentiment Of Madrid. fed on the gaingfor-
ious boastings which so much amuse our
newspaper readers, IS likewise averse 10
q termination OF lostilities. There Is prob
ably enough logged persistency left in the
old empire 70 give the war element on this
side OF the water an opportunity 20 test
ali the questions which they have 70 offer,
and TO derive whatever domestic advan~
tages they believe Will fox from united
soldiery. before the conflict IS ended. But.
from the tone OF the district guardsnen.
there is observable an almost suppressed
worry lest me war close before they get
SO far even as Tampa bay.