The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-27
II lNTELLIGENCER.
WHEELING, April. Al, 1893.
The Duty Of All Citizens.

and sensible article under the title OF
1.-THE End of the Discussion" which.
should receive a ready endorsement
from everyone. The point OF 1t is that
there is no longer time for talk, and
that. however men may disagree re-
grading the right or wrong involved,
now that war has actually begun there
IS nothing left to do but TO act. Quoting
Minister Sagasta's remark that "the
hrst cannon shot can be almost heard"
the Record properly says that when the
cannon speaks there will be an end TO
the verbal disputes as I the causes of
the war. Whether the last words OF d.
5plomacy were spoken, says our rontem-
porary: whether Congress did not un-
necessarily force the hand OF the Presi-
dent. and whether thts government has
the right to drive Spain out OF Cuba by
armed forceVoncernlng these and kin
bred questions, citizens have their "
opinions. which they may as well keep
TO themselves until a fitting time comes
for their utterauce.
There Is food for thought in this sug-
sesion. If the people Of the country
were inverse TO war they did no make
themselves sufficiently understood to
avert II. II their real sentiment was
that the whole proceeding was unwIse
Hnd unnecessary. an expression Of It at
the proper time might have prevented
Congress from taking the action It did,
for Congress would hardly have gone in
the face uf public opinion. AS one OF
the conservative journals of the coun-
try. which advocated every honorable
means TO avert the horrors OF war II
possible, and helped 10 uphold the PresI-
dent'e hands in his commendeble erorr
tp bring n settlement OF the issues be-
tween Spain and the United States
without the resort to arms, could it be
done without the sacrifice of our integ-
rity as a Nation. the Record accepts the
result as It is. md utters the following
patriotic sentiments which should touch
a responsive chord in every American
heart:
But II Is too late now to discuss ques-
tons which have already entered into
the domain.ot history. Althoughit may
be hard TO obey this injunction of pru-
deace, disobedience would be fraught
with much mischief. personal and pub
lie. When the country Is engaged in
War with a foreign foe 1t IS the duty OF
every citizen to sustain the government.
II he cannot give the highest proof OF
his patriotism by enrolling himself in
the army or navy, there are Other ways
In which he a serve his country. But
he would serve his country an III turn by
~denouncing the war and converting 1t TO
the uses of party when his fellow-citi-
zens are In the field. During the civil
war large, numbers of people subjected
themselves to just reproach for their III
concealed sympathies with the enemies
OF the Union, and by their interruptions
efforts to make party capital out OF the
calamittes OF the nation.
This recollection OF the attitude OF
many during the civil war contains a
lesson which should be needed now.
Unity is strength and only through uni
ty can a nation present an effective
front against the enemy and maintain
Its standing for its cause before other
nations. The Record article holds that
the maxim Our country. right or
wrong" IS one OF profound public moral
ity and IS often disputed because 1t is
misunderstood. This broad assertion
finds confirmation in the fact that the
people OF this country enforce the priu-
ciple among themselves in every politt-
cal conflict they Engage in. 1t is the
principle that the majority shall rule,
and when the majority wills. in our
every day politics, right or wrong, the
minority submits. The reverse IS true
in the republics south of us, where It is
common for the disappointed minority
S. given to overthrowing the popular
verdict at the polls through revolution
ery means.
The question which cGnfronts the peo-
pie Of tic United States now is, not what
brought on the war. or to debate the
wisdom or unwisdom OF It, but how to
get out OF it with honor and victory,
and that as quickly as our brave men
and our naval fleets can do II. The Sit
iiatlon must be faced and there IS no
s!me for criticisms and chickering's.
Every citizen knows his duty and Will
oft. And Just mere we desire TO again
quote from the article above referred to
regarding an important feature Of the
situation. which the Intelligence.
Brought out in these columns a few days
since. The Record says:
It Is in the nature ofa duel between
young giant OF mighty thews and
slnews and a decrcpit and dying ole
a But although Spain has been dc.
caylnE for generations, she may In hcl
desperation make n most determined Of.
fort TO save the only remaining fraE.
ment Of her western empire. It viii moi
do.Fthcn, 10 underestimate the lmpend.
Ing conflict, or TO substitute "On to Ha.
vana!" for a similar cry which wrought
so much mischief In a former war
Those who Indulge In the belief thai az,
gtfr5n b%roadsidc or two NIL will be owe,
nrc probably destined To n rude awakcn.
ing from their dream. Spain has no:
been straining all her rcsourccs for q
u #. 20