The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-14
WAR NOT GENERALLY WANTED.
PRESIDENT HAS NOT YET SETTLED
ON A POLICY.

The Government Not Seeking War
With Spain--On the Contrary IL De-
sires TO Maintain Friendly ReIa-
tiOns with All the World.
Washington, March 1S.--After consult
ing several members of the cabinet and
others In close touch with the administra-
ton with reference to the probable policy
of the President in dealing with the Gu
ban situation, the Morning News corre-
spondent is justified in stating that no
fixed line of policy has been agreed upon,
and the administration programme viii be
shaped after the report OF the Maine court
OF inquiry is promulgated.
There has been much wild speculation
on this subject, due to the fact that the
President and his cabinet are more or less
confused by conflicting suggestions, com
ing from various sources, entitled to calm
consideration.
In the first place, the government of the
United States is not seeking war with
Spain. There has been no official declara.
tion from the war-maklng power to that
effect The President has publicly deelar-
ed that this government desires 10 main
tain peaceful and friendly relations with
all the world, including the Spanish gov
ernment. Congress has indicated no de-
sire to plunge this country into war. II
very properly, with the advice and con-
sent of the President, provided an emer-
gency fund with which to protect the in
terests of the whole country.
Thus IL appears that those having the
power TO bring on a war, are opposed to 1t,
because they realize what 1t means to the
business interests of the entire people, and
the heavy burdens 1t will naturally inhict'
upon the tax-paylng citizens, to say nothing
of the actual horrors Of war to those who
actively engage In the conflict.
Have those people who are seeking to
bring OH war between The United States
and Spain volunteered to do the fighting,
or are they largely of a class of people
who have something to sell?
Are not the Secretary of the Navy and
the Secretary of War surrounded by mer-
chants who have munitions and war sup
piles for sale?
Are these men prompted by patriotic
motives alone, or are they seeking TO dis
pose of their merchandise TO the govern
ment al the highest market rate?
Have these men stopped to consider that
a blow will be delivered 20 our manufac-
turing industry in every section of our
lands in the event of war?
The United States has Just passed
through a period of business depression
which extended over five years Hard
times was preached from every political
pulpit and hard times were experienced
in a majority of the homes Of American
citizens. We have by perseverance, in
genuity, and indomltable energy nearly
overcome the demon of hard times, and
to-day we are competing with nearly all
the nations of the earth In the manufac-
ture and production of the necessaries OF
life Our commerce Is growing day BY
day, and there is no estimating what a
severe blow II will be to our revlvng
trade relations with foreign nations If we
should engage in war at this time. Our
revenues from customs would necessarily
be reduced, while the burden which a
war would infiict would be largely in
creased.
The great hardship which any govern
ment suffers from war, is that IL never
gets through paying the penalties incurred.
Stop and consider what we are paying to-
day In the way of penalties for ndulging
in civil war. Millions and millions are
paid out annually for pensions, and mill
lions and millions are still owed for war
claims.
What effect is the pending war scare
having upon the interests of the country?
The result is that the business which the
government should be transacting. Is
pushed aside by the preparations for war,
which Spain says she does not wish and
which our government says she does not
care to indulge in II a conflict can be
avoided without injury to our national
honor.
With our revenues on the down grade,
which will surely follow hostities and
our expenses TO carry on war plllng UP. the
government will have to raise money TO
meet the war demands. Naturally bonds
Will have to be sold, and the money lenders
Of the world will put their patriotism IN
cold storage and drive the hardest
bargain possible with the United States
treasury. 1t matters not whether they
have money or guns 10 sell, they win cx-
act from the government the highest
price obtainable under the exigencies OF
the occasion, and then swell with meroe-
nary pride, and console themselves with
the belief that they are the actual saw
iors of the government
A conflict between the United States and
Spain would In all probabilitysre VIC
toriously for the United States. We have
all the qualities that enter into the for
nation and assembling of great fighting
force. We also have unbounded resources
to draw upon, even II the interest should
be very heavy. Nevertheless, every en-
llghtened nation OF the world would pre-
fer to have the friendship OF the United
States TO that Of Spain, we have nothing
TO fear on the score.
The clamor for war is not as general 9s
some of the newspapers, bent on lncreas-
ing their circulation, so sensationalIy as
eert IN their faring headlines and extra
editions.
The people of the West, who are far re-
moved from any danger that might arise
In the event of war with Spain, are not
seeking to engage this country in war
without some reasonable provocation.
The people Of the South, who have en-
dured the horrors and hardships Of one
war are not anxious TO have their homes
devastated by foreign foes
The people Of the West and the South
are as loyal and as patriotic as the peo-
pie OF the North and East, and they
would respond as eheerfully. perhaps
more so, than some OF their Northern
brethren 10 a call to arms.
II is not a question Of testing ones
loyalty or his devotion to the flag, but