West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-05-05

" ~ w. 4CVOs
Complaints of tardiness on the
part of the administration ia push
iDg the war against Spain are grow
ing louder each day. as indie .tlons
increase that the administration il
expecting "a very long war, instead
OF very short one. The speech
AT Representative DiDgley, who
probably voiced the sentiment Of
Mr.. Mckinley on the bill to pro
vide war revenues for the govern
ment, which has just passed the
house, indicated his belief that the
war would last for years. lie
could not be properly answered /.
because nobody cared to get up and
say things they knew to be true that
would be construed by Spain and
Europe as meaning that there was
division of sentiment among
Americans as to this war. The
same fe, ling has prevented public
criticism OF the remarkable state
OF unreadincss in which the War
Department was found 10 be when
Dir. Mckinley finally gave up his
jack o. lantern hope Of securing
the freedom of Cuba, through
peaceful negotiations. The people
10 not want long war, and do not
believe that there is any OCCASION
for one. Fitz Lee, who is good
military authority, and who has
carefully been over the ground has
said that with 10000 men and the
co operation OF the navy Havana
could be taken in 10 DAYS. That
many troops, thres-fourihs OF them
regulars, could be landed i'm Cub,
IN 4S hours after an order was Ia
sued, and the navy is already there.
But there Is 40 such order. In
stead there 10 lot OF talk about
the necessity OF the 125 900 volun-
teers just called out remaining
several months IN camps Of instruc-
ton, and the probability OF the
Spaniards being allowed 10 remain
ln Cuba until fall, unless the Ia
sargent army can drive them out,
or the blockade staryes them out.
Mr.. Mckinley calls this q war for
humanity, bnt continuation OF
the blockade OF Cuban ports With
out capturing them will result IN
starving as many women and
children as Butcher Weyler's poll.
cy did. The Spanish army IN Cuba
isn't suffering for food-,hey pre-
pared for the blockade-but non
combatants are.
I'll
Under the law for the reorpan.
,zAtIon OF rhe regular army, which
went into ef ct this week. the total
VIII at once be enlisted up to co.
Voo men, aud the war-pay of pri-
Yates and non commissioned OFF,
cers WILL be increased 20 per cent.
1T
One Of the strongest points in
our sgstem OF government is EN-.
phasized by the present situation
IN Washington. In the State, War
and Navy Department Building. IN
which are located the fighting
branches of the government. the
hurry and hustle Of war Is seen on
every hand, while the other de-
partment buildings, i'm which bust
ness relating to the industrial and
commercial progress of the country.
such as the management of our
great postal system, the grantinz OF
patents, looking after pubic lands.
etc, is going on just AS though
there never was such y thing as a
war, aud so they will continue 70
go whether the war lasts three
weeks or three months. The 6ght-
ing branches of the government
will attend to the war without en-
croaching upon the business OF the
Other branches.
III
La announcing by proclamation
the principles upon VIII ch he will
wSgs the war. which Congress has
authorized. Mr. Mckinley his GER
tslnly carried mild treatment OF
Spanish interests TO an unnecessary
extreme--au extreme that will wine
out the expectations of priz,.
money entertained by the brave
sailors that man Admiral ) ,ppsou's
b'ockading squadron, by =, leasing
nearly, n not all Of the Spanish yes
sells they have captured since the
blockade was established. This
proclaim 'tion gives ali Spanish mer.
chant vessels ia Americ ports o,
bpund 20 or from American potts
immunity from ctpture until Nav
II, inclusive. IL would be possjs Z
90 make spine nariOns surrender by
treating them ani their interest
with consideration. but Spain /.
certainly not one " them. What
Dir. Mckinney doubtless intended
10 b. an act Of * rtofd.nsrg gen.
erosity and fortetrtnce viii b,
charged 60 bic fear Of them by IN,
ignorant Spanish. There is opl,
one way 70 deal with q Spsniard-
fight him and lick him; then d,
viii be ready TO entertain the idea
81 Zoe Displaying mlgn4nimit,
tOsards him.