The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-04
Patriotism and Patience.

This light-hearted, airy war emo
ton, "War to be over in thirty days,
"No more delay Victory if there be
action, Son to Havana. recalls the
"On to Richmond campaign against
Lincoln which eliminated in Bull
Run. That disgraceful cpisodein our
history finds parallel in the trucu-
lent denunciations Of President Nc
Kinley by the yellow journals for his
supposed apathy as to avigorous pros
ecution of the war. Lincoln was
houuded to premature battle and de-
feat. Mckinley is menaced with the
same fate.
The sFOn to Richmond blunder
imposed upon Lincoln BY. the yellow
Journalism and yellow demagogy of
1851 revived a still born revolution.
If Lincoln could have resisted the
pernicious influence and held his hand
until he was ready the outbreak would
have been suppressed in one wise,
comprehensive campaign. 1t was
"On to Richmond" then as it is COZ
to Havana now, the cry Of ignorance
and folly. :.
What is war; 1t is not game Of
solitaire. What is our readiness as
an armed people? Assurediy not that
Of paladius prepared for fight. What
is our army? A skeleton organiza-
tion. What are our volunteers?
Thousands Of the best and bravest
fellows that ever ploughcd wheat
field, but wanting discipline and drill;
What is our place among the nations?
One Of family and bound with fami-
ly obligations. What have we for re-
sources? A revenue that as yet must
be provided for and collected. Yes
terday unarmed, to-day our armaments
are crude and undeveloped. Before
the war is over the powers Of Europe
may be active forces in the campaign.
War is not mere yellow newspaper
waltz. We may dare Niagara, not de-
fy it. Before we underrate foe
study Agincourt, Rossbach and Sc
dan. or, as an impressive theme. the
Spanish Armada. Take nothing for
granted, not even the decadence of an
enemy. The eyes Of Europe are but
open to the fact that the "Sick Man
Of the Bosphorus was, in the Cretan
question, strong enough to paralyze
European diplomacy. Nor should we
revel in the moonshinc of foreign
sympathy Yes, there is the friend
ship of England. Well, England, per-
haps, if yellow demagogy had not
thrown into her teeth that peace with
arbitration treaty, which would have
united us as with hooks Of steel
England is not apt to answer blow
with kiss. There are, of course,
other powers yearning. it is hoped, to
fight Americas battles and make the
cause of humanity their own. France
and Italy are, like Spain, Latin
nationalitics and race sympathy su-
pervenes. Germany is the ally Of
Austria, and an Austrian princess is
on the Spanish throne. Russia is far
away and too much concerned in her
magnificent Mongolian problem to
waste her hardy Cossacks upon the
squalid provinces Of equatorial Cuba.
Patriotism is patience The Presi-
dent must not be hawk driven upon
another Bull Run. Nor by blunder
nor defeat must We find ourselves
face to face with war of far reaching
consequences. War is not fixed
science. Each war evolves its own
lessons. We must learn them by ex
pcrience. 4 modern battleship would
have destroyed the fleets Of Nelson
and Villeneuye, while a modern rcgi-
ment would have driven Wellington
from the field of Waterloo. To be in
readiness is half the battle. The
needle gun forced Austria out OF the
German empire. 1t was Il surprise,
but defeat has at times been the pen
atty of Il surprise.
Patience, steadily arming, drill,
making ready, so anticipating every
contingency that when the blow falls
the discontinue Of the foe will be
complctc-this is what war means.
This will not be attained by forcing
upon the president the disaster ci
another Bull Run
We are in the war to the end The
causes arc beyond debate Every
sacrifice will be u privilege 1t is a
war of humanity, but at the same
time We must crave the favor of that
Providence who never deserts pco-
pic whose arms are ready and whose
powder is dry We must sustain the
president. There must be no word Of
pause or diShcartcnment. 40 more OF
this "On to Richmond" frenzy which
distressed the soul Of Lincoln and
would paralyxc the arms Of Mckinlcy
We can neither whirl into war noI
sarccn toward victory Nor can We
expect mamma from heaven nor tho
starting Of the waters under the smit-
ing wand nor the falling of the
Jericho walls The supreme duty de-
wolves upon us as it did upon our ia
thcrs. as our fathers did, we must
gird ourselves to it as men prepared
for any effort, and not madly foment
ing strife, even us the swine who
rushed devil possessed into the sea-
| Ncw Yorh. Herald.