Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-04
THURSDAY EVENING. AUG 1. 1888

WHEN THE war was imminent we
urged the people who were opposed to
it to speak out in public meetings and
pour in rem onstrsnces upon Congress
against it. They did not do it, and
every Virginia Representative, some, II
not many, OF them opposed to it, per-
sonally, voted for it. Why was this?
Does it prove that the people OF Nir.
ginis were in favor of the wal? Not al
all: but simply that with most men
there is an inertia which prevents them
from taking the lead in public move
ments, and every man waits for his
neighbor. Let man go around among
his friends and neighbors and he will
find that though they rejoice that we
have been victorious, they were, and
are now, for peace; those who want Of
fee or contracts always excepted.
Again we appeal to all those who love
their country and the Constitution OF
their fathers to put aside their false
modesty and let their sentiments on
the vital questions now before the
country be known and have their Gu
Influence. A worse peril than a sin
gle war confronts US; the peril OF many
wars and the consequent need OF 8
greatly enlarged military and naval
equipment. What man who thinks.
and is not actuated by personal consid-
erations, wants general CONSUMPTION
and enormous taxes, such as European
immigrants are fleeing from when they
come to us for refuge? Yet such will
be the natural consequences of an inter
ference with the Eastern question and
other European complications. The
"Great Powers" OF Europe, as they are
called, are taxing their people, often
beyond endurance, to keep up enor-
NOUS armies and nsvies, and with
drawing hundreds of thousands Of
Young men from the arts OF
peace. making them consumers
instead OF producers, simply be-
cause of complications which may
at any time arise from the ambition, or
grasping propensities, of one or the
other of them. Like causes will iuevi'
tably produce like effects. We have
asserted the Monroe doctrine" as iii
called, and must, perforce, maintain it
in taking away her West Indian pos
sessions from Spain We shall assume
her responsibilities as to their govern
ment. Are not these enough? Al hun
dred thousand men, We are told, will
be needed for two years; We shall BE-
fortunate, indeed, ii that force be sufi
Gent and our work be ended in the
time proposed. Why, then, should we
seek greater responsibilities, greater
risks and heavier taxes? "To extend
the area OF freedom, shout the jjngoes;
"To increase our commerce. reply the
Office seekers and contractors, who
know and care as little about how com.
merce is best extended as they 90 for
anybodys interests but their own. "To
carry the flag over all the earth and be
the greatest OF all nations, and for the
glory of it" say the thoughtless
What do the mothers whose sons lie
buried in foreign land, or languish
with fever under a burning sun, say =?
What the great army of the unemploy
ed, whose children cry for bread
What the taxpayers, whose property is
threatened and whose comforts are
abridged because they must support
great armaments which do not profit
them? What the truly patriotic peo-
pie of the country, who want liberty
and peace under the institutions OF
their fathers? Let them speak in
thunder tones. The President needs
their support in his opposition to impe.
rialism; let him have it by the election
of men to Congress who will do their
bidding, and imperialism will he
crushed