The record-union., 1898-05-30
THE WAR FINANCES.

mendously topheavy currency round
$500 100000 more of representative
money to be supported by the little
gold in the treasury. This proposition
is not merely foolish; it is Infamous,
and yet these pretended patriots are
likely to attempt to refuse the ap-
preparations needed to carry on the war
unless they can force their impractical
BILE theories upon a Government that
has already suffered beyond compare
from a preparation of the same folly.
THE TRIAL OF ZOLA.
Los Angeles Express: Only two weeks
more and Zola will be tried again, and
hardly an American, so intent are we
on our own affairs, has given it
thought. Yet the principle involved is
Of the utmost Importance to ciyiliza-
ton. In time to come, the historian
may find the Zola incident, and the re-
lated Dreyfus and Esterhazy cases,
more significant than the Hispano-
American war The war was insti-
tuted to free en- oppressed dependency
of a second-rate monarchy ZoIa's trial
typifies the struggle of Republicans for
liberty in their own republic. The one
will soon result in the freedom of the
or will it seat the soldiery more firmly
in the saddle? To-day Frances 'Liber-
ty, Equity, Fraternity are in danger
of mockery. To-day Americas ideals
are nearer realization than ever. Hence,
the righteous war we wage, dreadful
as it may be in death and destruction,
lis not so desperate a matter in the
long run, as the unrighteous uprising
in France against law-abiding citizens.
ONE PEOPLE.
The County Paper: The last vestige
of the dividing line between the blue
and the gray was wiped out and totally
effaced in the bay of Manila the other
day. In the harbor Of Manila, away on
one side of the globe the reunion that
was entered into at Appomattox thir
ty-three years ago was re-established
and perfected for all time. The sur
vivors of the Confederate army and
the people of the old Confederate States
have for years Loyalty accepted the
Stars and Stripes as the flag Of their
undivided allegiance, and have given it
their unalterable love. Yet, until the
bright morning sun rose on May Day,
1898, over our fleet on the other side
of the globe, the flag of our new Union
was unfurled for the first time as a
battle flag. For the first time it foated
above the smoke of battle when the
North and the South were fighting for
it side by side. Americans of the South
and Americans of the North can claim
an equal victory in that memorable
contest that took place on the other
face Of the earth. 1t was the first
action had since the end of the Mexi-
can war, fifty years ago, when both
fought together, as Of old, against a
common enemy.
NO NEED TO MISREPRESENT.
Oakland Enquirer: The number of
real successes won by the Americans
in this war is sufficiently so that we
have no need to misrepresent things
t0lOur own advantage Hence it seems
to be proper to say that the first re-
ports regarding the bombardment of
San Juan were, in the light of the latest
advices, quite erroneous. The town did
not surrender, and, according to Ad
n1iral SIMPSONS and other dispatches
which were sent by witnesses, the de-
fensive works were not destroyed. and,
with the exception of MORO Castle,
perhaps, were not great deal injured.
When a shore battery is protected by
a sandbank it is very hard for fleet,
and at San Juan heavy swelr was run
ming, making accurate gunnery by the
fleet very difficult. OF course the bonn
bastic Spanish announcements that
they have defeated the fleet are non
sensical. But, on the other hand, the
achievements of our ships were over
stated in the first instance.
CALIFORNIA WILL GAIN.
Colusa Sun: California will be an ulti-
mate gamer as a result of this war.
1t is said that the battleship Oregon,
after having steamed around Cape
Horn and arriving almost at her des-
tination, has been ordered back to the
Pacific. This is a practical demonstra-
ton Of the value Of the Isthmus Canal;
and We will be in luck if there shall
not be more need of the quick passage
OF ships from ocean to ocean. It is not
likely, therefore, that we will find much
more difficulty in getting the Govern
ment to take hold of the canal as
war measure All hands seem to join
on the necessity Of greater navy but
we have so much coast on each ocean
that if we undertook navy on both it
would entail a greater expense than
the building Of the canal. The canal
would be as great benefit to Califor-
mia commercially as it would be to the
Government as a war measure. But,
so far as that is concerned, it would
be of vast commercial value to all the
world, and it will only require this
demonstration that the twice doubling
.of Cape Horn by the Oregon has given
to bring about it's speedy construction.
WILL SHE SUE FOR PEACE?
Oakland Tribune: 1t is an even mon
ey bet that if Spain is defeated in the
pending engagement between the naval
forces in the Atlantic she will sue for
peace. There can be absolutely no rea-
son then for continuing a fight in
which she is so compltely outclassed,
and as the Powers are said to be ready
Ito make overtures to the United States
in her behalf as soon as she is ready
to quit, she will doubtless take ad-
vantage of the opportunity. Then will
come the ticklish task for our Admin
istration-how to arrange our demands
in such way as to satisfy the coun-
try. The jingoes will, of course, want
Ienormous indemnities, and prehaps also
the permanent occupation of Cuba and
the Philippines, while another element
will insist on our not extending our
territory beyond our own boundaries.
1t Will be q splendid opportunity to