The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-06
FRIDAY. A 6, 1888.
This Paper is Democratic in principles
and is Independent in its rie.cs on a" eoca
oafesfions.

questions

tired. Probably the condition is only
momentary. and it is not impossible that
by the time this edition of THE News
goes to press there may be plenty of ma
teriai for big type on the first page
Meanwhile, it is not a bad moment al
which to glance over the Development
of the war to date.
Two things stand out conspicuously
from all the furry and turmoil OF the
last two weeks. One is the marvellous
resourcefulness of the Nation in a crisis.
The other is the perfection Of the fight
ing temperament in the American race.
Our resourcefulness has not been shown
merely in our possession of boundless
financial and material ability to encoun-
ter a crisis. nor yet only in the master
full spirit which gives us OF a
situation. In both particulars. We have
given the world a demonstration OF
power such as the world has never seen
before.
IL Is 4 cOlipdIdllNCiy LAG
England to send a war fleet to sea or
for Germany or France to place a great
army in the field. These countries make
preparedness in these respects the nrst
aim of their domestic government. They
spend more millions for such preparation
every year than we are likely to spend
on this entire war. But we, as the most
peacefully disposed of nations. maintain
only a small maritime force and al army
which is merely a skeleton or a frontier
police, as one chooses to regard it. That
we should, then, in a month place a
upon the seas, that we should place our
coastline in a state of defence which COM
pletely treasures the country. and, above
all, that we should muster in the field
nearly zoo. 600 well drilled and fairly equip
ped soldiers. is one of the maryels of the
ICE 's
Our financial strength is, of course, a
surprise to nobody, who remembers the
vast credit which we developed during
the late war. Then the country was dis
membered. and neither section of it pos
sessed over o~ne-fourth of the wealth
which we now offer as security to the
banke Of the world. But there is sur
prise to all, who have not deeply studied
our people and our system, at the man
ner in which we have improvised an army
ont Of materials who's existence and
value were only vaguely. understood by
ourselves.
AS for the military temperament of the
Nation. its exhibition is of a twofold
character. We see it both in the actual
perfofmanees of u fighting men wher-
ever they ave had a chance to show it,
and in the splendid enthusiasm with
which the entire people has responded to
the call to arms.
The spirit which makes a warrior nation
is a complex affair. It does not consist
in mere bravery. for in tina our adver-
saries are equal to ourselves, and it may
be said that all peoples are pretty much
alike. Wherever men are found, they will
fight. Whether they are black or yellow
or white, they appear to be equally will
ing to encounter death so long as they
Civilization n savagery are equally un-
important in their influence on this char
acteristic. But mere bravery will not
suffice There is a certain instructive fit
ness for war which inspires some ma
tions, sometimes only for a generation
and sometimes for a long succession of
centuries. II includes an unfailing judg-
ment and skill in the conduct of war,
and an energetic will power in warlike
operations which often victory
against desperate odds whether material
or valorons.
This spirit has been exhibited by both
Of our great naval leaders. Admiral
SIMPSONS opportunity has been limited,
but it has been enough to show what his
fighting mettle will be when the great
occasion comes. Admiral Dewey's in
spired daring has made the world ring
with its triumphant success. The same
commanding aptitude has been shown in
the methods of our governmental depart
ments IN providing for coming emergen-
cies, in the readiness with which officials
of all sorts, military and civH,, have dis
posed. one by one. of the problems which
have presented themselves, and in the
cool and determined acceptance of the
situation by the people.
The present war is, Of course. not one
TO place any serious tension Upon 50 pow
erful a country as the United States; but
It gives us the opportunity for making a
demonstration ones'of the greatest adj
yantages We shall gain out Of the expe
rience Is that we viii be able to con-
vines the governments Of the world that
We both can and will fight, and that 4
y not safe % provoke y.