The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-24
PATRIOTISM USED AS BUSINESS.
Patriots whose Eyes Are Glued TO
the NimbIe DoIIrr.

From the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The patriotism which mas been shown
In this country since the opening of the
war with Spain does not seem to interfere
il the Least with the usual chase after
The n.m5le nickel The capitalist with his
millions reads the daily reports of the wars
and feels no doubt as much of a thrill as
any one over the American victories, but
his eyes are just as keen and his hearing
just acute for the velvety football of a
fat contract and perhaps more so If it hap
pens 10 wear the government uniform.
The street lakir he of leathern lung,
reads the latest bulletins of the war and
feels the thrill of enthusiasm run through
him from top to toe but his eye is never
t. be diverted from the main chance ana
his stentorian voice rings out above the
noise Of electric cars: Come now! BE
patriotic! Bay badge! A real American
flag and wear il on your coat!'
Between these two range all classes OF
American people and intensely patriotic
most of them, eager and willing to fight
for their country but hardly one of them
SO wrapped uD in the American flag thai
he cannot find time to look out from its
beautiful folds and gather in by his IN
The first and most important symptoms
OF this was when the rich plum % $4,000
Uo0 Tor war purposes was appropriated by
congress. Ten ships are reported to have
been bought by the government. and if
does not seem that patriotism prevented
American companies from being as anx-
lous to sell as the foreign companies on
the first order for the mobilization of
troops the Vigiant officers of railroads
were on the alert, even amid their sturdy
patriotism, and their attentive ears caught
the sound of the first silvery 'ciinlll
chnk!' of the dollars for transportation
purposes.
Then patriotism and energy began to
hustle for the rich contracts for transDor-
ing troops and equipments 10 Chickamauga
ana the seaDodrd. 1t was known chat sup
plies would have to be furnished for the
army in the field, and the business-like pa
triots were quickly on hand to secure the
contracts. Mules and horses were in de-
mand, and shrewd dealers were not lacking
to corner the market and turn several
nimble pennies just to show Uncle Sam
that his peoples energy ana pluck could
furnish almost anything he needed for his
defense, and also TO prove that their bust
ness acumen was not numbed by the fear
OF the approaching conflict. In fact in
TINS instance this alertness was made so
evident that the government had to threat
en- TO stop purchasing in Kansas CITY until
the corner on the market was lifted:
Later came the conflict of patriotism in
the different states when the selection of
the pace for mobilization the state guards
was 70 be made Each city took pride i'm its
state troops, and the later took pride in
the part they were to play among Uncle
Sans soldiers, and each city was anxious
70 secure the encampment of its states
troops. There was where the clink of the
dollar could again be heard, and local pa
tIotlsm worked hard TO secure the on
equipments. Supplies of an kinds were
70 be furnished and, metaphoricalIy. the
eistening nickes would gambol on the
green around the white tents as long as
the troops remained a royal harvest for
local business.
After the city was selected the question