The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-13
The Victory of Peace.

Every rseaiog day makes more ap
parent the wi-dom of he admioistra
ton 10 mixing var between the Uolted
States a Spain Improbable. if DOT im.
possible by mak'"g every preparation
for it's swif, aud certain copclusoin IN
our overwheim,og victory There has
been inevitable aud natural excitement
attendant cpon this preparation. The
Nation bas been thrilled sith porten-
tcus possibility to which the hurried
aud energetic movements 10 domestic
and foreign shipy in every fortified
harbor. 10 he trausfer Of troops 20 the
seaboard aud 10 the anxious coDsul'a-
tious Of statesmen have all tended TO
give 90 appearance most omlnous.
The crisis is not yet passed and the
preparations still continue in ever iD-
creasipg volume, as is indicated By yes-
terday's selection of ten auxiliary cruz.
sers. But the results of the magoi-
6ceut exhibition of patriotic confidence
in the President, displayed by Congress
i, its unconditional appropriation ef
$50, 100000 for the Na'ioral defense,
and the subsequent strategic move
ments in both the fields of diplomacy
and arms. have placed this couofry in a
position of unreasonable superiority,
both moral and physical, to Spain
Look, even specifically. at the OBJ
vious military position. Spain has 10
Cuba the remnant of au army. perhaps
bow numbering O.000 troops in all, a
few 10 the field. but most Of them
cooped in garrisons. the largest beiog
10 Havana These troops are absolute
ly dependent for sostenaoce upon im-
ported food Blaoco's base Of supplies
is 5000 miles away To keep open
the Csban ports he'row has two cruisers
and few patrolIing guDboats His
naval reinforcemep.s are. some of
them. 1900 miles awag at the Cape de
Verde Islands, and the rest are DOT yet
mobilized at Cadiz. over 1000 miles
yet more distant. The United States
bas assembled at Key West feet that
can within four or six hours block
ade every Cubau port, forcibly convey
supplies and arms to the insurgents,
starve the Spanish garrisous intc surreu
der. compel the iostant release and re
lief Of TIE recoDceDtrados and succe ss-
fully resist any attempt to break 'he
blockade. At the same time effective
measures have been taken to protect our
own harbors from attack and to main.
.ain the fleets at Key West spd at
Hampton Roads 10 effective var condi-
ton, with quick and ample communities
ton With their base of supplies More
ships. more guos and more ammunition
are Oh their way across the ocean
These prompt and skillful measures
have cost money; but the chances pow
are that they have prevented the e1pen-
dnure Of many millions more Of treas
ure>and the loss of thousands of lives.
Thus far il has been battle Of dollars
and struggle of strategy The victory
is so completely ours .hatit begins to look
as if i, we're wou without an actual bat.
tle 10 diplomacy, Spain has been
placed in such position In che eyes Of
the world that for her to declare war
would be to assail the cause of hu-
maoity aod to aiienate all civilization.
Her strait ls so desperate that the
frantic appeals of'he Queen Regeus-for
whose maternal distress every generous
and mauly hear. bas pity-go uoheed>
ed in every court of Europe
In military sense, Spain is
re duced to such belplessness that for
her TO tusb into war would be to com
nit bari kari
These ere now the obvious results Of
Psesideo, McKinley's patience amid
activity. delay amid preparation, eau
t'ou amid stripping the navy for battle
These are the conditions, diplomatic
and military. amid which he is about to
send his message 80 Congress and the
people There need TO be 20 apprehen-
sion !, at his message will not cap this
glorious record with a ciimaz that
must hold respiendeot place ID the
pages of history uoon Which fature
generatious OF American cit:ze"s eau
-nsze NTH nrihe N Y Mail and Ex-