Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-06
A TIMELY OPINION
On the Most Feasible Plan for Ending the
War and Attaining Our Aims.

vi eHc Aosu FeaSaDte fian Tor Ending thc
War and Attaining Our Aims.
Special to the Register
Charleston, w Va, May 5.-The long
labor of the State administration to
bring forth regiment of United States
volunteers out of the State National
Guard has almost terminated. That
the result Of the effort will be to sup
ply the government with body of
troops of which the State may feel
proud is still the belief of most of the
people here, and the ardent wish of all.
1t is, however, to be regretted that a
course OF action was not definitely
marked out before any Of the companies
left their homes. If this had been done
and the course afterward pursued with
out deviation much wire pulling and
consequent heart-burning would have
been avoided, the State would have es-
capped considerable unnecessary ex-
pense, and there would have been lit
tie or none of the recriminations and
chickering's that have been heard on all
sides.
In strong contrast with the differ
ences of opinion and personal disap-
pointments growing out of the fusion
of the two regiments is the unanimity
that pervades all classes on the pro-
priety of the war and in the belief that
1t will be fought to a successful and
brilliant issue. 1t is at times quite a
relief to escape from an atmosphere re-
dolent with instances Of broken prom
ises, charges of favoritism and threats
Of retaliation and circulate among
groups of old residents, on-combat-
ants since many day, who have by
this time discussed the contest from
every point Of view and figured out all
possible endings. That many widely
different conclusions find equally zeal
Gus advocates goes without saying.
Some of these wiseacres believe that
Spain is ready after her first naval de-
feat to wash her hands Of Cuba, with
draw from the western hemisphere, and
live in
SULLEN SOLITUDE
ever afterwards, or at least till chance
OF getting even comes along Others
think that Uncle Sam will land a large
army of occupation, ultimately compel
the surrender of the proud Dons force
the insurgents to lay down their arms
and rule the island with a firm hand
until the people are ripe for anneXa-
ton. Still others can see no real and
satisfactory ending of the struggle I'M
I'll the ignorant, stay at home Spaniard,
hearing the roar of American guns in
the Bay of Biscay or along the shores
of Andalusia, shall at last awake to
the fact that the despised and hated
Yankee has navy and isn't afraid to
use it.
Among several complete expositions
of the most probable methods of con-
Quoting the war that the representative
of the Register has heard here within
the last two or three days, the follow
ing seems to meet with the most gen
eral approval IL it from a well in
formed citizen, and appears to be based
upon some,
SUBST ANTTAL REASONS
and SO it is given here, though it is
somewhat lengthy
Il have been paying more attention
to the naval movements than to the
manner in which the national guard
has been responding to the call for vol
unteers," said this citizen. THE mob
ilizing of volunteers is always an fnter-
esting and inspiring spectacle, and it
is just now eminently proper and nee
essary since even the minimum risk in
war is to be avoided if possible. As
semblng the militia in large camps and
subjecting it to strict discipline sup
Mi with cplo,Ii1 To
from, should an emergency arise, and
then it is of incalculable benefit to the
citizen soldiery itself in view of future
contingencies, but the probability of it's
being called on to do any serious fight
ing in the present war appears so re-
mote that it is hardly worth consider
alton. When you look at the geogra-
phical situation of the parties to the
war, and consider their respective pow
ers and resources, it is at once appar-
ent that the United States can, within
reasonable limits, not only prosecute
the struggle to a successful issue in
her own time, but can also practically
prescribe both the theatre of HOSTILE
ties and the method of conducting
them. These physical conditions, how
ever, that enable our government to
choose the fields of combat are hardly
stronger than the political or moral
considerations which limit its choice
to a very narrow field. The President
has been insistent in keeping the hui
manitarian idea to the front and has
virtually made it the key note OF the
war. He Mas declared the present hor-
rible conW.ion of the reconcentrados
to be the efficient cause of Intervention
and has virtually asserted that Span
ish sovereignty on the island is 1ncom-
patible with any permanent improve
ment in their condition. Bearing these
declarations in mind, it is easy to see
that the reconcentrados must be reliev-
ed with all speed consistent with as
sured success, and that Spanish con-
troll in Cuba must be at once
CONTRACTED AND MINIMIZED.
To assure this, the blockade of Havana