The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-01
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9ailu Eagle
NJ. NJ. MURDOCH, Editor.
STRIKE QUICK, STRIKE HARD.

The genius of General Grant, the Sc
cret of his success, was in his logged
ness of purpose. He won by persist
emily pounding the enemy. His pre-
decessors failed by forever figuring,
and his opponents lost in eternally
strageticalIy manouvering. West Point
tactics, Washington politics and cow
ardly diplomacy piled upon the the
American people an extra billion Of dis
tressing debt, and filed the land with
the lamentations of the widows and
orphans. It would be worth going a
thousand miles to see the heavens over
Havana paraboIaed by blazing shells
and the sea waters around MORO and
Punta ricochetted with bursting pro-
jectiles. There was nothing set out in
our late declaration of war about re-
ducing the Philippines, of capturing
Porto Rico, or of whipping Hispano.
In the name of outraged women and Of
starving children we simply declared it
to be our national purpose and duty to
drive Spain out of and away from
Cuba. There was no intention of sail
ing the seas around in quest of an his
toricaI naval engagement, nothing was
said Of chasing lumber scows or of
capturing prizes, nor did the American
people contemplate anything more than
the relief of their distressed neighbors
who had been appealing to them for
three years or more to be saved from
determination. These daily telegraphic
details, therefore, of the North Atlantic
squadron firing here, of the Pacific
squadron there, and of flotiIlas, mos
quitos and flying fleets everywhere,
coupled with the suggestion that for six
months to come troops must be massed
and drilled, leaving the navy to prac-
tice and maneuver, until the rainy sea-
son in Cuba has come and gone, is
simply exasperating. The American
people care nothing for the Philippines,
have little interest in Porto Rico, and
do not propose to concern themselves
with the future of Spain. Our business
IS with Cuba, with a people right at
our gates, our very next door neighbors
Every hours delay but breaks the
promise made to them, but turns their
hope into despair, but stultifies our own
deliberate and solemn action. Spain is
thousands Of miles away on the other
side of the Atlantic, the Philippines are
thousands of miles away on the other
side Of the Pacific. while the job we
have undertaken is right at our hands.
1t is not a case Of Europe or of Asia,
but Of America. If we have any war
ships that can throw shells, any boats
that can shoot broadsides, any vessels
that can project torpedoes, then let
them be rounded up in the waters of
the West Indies under orders to open
out on the capital of Cuba, and set the
sky afire over Havana. Land the Boys
In Blue from thickly moving transports,
at every unfortified port, until the ISL
and trembles beneath the tread of ad-
vancing hosts and the sneaking Span
lard is driven into the sea, or otherwise
taken and held as a hostage against
any piratical demonstrations of his
home government on the high seas. We
want no waiting until a host of aspir-
ing brigadiers can get their straps on
and under pay, but to strike quick,
strike hard, strike without regard to
cost or the feelings or interests of Eu-
ropean nations; strike, if half the navy
goes down before the victory can be
won, for once won the job is over and
done. If the European nations then in
their own interests do not withhold
Spain from suicide, we will in protect
ing our own take care of her.