The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-26
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 26. 1s9s.
WILT PEACE OR WAR?

upon the Spaniards. Mr. Charles H.
Cramp. head OF the Cramp shipbuildins
firm of Philadelphia who naturally wishes
20 see the government build an indefinite
number Of warships as that would mean
much business and large profits for him.
said Monday night at the annual dinner
OF the Netherlands Society in Philaqel-
phia. In answer to the toast Of "Tromp'
'Tromp was a fighting patriot. He be-
l;evcd that war was the best means OF
resisting aggression, the best retort 10
insult And so believing, he made war
OF the kind that hurts. But If Tromp were
an American, holding at the end OF the
nineteenth century the views he held as a
buchanan at the beginning OF the seven
teenth. he would be denounced by every
Tory sheet from Boston ana New 1ork
10 San Francisco as a lingo.
''He would he held up by newspaper
printed in the United states but edited
abroad-held up TO scorn by such papers
ms the enemy of the doctrine OF arbitra-
lion: the foe OF the policy of peace at
any price: the antagonist OF the theory
now almost. If not quite, uppermost in
this country. that any ignominy. any
humiliation. any surrender Of rights IN
terests or principles on our part are IN
nnitely preferable to war
Van Tromp was a fine old sailor, but
he was no more of fighting patriot
than those Americans who abhor war
who look upon It asa the greatest ca
lamty that can befall their country, and
who insist that their country shall play
exactly the same part amongst all ma
tions that self-respectins gentleman
plays amongst men that are so fierceiy
denounced by Mr.. Cramp in his feverish
anxiety 10 swell the profits Of Cramps
shipyard.
These imperturbable and self-respect-
Ing Americans are not only ready to see
their country fight If real occasion for
war arises. but they will not tolerate her
failing TO fight II another nation assumes
a position I'm regard TO her or her rights
which her dignity or her duty TO herself
requires her TO resent. They insist. how
ever. that she shall enter upon war. If
she enters at all. as a move dictated by
reason and due regard for the princi-
pies Of even-handcd justice and not as
the frantic and hysterical gyrations of
ar cxcitable absinthc drinker recovering
from dcbauch
rhc most conservative and even-tem-
pcred Americans viii approve of the Pre-
sidents action In sending the warshio
Maine to Havana. rae state of popular
feeling in that city. coupled with the
rotous outbreaks that occurred there re-
Gently. make II apparent to every one that
General Lees life is not safe there now
without The presence OF one OF our most
formidable battleships His chyalrous
courage win not permit him 20 ask the
government 10 send a ship there for his
protection. but the governments duty TO
shield him thoroughly and completely
from any possibility of harm so far as It
can is none the less imperative upon that
account. The President was right. there
fore TO send the Maine 20 Havana. and II
the Maine is unequal to the task OF
thoroughly guarding both General Lee
end other American citizens there he
should add the Indiana. the Massachu-
sctts and as many more ships as are
neressary. The Spanish are themselves
responsible Tor the conditions in Ha-
vana that makes our warships necessary
there. and n they choose now 10 regard
our act as q belligerent one We shan
have TO stand tho consequences and ac-
cep, war. We have not the slightest idea
that war will be the result OF our action.
our action Is reasonable. and no nation
that submits Itself to the rule Of reason
can take exceptions TO IL.
we were much struck with the follow
ing remarks made by Senior Quesada. OF
tte.Cuban junia. and Senior Albertinl OF
the Cuban staff. in Washington. when the
announcement was made that the Maine
had been ordered 10 Havana. Senior Que
fada said:
The sending OF the Maine 10 Cuba
whatever be the official version, Is. In
our opinion. the proof that things are
in such condition In the few Spanish
sfrongholds that anarchy reigns. and that
American citizens and property. unable
To find protection at tho hands OF the I'M
potent Spanish government, have now
the protection Of their own vessels. IL Is
3 declaration 80 the world that the United