Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
We Are ReeGneiled but Not Enthusiastic.

DO the best we can, strain our pa
triotism to its highest and still we can
not become enthusiastic supporters of
the present war. Our heart is not in
it, our sympathies are of course loyal
to our government, because we will
not swap it for an enemy or foreigner,
but we do not admit that our country
is doing any big thing, when it under
takes to seize the last vestige of out
lying territory of a poor weak old
nation like Spain, no matter what
our excuse may be or how great
the provocation. 1t looks now as if
those who brought about the war, could
have second chance, they would let
it alone. Now that they, have it they
seem not to know exactly what
to do with it, and would like
some body to come in and help them
drop it. But who can fight vigorously
an enemy he pities. Who can harm
one who is the object of his pity and
for whom he feels sorry? This is no
conflict which stirs the blood Of the
patriot, but on the other hand the
weakness and imbecility Of every ele-
ment which could inspire our soldiery
should we be beleaguered by great
enemy our homes threatened by de-
termined and dangerous, foe, or de-
stroyed before our very eyes, But see
ing that the power Of Spain must
cease, knowing that she is totally in
capable of governing as becomes civil
lied people of the present day, remem
bering that at home and in her pro
vinces oppression and slavery coupled
with bloodshed and riot have marked
every step of her history, for more
than three hundred years, we are re-
conciled to what we have undertaken,
and we have precedent for it in the &C
tton Of powers in Europe.
From the return of Ferdinand VII,
in 1916, from captivity in France and
his annulment of the constitution of
1912 her history at home has been that
of revolution and civil war.
To restore some appearance Of peace
to the revolution-ridden people of
Spain the French, in 1928, under the
Duke of Angouleme, marched from the
Pyrenees to the Straits of Gibraltar,
compelling a cessation of civil war.
The Carlists' war, beginning about
1880, has, with varying fortunes, become
chronic, threatening new revolution
every year since and seriously at pres
ent.
In an effort to recover the lost South
American provinces her army assem-
bled on the Island of Leon, revolted,
and turned their arms, under Riego,
against the Government of Spain.
The early collapse of a short-lived
republic, which was interposed be-
tween the quarreling factions of the
Bourbon dynasty, demonstrates that
it is not the form of government but
the incapacity of the Spanish people
for any kind OF government that
brought this trouble upon her and up.
on US. Cuba has been in revolution,
with active war, sometimes fragrant
and some years in allegiance, but new
er in settled condition, for over thirty
years. So that for nearly century
the history of Spain tells only of riot,
revolution. and civil war, the embar-
rassment of heavy income tax, the de-
struction of the public debt, the con-
fiscation of titles and of land rights
of poverty at home and devastation in
Cuba
This must cease for the general peace
of this country, and the sooner the
better. And now that we are about it |
let it be gone through with decency
and despatch.
The grand jury at Glennville, W. |
Va, on Saturday last brought in an !
indictment charging forgery against !
Gov. Atkinson's wife. She was at |
once brought into court and held to
appear under So. 900 bond.
Mr.. W. E. Mountjoy died few days
ago at Mount, his home, in Stafford
county, after short illness of pneu