New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-10
CONSEQUENCES TO BE CONSIDERED.


There ought to be no doubt whatever about
the decision of the people this year in favor
of sound money and the Republican policy
both in Congress districts and in the State
Legislatures by which United States Senators
are to be chosen. But it seems little prema
ture to say. as some do, that such result is
already insured, or that all mlsapprehcnsions
regarding the conduct of the war have been
removed. The sensational and often wildly cX-
aggcratcd stories which were extensively pub
lshcd for some months did unqucstOnably pro
ducc the widespread impressions which justified
TIC Presidents request that men of hgi stand
ing aud character should make searching i'll
quiry and report the facts without any varnish-
inE The testimony received thus far has been
remarkably clear and strong, and, considering
the peculiar confidence which the public will
rightly place in the evidence Of such men rs
General Wheeler and some others, evidence so
nvlncing could hardly have been anticipated.
But it is not yet certain that all the impressions
produced 10y months Of constnn: eXaggcratlon
and misrcprc Scn,ation have been removed.
One feature of the ease which many are likely
To overlook is that The public cannot generally
realize how greatly the health, condition and
treatment of tie soldiers depended upon their
In most cases without experience in actual war
fare or in field duty. 1t is tie most natural
thing in the world that such officers shonld in
many eases be more ready 10 blame others than
10 take upon themselves fnll responsibility for
ali the consequences Of their own mcXpcricncC
Nor Is ii strange that the accounts and cN-
plantations brought home by such officers should
lie credited by many persons, the more because
Il, fos.1 y,
and result from the same want of knowledge
and experience which caused much Of the evil.
Such evidence as has been given by Generals
Wheeler. BOynt0n and others will remove n
good deal of misunderstanding. but may not
suffice TO remove all.
1t will hardly do to take 1t for granted or to
omit any proper effort TO make the public de
cision clear and uncquivocal on the right side.
There is far too much at stake to make any risk
permissible Every one knows that there are
wide differences between Spain and the United
States respecting terms of peace, and that Spain
will be UNNECESSARILY less likely TO yield If led
70 believe that the American people have no
longer the disposition to uphold their Gov
ernment Nor can any doubt that the election
OF Democratic Congress, or even the defeat
Of the Presidents supporters IN this State,
would 60 far to create that impression In
Suanis.i minds. Hence II Is that a renewal OF
The war with indefinite possibilities OF inter
ference by some European Powers, may lac
among tic consequences dependent upon .hc
action Of tho peoplc NJ the ballot-boY. Adverse
votes or even mere hesitation there may cause
much hloodshed and suffering and costly
struggle before this country can reap the fruit
of lis PAST victories.
And the effect upon the business and indus
tries Of the people could hardly fail TO be dis'
astrous. Apart from the fact thar possible
renewal Of war would OF itself disturb bust
ness, any revival Of uncertainty about the
money question would inevitably have that III
flucnce II Is possible TO be measurnbly certain
how war would end. But no one could be III