Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-17
Local Items.
CASTORIA
For Infants and Children.
=: =. ZMAzzx( =: ; *
NOLess Threatening.

The past seven days have added nothing
1, to the argument for peace and has added
many items of evidence that war is at our
dior.
eDreadful Ms is the thought of war and Ger.
Tim as it is that every energy Of christian
jeople should be bent to avert it, yet under
he surface of every expression OF sincere
.ope and of every diplomatic disclaimer, Iy'
g so shallow as to be painfully apparent,
the evidence of almost certain belief that
be dogs of war" are Juggling at the lash,
worn almost to single strand, with no voice
of authority to call them in.
We have learned nothing during the past
month that has changed the view expressed
by us that long ago, that Spain, realizing
hat Cuba is lost to her, must charge that loss
10 other than her own inherent weakness.
that a revolution at home may be averted.
The blowing up of the warship, Maine, is
but an incident in the policy of that nation,
as regards the United States; one calculated
to expedite matters, hewever, but none the
less Just one of The steps towards the rupture
that must come, if SPANS dignity is to be
maintained and Cuba lost.
1t may even be that Spain has dreams OF
European aid in such war; there may be
grounds for hope of these things on her part,
if the alleged dtian, utterances of the Ger
n.au Kaiser were really spoken and if the
suspicious things reported about Austria
have any significance or foundation in fact
That some one or more of the nations of
Europe have been inimating something of
the sort We believe to be true and TO haYc
given occasion to the unusual uteraLces in
the British Parliament and LondTn news
papers during the past week. We refer to
the raising and open discussion of the ques'
ton of an alliance between Great Britain
and the United States in case Of war between
the latter and an European nation. We
have doubts concerning the sincerity of these
suggestions. so far as any real belief that any
step would or could be taken, but we do be-
/ lieve that England's earnest desire is that
peace may be maintsined, on account of the
Immense commercial interests at stake. and
, that these hints of a possible alliance are in.
, tended to discourage such as might be con-
sidering the step of sidi-g Spain in war
with this nation.
or one thing we may feel assured, that il
the Maine was blown up by mine or tor
pedo, especially the former. Spain will have
to acknowledge her liability, apologize for
her inability to prevent the crime, pay for it
give up Cuba-or fight. That she will Tight
we believe and have said why we believe it,
it is now only question of time and in our
opinion, of days or at most, of weeks.
Coop IDEA A number OF Maryland
towns have secured the passage of = Local
Law giving them portion of the road tax
assessed on the property of the towns. AS
the county is relieved from keeping up that
much county road and as the streets are q
considerable item of cost in town govern.
ment, this is no more than just and right.
proposition that was made bv some of our
liens to secure such legislation for the
eft of Thurmont met decided objection
the part of many of our people and the
liter was dropped. The argument used
gainst 1t is that the country people will OBJ.
ect and visit it upon the town by refusing
TO patronize the business men. We are Of
The opinion that they will do business where
I best suits them; where they can get what
they want and that there is very little cutting
of of noses to spite their own faces on The
part of our neighbors.
Every incorporated town is entitled to q
portion of the road tax levied upon its prop
erty, by no means all OF it; they should ask
for it, when they would get It,