The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-14
ETCHINGS FROM
CURRENT TOPICS

The oracle has spokeni The fiat has gone
forth. There need be no further uncer-
tainty about the personnel of the Amerf-
can army that may be speedily called upon
to emancipate the Cuban half breeds; to do
the bidding of the Cuban Junta, the bel
ligerent war correspondents, and the pug
nacious editorial writer's of the country.
General Joseph Wheeler, who CALAMITY
won his spurs In the late civil war, and
who has largely taken upon himself to lead
the war spirit in the lower house of the
national congress, has decided what class
of men shall compose the army, and with
becoming modesty he has informed Gov
ernor Johnston and the secretary of war
of his valuable views on the subject. Gem
eral Wheeler is entitled to great respect,
because of his splendid military record
during the years of 1876. and also of his
indefatigable efforts for the good of his
section as the representative in congress
from the Eighth Alabama district. He has
been both brave and energetic, but of late
he seems to be overcome with a zeal for
further military achievement that savors
strongly of a preparation for the approach
ing political campaign which will soon
wage in his district for the election of his
successor
General Wheeler has indicted an epistle
to Governor Johnston that is so warlike
In spirit and so belligerent in expression
that II has fallen like a great bomb in the
midst of the green fields andsquiet homes
of Alabama. OF course General Wheeler
could not foresee the alarming effect that
would be produced in this state by such
40,
so surrounded of late with Impatient
thousands who are demanding war;" with
the lurid glare of rockets, propelled from
the offices of correspondents with the
waving flags and with the bursts of the
never-ending flights of oratory from pa
triots who would claim exemption from
army duty before the first gun was fired
that he has overlooked the fact that Ala
bamians are still struggling and striving to
procure the bare necessities of life, and
are not hungering and thirtsing for more
poverty and hardship.
Still General Wheeler has written. He
has exploded a bomb in Alabama, and be-
fore the red light dies out one may read
his Hateful words, which are these:
Washington, D. c., April g.
TO His Excellency, Hon. Joseph f. john
Ston, montgomery, Ala:
MY Dear Sir:-It looks very much as
though we would now become involved in
war with Spain, and it would not surprise
me for the president to call for volunteers
in very short time. / am convinced that
the only men who could most safely go to
Cuba at this time would be those from the
gulf coast, and have so stated to the Sec
rotary of war.
II feel it the duty of every man who has
had experience in military affairs to ten
der any services you may direct. With
very high regard, Your 'obedient servant
"JOS. WHEELER"
General Wheeler is Justly entitled to his
views, as to the probability of an immediate
war with Spain.
If he has ever harbored doubt about
the possibility of speedy hostilities, he can
find ready assurance from the columns of
such dailies as the New York Journal, the
World, and few southern newspapers,
whose insistent "scare heads have done
their part towards misleading the repre-
sentatives at Washington, to the real
sentiments of the southern people in this
Spanish-American difficulty. But has Gen
eral Wheeler a right to suggest to Gov
ernor Johnston, or the secretary of war,
that the fighting should be done by Taen
from the gulf states? Why should southern
men be expected to bear the brunt of the
trouble? Why should they be chosen as the
only suitable men to furnish targets for the
Spanish bullets and the Spanish torpedoes?
If there is one section of the country in
which the masses of the people have taken
little part in forcing this issue 1t is the
SOUTH and 1t appears the height of absur-
dity and injustice to have General Wheeler
at Washington ''instructfng'' the war Sec
rotary as to the proprlety of fighting the
war that he-General Wheeler-has striven
to precipitate, with the men of the gulf
states
In his patriotic zeal General Wheeler is
| ready to sacifice the men of the south to
carry on a war that they had absolutely
nothing to do with in inaugurating. He fails
| to explain why the "only men who could go
| to Cuba, at this time, would be those from
the gulf coast" Is it because they do not
| object to epidemics Of yellow fever; be-
| cause they are good fighters, or is General
| Wheeler laboring under the impression
! that they are so unselfish that they are
| willing to leave their hungry wives and
| children at home, desert their offices, stores
| and little farms, and go gaily forth to per-
| ish either with yellow fever or from shot
| and shell in their magnanimous efforts to
| free the Cuban dogoes?
| One more letter such as General Wheeler.
| In some unguarded moment of hilarious pa
| triotic sentimentality indicted to Governor
| Johnston, and he will be an unknown, sad
| ly forgotten quantity in the coming con-
sressional race in the Eighth district
Southern men stand ready to do their
| duty at all times and in all emergencies,
| but that should not furnish reason to
| General Wheeler or any other congress
| man to insist that they and they only
| should do all the fighting in war they are
| entirely innocent of bringing about. 1t
| would be well if General Wheeler should
| HE himself to the secretary Of war and
| retract his instructions" to that high and
| mighty dignitary regarding the linen from
| the gulf coast 1t would also be well II
| no one man at Washington would essay
| to speak for the people of the south, I'M