The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1898-03-04
A Real Blood Remedy.

The following editora al, clipped from
the Courier journal, sums up the III ms
ii the United States in case OF war
with Spain;
In spite of the hot war fever it is sur
prislng how few have any definite iiea
nov war with spain i to be c,rried
on. his Is the more worthy o. notice
b tcaUS2 as u e, a war, like a news
paper, is something which every body
KnoWs how to conduct except tne men
actually assaying the task.
1t Is generally assumed that it would
DC mliniy Il naval war, but this rot
so certain, 1t Is taken for granted
that Spain would not undertake to
land troops in the United States, with
view of penetrating into the IN terror.
because OF the practical certainty that
they would never get back. This
would not prevent att Io!Is upon weak
points in or near the coast, provided
the enemy were not kept too busy.
elsewhere 10 permit him to indulge IN
1t sort of pastime. The difficulty in
q nyeying trCoTs across the ocean in
the face of Il hostile fleet mirht pre-
vent any invasion of Spain by our
troops. But with Cuba the case is
diffe ent
The distance from Florida TO Cuba is
SO small that q lew hours steam;ny
would permit the landing of American
,roJps on the island under the protect
Il n of cur warships. The Spaniards
have already all they can do to hold
their own there against the insur-
gents, and the coming OF our troops in
any considera bic NUN bers would make
the island too not to hold them. ugya-
ma would necessarily fall either as the
Prey I our fleet. assaults from the
land side or both combined. This ac-
complished, the war would problbly
progress on the ocean until one or the
9Th nav was hors du combat.
50 far conjecture is easy enough.
hough IL might possibly be very lar
IF m what would actually hapren.
But the question how the two nayies
W nj be handled is ono OF no little
So III .ude. Would the Span h navy b
coma 'ntratei ut Havana, or bout tn.
coast o. Cuba, to fight it out with ,ur
ships. or to prevent the landing os
troops? 1t is not so certain that Spain
would do that. She might have the
saSacity to perceive that Cuba couli
not be eifectuailv protected. and might
prefer to ordcr her navy to prey on
our comm cree, or attack such OF our
sea6oard cities as appear likely to Of
fer but feeble resistance Our for
elgn commerce carried under the
American hig Is not very extensive,
b there are still n number o. steam
ships that would make valua BILE prizes
II the Spaniards could catch them.
Besides the entire cOasting trade is
n a
the aggregate must amount to a good
deal. The number of cities that could
b, destroyed by BON bardment bv a
fl let. or put under contribution to
avoid such fate. is disagree able
subject to conte mplate, without going
into particulars. o. course, our coast
defense vessels an such other portions
of the navy as were not needed for:
other purposes would do their best to
head off any such attacks, but our
SHIPS could not be everywhere. AMI
the Spanish ships. if they eluded our
navy, woull be able to select their
owl points at which to strike.
The notion that Spain would be
aidel by any other European Power
is rather far-fetched France. to which
Spain has been looking, already has
chestnuts enough in the fire; so have
Germany and Russia. Earring con-
tingencies of an improbable character.
tie fight would be between Spain and
the United States. OF the ultimate
result there can be no doubt, bat it is
quite possible, even probable, that
this country would sustain very great
losses. 1t may be added that Spain is
too roor to pay an ind. unity except
by ced.ng Cuba.