The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-20

the Spaniards TO preserve their miserable
lives. Is not this an aifectation OF hu-
manity, coming as IL does, from the peo-
pie who sent through our southern land
such men as Sherman, Sheridan. Wilson,
Butler Kautz. Uric Dahlgren. or Of Sec
rotary of War stanton, whose inhuman
policy of refusing TO exchange prisoners
of war caused more deaths and suffering
than any two battles OF the war; ana
others whose sole idea Of war seemed 10
be expressed by the remark OF Sheridan
that he would lay the Valley OF Fir-
ginia so waste, and make IL such desert
that q crow flying across the country
would have to carry his ration5 with
him"
These people for some personal ground
are demanding an Intervention on the
part Of the United States in matter ia
which the United States has no earthly
interest.
Now. an examination OF the columns
of the newspapers may develop some OF
the reasons for this clamOr for war ana
its consequent horrors. You cannot PICK
up paper in which you do not find that
the bethlehem Iron Works, the Carpen-
ter Iron Works and other large manufac-
turing establishments in the Republican
States are receiving orders which require
the entire plant 10 be worked night ana
day TO keep up with the government Of
ders; that the Union Metallic Cartridge
Company the Winchester Repeating
Arms Company, and other establishments
manufacturing war materials, nave re-
ceived large orders from the government.
and this S5OW0OoQ. so ghDly voted away
in face of the probable deficit, and OF the
currency problem-a problem that shoulu
occupy the entire time and attention or
COngress-is to be spent amongst inc
faithful few 10 whom Mckinley Is oDug-
ed for that wave OF prosperity Wnlcn ne
seems TO be determined 90 bring 10 that
part OF the country from which the sub
stantial contributions were made az the
time OF his election. This may DE pros
perity but Il is prosperity at the expense
OF the other portions OF the country. who
have to pay their part OF the taxation IN
order that these munitions or war may
accumulate and probably never be used,
and that a large part Of the to0OOVD VIII
be spent in a restricted part OF the coun-
try. Where does the South and West
come I'm for this prosperity We receive
no part of the 100000. We derive no
benefit from the preparations for war
But, on the contrary, our cotton ana our
tobacco are affected in such a way as TO
cause an absolute loss 20 the southern
people made by this war clamor.
IL would be very easy for the RepuDli-
can Congress. by an additional tax on
tobacco. cotton ties biDding tWine, etc,
10 recoup the government for great deal
of this 100000 The probabilities are
that this will be the next cry, ana the
people of the South will have 10 pay twice
for the prosperity enjoyed by the few
20 be the favorites of the government.
What good are we Of the South and
West to derive from these great prepare
lions SO hastily made and this money so
rashy spent2 We do not seem ito be in
tt While there is no section OF the
country more loyal TO the government
and more willing In case OF an inevitable
or a necessary war 10 send its men ana
devote it's money 10 sustain the honor OF
the government. We think the Southern
papers should enter their protest against
the deliriOus, iniiammatOry and crazy eN-
pressions of the Northern papers, and en-
davor TO let the world see that these Few
New York papers do not express the sem
timents OF the majority of the people or
the country.
You are more competent than any other
man know TO write on this subject. and,
IL the above suggestions meet your views.
i should be only too glad 20 see them
expressed in your own inimitable way.
though you may think II not eXpedient,
but the temptation TO speak out in meet
ing what you think, especially under
circumstances like these. Is very strong.
But after reading the papers with their
loaded lines and nflammatOry headlines.
and on almost every column statement
OF the preparations made by the few con-
Germs for war the spirit moved me 10
write you this letter. which | can no more
help than l can help saying imprudent
things In matters Of Importance where /
feel that ] and the people among whom
l live are misrepresented. j. b. VI.
Richmond, Va, March Is. 1898.