El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-06-04
Don't be HysterlcaI.
Dallas New


The great newspapers of the United
States have q wonderful faculty for be-
coming ratified at inopportune times
and 1t 10 rather difficult to understand
Why this should be 90. 1t requires IN
usual intellectual equipment to pub
nsh . great newspaper, and in addi'
ton an abundance of tact and ordin-
arily . superabundance of p ain, every
day, common horse sense. Consider
ing the scope Of journalistic influence
and its responsibilities, the great
men first of all and under no circum-
cumstsnces should be the victims OF
unre asouipg emotions. They should
be acquainted with the laws OF COM
merce, the varied branches OF industry
and agriculture, and in no small degrees
with the elements of Craftsmanship.
They ought to be broad, wise men, and
they are 90 considered in ordinary
times.
But what sort of spectacle do many
OF them present now? Here the c0un-
try 10 in the throes of Q foreign war
aud apparently two-thirds Of the great
papers have the Mysteries. The ad-
ministration is being rasped fore and
aft because it has not sent Dewey as
sistance, because Cuba has not been
invaded, because Cervera's fleet has not
been destroyed, because Porto Rico
has not been taken and because of
men intrusted with the conduct of the
war. The actual war Is not six weeks
old and vet there Is widespread dis
satisfaction because Spain has not
been wiped of the map. Csndidly,
there IL very little sense in all this up
roar aud few moments reflection will
convince any reasonable citizen of it.
Now, take glance at the real situa-
ton. Little more than three months
ago the Maine was destroyed. The
cou atry was in no sense on q war foo:-
ng then. aud there was good reason to
bt lieve that there was still chance
for peace through diplomatic channels.
As time passed and evidences Of ap-
proa hing conflict began TO sccumu-
late, IS q matter of precsution an emer-
gency appropriation was passed to
ssreA CITIZEN the navy as far as practi-
cable and to hasten the completion Of
all projected coast defenses.
Needed ships were purchased, am
muni,ion and guns were contracted
for, coast guns mounted and plans ar
ranged for the defense Of che nation in
the event of hostilities.
Five weeks ago, the fOrmsl rupture
with Spain occurred. At that time
our standing army, numbering Is 600
men, was scattered over . territory
embracing over 1900, 900 square miles.
Msnifestly, this small number of sol
diers were not able to undertake the
great work which the war imposed,
especially the invasion OF tropic-
al islaods defended by about
100, 900 seasoned troops. In or
der to cope with the enemy on adj
vantageous terms, the president called
for volunteers to the number of Us, 900
and congress provided for increasing
the regular army to 1000 men and
other volunteers, such as immunes
and rough riders, to the number of 49,
600 were called for. There was no
lack of men. The response for volun-
seers came from every part of the |
union. But these men had to be
subjected to physical examination.
and organized by companies and !
reaiments. In addition the govern
ment had to contract for their arms, !
uniforms and accout-ements, trausror-
tation, mobilize them and organise
them Into brigades, divisions, corps, !
etc. The vast amount Of wsrk iavolv. !: