New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-05
THINGS Not TO BE EXPECTED.


The earnest desire for peace Is worthy oil
praise. hut does not justify accounts calcnlHed
10 create IN the popular mind false IDEAS oi 'H'
possible interruption Of business or injury 20
scacoast towns which might result from war
or wildly exaggerated conceptions or danger
Fidelity 10 the welfare and honor OF the couh-
fry demands TINT there should be- no panic
manufacturing at this juncture. whether Tor
selfish or higher motives. The straightforward
and careful statement Of the facts is warrant
Cd hut nothing more. The fact Is that ihere
Is no occasion 10 apprehend arrest or serious
interruption of any NJ the great departments
of business in this country in case OF war WIN
such Power as Spain. eXccp: sich seizure or
destruction Of merchant shipping * might oc-
cur mostly in distant waters. THIS would IN
decd involve much loss to individuals. But lit
lie over a tenth OF the imports by water INTO
The United States and exports by water from
the United States was last year In American
vessels 1t is not a fact in which Americans
can take pride. But il shows how small part
If the foreign trade is liable 10 interruption II
the further fact is considered that only about
a sixth Of the tonnage Of The United states
merchant marine IS employed In foreign trade.
most Of il being in lake. river, coastwi>c and
fishery service and that Of the foreign trade
a large proportion was by ferriaCc or short
trips from Canada. or from British Columbia
on the Pacific Coast or from Mexican ports on
the Pacific or in the Gulf.
These considerations reduce 70 n very small
proportion of foreign commerce the part which
Is liable 10 Interference by hostile vessels. But
respecting the part remaining. the constwise
t-oJc nj no sci injury n norris along the
scacoast, other facts have 10 be reckoned.
Spain cannot keep a1oat along his coast. thou
sands OF miles away from supplies Of coal. any
considerable number ~ vessels engaged IN
praving upon our commerce or threatening our
scaports For such "A purpose lis vessels could
not get supplies OF fuel from British or other
neutral ports nor could any privatccrs nttcd
out nv Span!ards. and from spanish ports IN tho
West indies both would be practically excluded
by our armed vessels unless they were con-
centrated In n strong fleet. against which forces
could be rapidly gathered FOR is blockade aud
destruction. 1t Is therefore pertinent 20 CON
slider wha, object would ne gained by n hostile
vessel sent on such cruise far from base OF
supplies Tho capture of sundry merchant YES
sells would offer no return OF consequence, be-
cause there IL no ready port into which prizes
could be taken for sale. could an armed
vessel afford TO load itself down with the goods
from merchant vessels in order 70 carry them
across the Atlantic To destroy a vessel md
cargo would bring no reward whatever for the
long and costly voyage. nor would Il lessen In
the least the fighting power or disposition Of
the United States.
What would be gained by sending n vessel
to destroy tll-forifcd towns along tho coast?
After the cost Of crossing the Atlantic and OF
tho voyage Of thousand miles or more from
Porto Rico. hostile ship presents itself before
n town along the coast. II can shell and de-
stroy. with no possible gain 10 the cause OF
Spain. bur in 80 doing would SGT AZ work wires
all along the coast and start ont vessels Of all
sorts 10 concentrate in that region. It's chance
Of escape would become practically nothing II
Il should repeat tho performance n little fur
Their up or down the coast and II II runs or
into the Atlantic far enough to cluIc discovery
and then turns back 10 repeat the nroad II
exhausts it's supply Of coal for n day or two
more. which cannot be reduced below the guam
tity required for n thousand miles or more
without leaving the vessel helpless and at the
mercy Of any foe.
It IS always possible that for hope Of gain
or advantage men VIII t.lkc u'SI"ruic fllHnFPS
but who would wish 10 risk n vessel. and the
cost of a voyage across the ocean. and his own
life besides. without chance Of gain or advan-
tage? II the Spanish Government could with
hope Of success attack any port Of importance
It might accomplish something In the way Of
vengeance. II not Of gain. But what port Of
that character could be attacked and its de-
fences overcome. and It's business laid under
contribution, before powerful feet of vessels
could be summoned by wire from other sea
ports for punishment? II would risk the de-
struction Of any feet nj the command OF Spain
to betray It's presence anywhere along the coast
n thousand miles away from Spanish coal
yards. The question whether Spain has fleet
that II wishes to risk on such venture leaving
IFS West India possessions undefcnded, Is one
which will be studied with great deal of scri-
BUSINESS by the Spanish Government before any
vessels are ordered on such an GRAND