Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-16
SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1898

WHEN THE war for Southern indie
pendence began, both sides were deluo-
ed by the cry that it would last but
thirty or sixty days, and, in the North,
manv regiments were actually enlisted
for the former term. Even in the South,
most of the enlstments were for year
only. How grievously both sides were
disappointed! Remembrance of the
four long years of suffering and sorrow
which followed will cease with death
only. Now the war advocates are sure
that the contest into which they are
pluuging the country, without the
slightest necessity, will be short and
brilliant one; that Spain will be hum
bled. if not ruined, in one short aud
sharp campaign; and that the angel OF
peace will again hover over the land
and over Cuba, bearing the laurel
crown and the palm of victory. Have
these men considered what Spain has
been? even what she is? Do they re-
member the eight hundred years dur
ing which her feeble, yet ever increas-
ing forces, strove with the Moslem, I'M
til, at last, under Ferdinand and Isabel
10, they redeemed their native land
from Moorish rule? Have they for.
gotten that less than a century ago
when delivered by their captive king
into the hands OF the greatest warrior
earth has ever seen, their courage did
not fail and that they at last succeeded
with the aid OF England, in driving the
French from their country? That the
spirit thus always shown has not de-
parted is proved by what we read o
their opposition to the concession;
made by their governmentupon the prr'
dent advice of their spiritual father and
of other nations, and still more so by
what is told by the French papers con
corning the offering Of the most treas
ured Jewels of the oldest families fcl
sale in aid of their country's cause
Ara such people to be easily subdued
WHAT is seen here? There is plenty o
hurrah end apparent enthusiasm, bu
that won't gain victories; there must b'
men and money. There are plenty o
both, but are they being freely offered
It is printed that it is difficult 10 ge
competent men enough TO man TIT
ships, and, certainly, enlistments ant
volunteering for the army do not, II
the slightest degree, compare viii
those of 1861, either in the North o
the South. Patriotism in words cost
nothing; in acts it demands sacrifice; i
that sacrifice being made? Will Crane
Army men and Confederate Vet
erans-all men over military ag'
make successful soldiers now
DO the able bodied young men who
want Spain wiped out, show their pa
triotism by eniisting? Congress and
legislatures vote money freely enough
but lobbyists flock to the Capitol to beg
that taxes be not increased on thea
productions, but be raised in some other
way. What does all this mean, but
that the mass Of the people think there
is no occasion for war and do not want
it without occasion. Let them speak
out boldly and say so. There is yet
time if they will act promptly. Sena-
tors are bound to talk, and while they
are talking men cau write to their rep
resentatives; shower in remonstrances
upon upon them, and tell them that
Notwithstanding their overwhelming
msjorities, defeat awaits them at the
polls if they persist in their present
course. Spain has now conceded all
that the honor of nation will permit;
Cuba has gained all that the happiness
of her people requires; the United
States have done all that their duty to
Civilization and humanity" demands,
and much that it did not demand, and
if Americans pause now in the mo-
ment of true victory, aud show their
true greatness, all the nations will re-
spect them far more than they will il
they gain the greatest victories pos
sible in the war, for Peace hath lis
victories as well as war;" and victories
to which those of war bear no real COM
psrison.
THAT FREE institutions have reached