The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-04

III NClCIdUS lIOUj tIit ' VAJHIut "
the Rio Grandc who arc organizing
their delegations to attend the Con
fcdcratc reunion in Atlanta regard til,
WAT with Spain "a Il very small affair
when they compare it with that tire
mcndou, conflict which ragged between
the states Il generation ago.
an oll-timcr who remembers tho
conditions prevailing here during tho
sixties cannot fail to be amused and
surprised when he hears the talk OF
the younger men who are now discuss
ing the situation.
In our civil war the South va, III,
invaded section. During her heroic
struggle Of four years She VA, not able
To muster more than Gao, 900 men to
face the 5000, 900 foemrn whoa,sailci
her from every quarter. Cur terri
tory was Oycrrun, uui ports were
blockadcI and our soldiers and people,
without resources and credit. were
starved lutO SUBMISSION.
All that time the rich and progress
hivc North enjoyed her most prosper
Gus days. She had credit, home re-
sources, all the world to draw upon
for recruits, and there was no danger
Of IL destructive invasion.
SO the Northern people fattcncd
upon the war. Their currency was in
f1atcd; mmcr and industry -four
ishcd; the great West was built up:
there was work for everybody, and the
masses had more money, more com
forts and luxurics than they ever had
before.
Their prosperity was 50 great that
thousands Of contractors and manu-
facturcrs wanted to prolong the con
fict. They saw the bright side Of
war, and they cxcrtcd themselves to
delay the return Of peace. Their lob
byists tempered with the federal Con
grcss and courtcd the favor Of high
officials.
The whole North was drunk with
excitement. People ceased to hoard
money. and extravaganza and display
became the the order of the day. no
man. woman or child able to work or
willing to beg had any excuse for go
ing without employment. money and
tho comforts OF life.
The majority Of American million
aires date their rise from those turbu-
lent days.
1t is natural that the Southern pco-
pie should dread war under any cir
e~umstances, but there is no basis Of
fact for the apprehcnsions Of some
timid and inexperienced persons Tho
seem determined to do more than their
share Of talking and writing.
In q war with Spain, or any other
foreign country, the chances will be
altogether in our favor. The South,
in common with the entire Union, will
have little TO fear from an invasion.
No foreign army can be transported
over the sea in sufficient numbers and
with an equipment that will enable it
to march through States and lay their
cities in ashes, after the fashion of
Sherman. Possibly some of our sea
board towns may be bUmhardcd, but
there will be no fighting in the %intcri-
OF.
This country will be cvcn more al
v~antagcously situated than the North
was during the civil war, while Spain
will be, so far rs her Cuban territory
is concerned, as unfortunately situated
rs the South was from sixty-one to
sixty-iiyc. The Spaniards have Il toll
crably strong navy, but they cannot
raise large armies, nor can they pre-
vent us from blockading the Cuban
ports. They have little money and
no credit. and they are mcnaccd by
revolutions at home.
Should one or TWO European powers
side with Spain, the situation would
not be materially changed. Hostili-
ties would be prolonged, but VIC arc
able to put 10, 900, 900 men in the field
and build mightier | fleets than the
world has ever seen.
Europe snnot afford to fight us.
She must have II products, and it
serves Ter best interests to remain at
peace with us.
The old ConfcdcratcS who lived on
gunpowder and grit for four years
have no patience with the calamity
howlcrs of the new generation. who
are trnmring %up..cxcusc> for sinking
their duty when cthcir %rcountry calls
them to arms.
Gray-haircI Veterans liz. IA