Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10

pTlhNlHS GDOt uub, wv lOt uhbluudl ub
fence, to be expended at the discretion
Of tho President of the Unitod STATES,
was q movement 10 the direction OF
peace, nut war. And this improved
tonu Of the Cuban pows, this morning,
Ghowing decidedly pacific feeling on
tho part OF Spain, 10 ample proof Of the
efficacy of tina action. For MOVE travels
ia1t in these days OF applied science,
and there IL no doubt that thu action OF
the House in voting unanimously for
the appropriation was known in Spanish
Official circlaa in Madrid, very few
minutes nftor the vote was Tailed and
the result announced.
This action was taken in accordance
with this we'll known and practical
adage, I'm time of peace, prepare for
war; aud also, in pursuance Of tho
policy that the very best safeguard
againat war is to be prepared 10 meet
It, In European nations, this principle
is exempliiied in huge staining armies
and complete systems of fortiteation,
but such provisions are not needed in
this country. Our situation, and the
tumpcr of our people, do not require
them. 1t is only sufficient, in crisis
like this, 10 show that the people are
unit for the common defence, and stand
ready to furnish men and money, shius
and guns. to protect the country should
the emergency arise.
1t is hoped that the necessity of ex-
pending $50. 1000, 900 for war purposes
will not arise, anu the present outlook
is that it will not. Better fur for the
country will it be il tho existing con
ditions not only continue, hut grow
better, and tho Spanish ENHANCEMENT
ia Strengthened cut without any resort
to shot and shell. We do mot want II
wnr, and will not have ono unless it is
furced upon us. Our national House of
Representatives, elected by tho people
Mt recent elenticn, and therefore
fairly representing public sentiment,
has, however, spoken in favor OF pre-
pariGg for war should war becume
necessary, and it now LOOKS us il this
declaration will prove sufficient. 4
country that can vote millions of dollars
in q fuw short hours to DO put into
active usu il necessary, 10 not country
that any foreign nation would care to
60 to war with OIL hand, and Spanish
iinsors, therefore, will be llkoly to stop
awhile and think several times bcforu
thoy speak once. AS for tho iingoos OF
this country, their voice ia only raised
for war whom all danger of armed con
ilict is paat.
Tho country. therefore, will sustain
the patriotic action OF the House Of
Representatives in voting an appropria
tion for tho national defence. 1t was
an act Of peace. not of war; and peace
is what the beat sentiment OF the nation
favors.
The sentiment Of the House is fully
expressed by member of the ad.
miniatratiun who Tuesday said to a
correspondent:
The assent Of the President to the
appropriation of defence fund wat
given not with the idea that we should
have reason TO use our dofences in a
war with Spain, for ali Of ua ara az
anxious as ever to avert war If that car
possibly he done. But. after looking
the whole matter over, il was deemed
wiser TO spend fifty millions, if nocss
sary, in making var impossible, than
to spend five Or ten times that sum, tc
say nothing of many human livos, il
actual warfare, il that should be Torcsc
upon US. The mEn who is known to be
armed. II personally Of peaceablo tam
per, stands less chance of having I
quarrel picked with him in a turbulen,
crowd than one whu is suspected o
being both peaeeable and dsfuncslsss.
Ihe armoa nation under certain cir
cumRtances enjoys like chance Of i'm
munity, ae compared with ono which i,
in no condition to arrest pttack.
So thers will DO, from this tim,
forth. no objection to the fullest all
vertisemcnt Of our resources for war
1t may not be prudent always 10 tax,
the Tholo world into cur confidence a
to whore and how tho money 10 to b,
laid out; but TINT We are uerfoctipt
our plans. and that thu last dollar Con
greas gives us will be spent, if necbu
sary, to procure the most effective
means OF defence, is no secret. Let i
DO always kept in view that the none,
voted is for the national defence, no
for an armament to encourage an,
aggressive or needlessly irritating con
duct on our part. The jingoes will fint
nc moro consolation in the alministra
tion's attitude now thun heretofore.
-.
II shall continue to do my duty
which lie to guard American interests. )
said Corsul General Lee, when auoB
TONED in regard to Spain's demand 70
his recall. There ia no doubt that HI
will, and that the American pcople vii
heartily sustain him, as they have thu
far.
Many people who cry aloud for wa
do not know what war is. Tho maj
OF forty only recollects, vaguely, th
close Of our Civil War, whom the troop
were coming home with banners wavinI
and banhs playing lively airs. Rea
war, however, ia very different affair
|
The lone of the local pulpit. Sun
day, was admirable. The excitin,
rumora from Havana wero counteracte,
| Inv repl uatriotip nppapIa 90 an 49, /