Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-20
THEIR CAMPAIGN DODGE.
SilVerites Trying to Make Trouble
in Cuba.
HOSTILE WAR POLICY
Effort to Arouse Prejudices of For
eign-Bor Citizens for Pol
itiea1 Effect.

There are indications just now in some
OF the Bryan and other rotten money
organs of a concerted effort to work, I'D
hostility to the policy which the admins
tratlOn may adopt in sending troops TO
Cuba for the purpose of preserving order
there during the period Of transition from
Spanish misrue and oppression to the
organization of a republican form Of gov
eminent. 1t is evident, however, that the
whole scheme originates in the malice of
an office-seeking crowd, who are looking
about for some sort of an issue in the
campaign just opening.
Who knows just yet how many soldiers
it may be deemed necessary to send TO
Cuba or how long they will STAY there :?
The President has no intention to send
single man more than may be necessary
to insure peace and quiet from the outset.
The smallest number that will co the
work Of pacitication and insure order will
be sent, and these will be gradually with
drawn and mustered out as their services
can be dispensed with.
The two factions-the Cuban insurgents
and the Spanish loyalists-must not be al
lowed to resume the work of numbering
each other and destroying property cut of
hatred and revenge. The insurgents must
not be permitted to carry on a guerrilla
warfare either against the Spanish prop
erty owners who remain or the American
government while engaged in its TASK Of
pacifcation. What is wanted is absolute
peace and order and complete security for
life and property. In this there is no in
vasion of the rights of the insurgents, but
the fulfillment of the work undertaken by
the government when it interviewed
against Spain. If 10000 American sol
diers are required there at the outset they
should be sent without hesitate ton, and
when not needed recalled and mustered
l. II
the number needed will not exceed 40.
OOO-likely to consist chiefly of regulars
and cOlored immunes-and before spring
it is doubtful if there will be $4,000 men
in American uniform in the whole island.
As soon as complete order is assured in
Porto Rico 10000 talked of for service
there will probably be reduced to less
than half that number-though as a part
of our American possessions our right to
maintain any force there we choose can
not be questioned.
After the War of the Rebellion the
great Union army in the South was
speedily reduced to less than 100000 men
then to 50,00O-neXt to 25,0OO-and
finally to less than 10000 men for the
whole South. There is no disposition on
the part of the administration to maintain
large standing armies in the country any
where. The policy is to depend upon just
laws equitably ministered-protecting
every man in his individual right to life,
liberty, property and an equal scale of
taxation, with justice to all. This policy
produces cOntentment and renders stand
ing armies unnecessary. A few soldiers,
acting in cases of emergency, as police
for the state governments, the United
States courts and the enforcement of the
federal laws, are all that are needed in
time of peace and all that Will be called
into service.
The Democratic leaders and champions
of rotten money and Reputation are rails
ing this cry against the employment of SOL
diers in Cuba and Porto Rico just now as
a sort of campaign battlecry and to stir
up the prejudices of foreign-born citizens
for political effect. 1t is a mere office
seeking and electioneering dodge, all the
more contemplate from the corrupt, dis
honorable and unpatriotic motive which
prompts it. If they had any sound or
honorable principles on which to stand
they would not find it necessary to resort
to such paltry trick in lieu of argument
Chicago Tribune.