The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
PORTSMOUTH LUCK IN WARS.
TOWN HAS MADE HISTORY. WHY
NOT AGAINf
Natives Banking sn Past Performances
for the success u This Conference
--Contrast q This Meeting Place and
the Palaces in st. Petersburg and Toxic.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H.. Aug. 7o.-You can
not mako your proud, genuine Portsmouther
believe that tho prospects for peace are
anything but brilliant. The wish Is father
to the thought. The backstairs confer
enoe, which bankers to get back to Wash
ington, New York or Paris. believes that
every meeting Is going to bring the break.
Portsmouth, which wants the peace named
after the town. can see only peace.
THE treaty Of Portsmouth why even
Washington would be proud Of giving its
name TO a treaty like this.
Portsmo nth has good unofficial reason
for the faith that il in II. Wherever history
is making, Portsmouth manages to tear
of it's share. Its luck is wonderful. In the
revolution they built the Ranger here,
and Paul Jones sailed his all victorious fleet
from the harbor Of Portsmouth. In the
War OF sl2 this was the main station for
fitting cut the American navy. The War
Of 1912 was a naval war as every one knows,
so that Portsmouth gets the lions share
Of the glory. Portsmouth didn't score very
hea Willy in the Mexican war, but then that
was an unjust imperialistic war anyway
and utterly unworthy Of the help Of New
England
In the civil war Portsmouth was the
muster place for the Yankee troops from
this part Of the country, Here when the
war began foregathered the Second New
Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col.
Gilman Marston, who was afterward the
most bestoried general officer In the Union
army. II was he who was once approached
by his chaplain, a Baptist, who told him
that rival regiment had just gone through
a great revival. The chaplain thought
that there should be an awakening in their
own regiment. Damn EN-. there will
be, said the General, and forthwith ordered
detail out to be baptized. Gen. Marston
once refused to put his troops aboard q
transport. saying that he brought the
Second New Hampshire out to fight and
not to drown The Kearsarge was built
at Portsmouth The Union army with
Gen. Marston's aid won the war The
Kearsarge smashed the terror Of the Con-
federate navy. Portsmouth luck again.
You wouldn't think that Portsmouth
would get into little affair like the Spanish
war, fought by regulars and rough riders
away down in Cuba, but she did. For it
was to her that they brought the Spanish
naval prisoners. The United States won
the Spanish war in a walk. Portsmouth
luck.
In the face Of this evidence 1t lis utterly
iuconceivable to the Portsmouth mind
that this conference should not result in
peace and that the peace should not be
named after the town. To deny this would
be to assert that Portsmouth's historical
luck has taken total flop.
SKETCH OF CONTRASTS.
A little debate in the palm garden to-day
set us talking and thinking Of the serious
affair at which We are assisting here. 1t is
hard to remember that the bargain is for
treasure so big as to be past imagination
for the future of nations, that upon l.s
issue hangs the possibility OF 100, 900 TRACE
dies in the paper houses of Nippon and
the nuts OF Muscovy. And we fell to mar
vel ing at the contrast between the game
and its field. At Toxic, at St. Petersburg
and at the Wentworth, New Castle, n. H..
they are threshing out the question Of
peace.
At st. Petersburg the Gar and his Grand
Dukes hold counsel in the palace OF hum
dred tragedies. They move through dark
and splendid corridors, where life guard
and Cossack salute as they pass; they meet
in the chamber Of state with all the for
mality of empire. Before the palace ten
regiments keep guard against an unquiet
people.
In Toxic the Mikado confers with the
elder statesmen in Chiyoda Palace, the
ancient castle Of Tokugowa the Shotgun.
The elder astesmen pass into far chambers
OF the palace, where none of inferior rank
may pass; beyond are the sacred habita-
lions OF tho Emperor himself, wherein none
but Princes enter. Regiments guard this,
too; the splendor Of the East with the mill
tary display Of tho West.
Here In Newcastle, N. H., in the wooden
hotel built BY . plain Yankee citizen as a
summer resort. four gentlemen in frock
coats, representing . big slice OF the brains
In the Japanese and Russian governments,
are meeting in tho Office Of a general stores
building living amongst summer girls and
tennis men. getting their washing mixed
with the shirts. collars and lingerie Of a
family in the Wholesale grocery business
in Portland. Maine, and having their dress
waistcoats mixed with those OF Pittsburg
people in the steel business.
a.. In the immediate background are i'm
promptu dances, bridge whist tournaments,
the floss, frivolity and Irritation Of sum-
mer hotel. In the less immediate back
ground arc two quaint sleepy and friendly
New England towns For pomp and parade
there arc five marines. who sit by the gate
of the Kittery yard When the corporal
in command sees tho automobiles Of the en-
voys coming he says, All out you, and the
marines fall in and salute.n the chauffeur
isn't too fast for them. There are also, six
Secret Service men in straw hats and an
automobile blackboard and one gentleman
in white hannels. and q yachting cap, who
represents the majesty Of the State Depart
ment and goes ahead TO make arrange
ments. II these aren't contrasts the back
stairs conferees won't take cent.
WHITES JOKE.
MIR. Witte took another walk toward
New Castle this morning. He u not a good
walker. He carries his great bulk with
gait which suggests a limp. On the way
down he met at the turn Of the road cor
respondent whom he knows and who
speaks French.
Monsieur" said M Witte, Il have an
important piece of news for you.
A. l-pA