The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-25
rxrERMrrrExr WAR CLOUDS.

INTERMITTENT WAR CLOUDS.
Ia b much is being written and printed about the
11exican situation" from the American view
Int, that 1t is almos, as difficult for the aver
- man To get coherent idea about it as 1t IS
- 4 woman to select her spring millinery.
III Al the front we have conservative correspon'
eusx, sen sationai reporters. jngos and optimists
zkewise among those present are omniscient
g1k6T correspondents. seeking the bubble reputa-
Sf0n even in the cannons mouth and the
&xuthful scribe who frankly admits that the
1tnation battles him. All he can do is PICK
80 the most plausible gossip and file" 1t.
Us When our troops were sent to the Mexican Dor
M there vas talk of Mexico resenting It, of the
s3nsargents and federals burying their differences
~ fxce common foe This followed by an
announcement that peace was in sight, that the
Insurgents realized that the United States was
g$A sympathy with the Mexican government. and
sH would be folly for them to do other than lay
lawn their arms and cheerfully submit to con
A1asuation Of that against which they rebelled.
e% within the past several days. however. from
NUE. front-and We use this term with fun real
NATION Of its meaning there have come reports
which should give the American people serious
4AonSht as to the consequences OF our troops be-
ms hurried to the border land. We depreeate
swar. We believe II entirely unnecessary in this
E&nsightened age. and deem it most deplorable at
Mi times. Notwithstanding this however. af-
s3AiTs are shaping themselves on the Mexican
Aorder that optimism has begun to wane- We
RNfaee little credence in the sensational stories
S%bont Japanese Mexican alliance. although 1t
Noes appear that this country has smoked a
icon out OF tree" II = not with affectionate
international entanglements that this country Is
In reckon. so much affairs the border land
letween the United States and Mexico
Z Early In 1898 we sent the battleship Maine TO
havana harbor as sort of warning to the Span.
IN people that we intended keeping watchful
sNye over Cuba. The Maine was destroyed and
aprH than 250 lives lost. The Maine may have
80 blown up by an inside explosion. and 1t may
I've been undermined by Spaniafds. How thu
Maine went to her doom is beside the mark al
eEkis time. The fact still remains that her de
.ffuction and the loss OF so many American lives
3Eecipitated war Certainly II resulted in a
ngt thorough victory for this country and es
zAhlished the United States as a world power
INT. nevertheless. II was which. from fair
INA Just standpoint. should not have been fought
8 The Spanish-American was brought on
III rather the spark was touched off--by the
Moving up OF the battleship Maine and the bat
E6@cry throughout the strife was, Remember
N Maine Since the presence of the Maine ir
kvAna harbcr. and what happened to her soor
&ter her arrival there. provoked the Spanish
merican war. II Is logical to assume that had
- not been sent there the war would moi
Are occurred. Cuba was being oppressed, and
Nr sending the Maine Havana harbor was
Into bloody conflict for our pains. and for the
Skrfdce Of human lives and the enormous ex
adifure OF money incident to that sacrifice. this
titan has been repaid by the Cuban people with
- basest ingratitude and the most wanton Sian
~ vicinity OF Mexico. as sent the battleship
afne to Havana harbor. We have read with
Ant degree OF truth we are not prepared to say
6ot Mexicans. Federals and Insurgents alike
nEe been firing across the border and bullets
~ whixzed around the heads of American sol
erx There 10 an ugly and foreboding atmos-
Here around the border land which must be
nrfAed one way or another. The question is,
ow Is the situation to be cleared, Public opin-
" and the yellow journals did a vast deal to.
atd bringing en- the war between Spain and
~ United States. and these same forces are
tat actively at work in the interest of war be
Neen this country and Mexico. The American
&pp1s have shown themselves quick to resent
1fgnity Indignities have been committed
inst the American troops in Texas. and more
~ follow
10 are not crying war, but we fear the
ex10an situation" portends Ill.
MORE sACRILEGE.