Year: 1869

For years past, there have been s


class of people in~this country, whC


have an ideA that the United State!


would be vastly benefited in some way


or other by foreign war: and another
class who have a notion that the high


est evidence OF our progress and devel


opment is furnished by continually ad


ding great expanses to our territory
Sometimes these ideas meet with but 6
small degree of popular favor, but
there are other seasons when they
spread rapidly, and take strong hold o.
considerable numbers OF our people
Just now they seem to have a good
many disciples; but a close observation
will show that they are more active and
demonstratiVe than numerous. Some
of them talk and act as if they believe
that the best way to settle the Alabama
| difficulty is TO have war with Eng
| land. Others of them speak as if it
would be cheap way of getting Cuba
if we can find some pretext for Il war
with Spain. These ideas generally
originate in the excited political a:mos-
phere OF Washington, and there
are always sufficient number
of restless spirits about that city 10
spread them among the newspaper cor
respondents, and to promulgate them
through the lobbies of Government de-
partments. To these influences we at



Ing the early part of last week, TO the
effect that great pressure was being
| brought to bear upon the Government,
not only to recognize the independence
| of Cuba, but 10 bring about an armed
occupation OF the Island by the United
States. These rumOrs did not reach the
masses of the public as fully as they
did some OF those who are obliged TO
keep themselves thoroughly informed
as to what is going on in the national
capital. 1t was not only claimed that
such a pressure was in strong operation,
but that it was becoming effective. Up
on inquiry we could hear of nothing TO
justify this assumption of success. 1t
was clear enough that there was warm
sympathy for Cuba pervading nearly
all circles at Washington, as there is
nearly everywhere among the people;
but the idea of an armed Occupa-
ton did not seem to have made any
practical headWay at all. a Senator
of more than twenty years expe.
rience in the national councils, speak.
ing privately on this subject, expressed
his strong belief that the Government
of the United States could not be in
duced to depart from the honorable
course it has heretofore observed in its
relations with foreign powers; and he
put his view of the case very tersely by
saying: "What the country wants most
of all is continued peace; it should not
think of war, nor OF adding any more
territory just now, especially if the
addition to our territory will involve
US in war"


The Senotor referred to is distin-
guished Republican, but we do not
know how far he expressed the senti-
ment of his colleagues. However that
may be, he spoke what ought to be the
sentiments of them al, and of the other
side of the Chamber, too. Our citizens,
in their individual capacities, have u
perfect right TO express their sympa~
Ihies with every oppressed people. 1t
is natural and commendable in them
to do SO. 1t is not at all to be wonder
ed at that we all have warm feelings IN
favor of the struggling Cubans, and that
a desire for their success shows itself in
a hundred ways. Bat the Government
of the United States, acting as member
of the family of nations, has to be more
circumspeCt in its actions. 1t has al
ways observed decent respect for the
opinions of mankind in its intercourse
with other nations, and all citizens
should wish it to continue to do so. 1t
has q most honorable record, which
should be maintained unsullied, and
which i. should never think of stain
ing because IL few restless people have
a hankering after more territory, or
who think they can make most money
when the country is Mt war. 1t Is bad
day for both nation and people when
ever either gets accustomed to looking
upon war in any other light than a
dreadful necessity, only to be rcsOrted
to when there is no other mode of set
tling a difficulty. OF the four great
wars in which this country has been
engaged, three have been the creatures
of necessity, and there was no honora-
BILE way to escape them. We should
have no others. The masses of our
people, as we'll as our great business
interests, find their most healthy and
enduring prosperity in time of peace.
Whatever prosperity is stimulated by
war is unhealthy, and lis benefits, ii
any, nre conf ned to very few.