Year: 1873

views. One prominent banker deprecated
war with Spain. lie SAID that the idea OF
such war beneftting Charleston was absurd
1t might cause the government to make large
expenditures of money, but nobody in Charles
ton would get the benefit Of this, as very little
of the money would come here.


THE MAYORS OPINIONS.


Mayor Cunningham is rather reticent upon
the subject, but thinks that q war with Spain
would do no harm, and might possibly be of
benefit to the city.


THE COTTON MEN.


Some of the cotton factors look at the mat
ter in more gloomy aspect. An old and
prominent cotton merchant, in an Interview
with reporter, expressed the opinion that
war was the worst possible thing that could
happen for Charleston. Spain, said he, by
the statements of Admiral Porter, ranks Sec
ond among the naval powers of the world.
She has fittyiour war steamers IN the Cult OF
Mexico and suppose war should be declared
between the two countries, what would become
of our cotton export trade? Who would ship
cotton from Charleston, with the possibility OF
a Spanish man-of.war seizing it the minute 1t
passed outside the bar? Charleston is near
the Gulf, and in the event Of war these Spanish
war vessels would be sure to hover about the
coast with view to cripple our merchant
marine. That being the case, it is plain to
see that our cotton would have to be shipped
bv rail to New York and exported from that
place. The clement in the community, how
ever, known as


THE "EX-CONFEDS'


seem to entertain but one view on the subject,
and the feeling is very general that the gov
ernment must 90 to war to vindicate its honor.
Said one gallant soldier who had won laurels
on many bloody field in Virginia in defence
of the Southern cause: 81, for one, am willing
to fight under the 'old flag and to resent the
insult offered it. If 1 did fight against it
once, am an American and had right to
do it. But these bloody Spaniards have not
the same right, and their insoence and cruel
ty should be punished severe ly. don't have
much vcneration for Grant, and those in
Washington; but if they don't show the white
feather in this emergency, J. am with them
heart and soul for once" A sentiment very
much akin to this seems to be entertained by
the mass of our young people, while the more
staid and experienced citizens seem to think
that a war with Spain would do much toward
healing the breach between the North and
South, by proving to the government that
the Southern people are of some use to them,
and merit better treatment and kinder con-
sidcration than they have received at their
hands since the close of the late unpleasant
ness. As has already been stated, the colorcd
element do not seem to be very enthusiastic
on the subject. 1t was rumored that the first
brigade of


NATIONAL GUARDS


had rendered their services to the President
through Gen. Taft, but the rumor lacks conlir-
nation. The Columbia UnionHeraM, Of
Saturday, states that on Friday evening a
large numbero of officers Of the National Guard,
general field and staff, met in the Office Of the
acknowledgement to talk over the Cuban ques'
ton. The matter was talked over, and it
was finally agreed that Maj j.-Gen. Congress
MANI Elliott should issue general order III
structing the captains Of companies to ascer-
tain minutcly "tho available force Of willing
men in their commands, and the spirit Of the
men, so that in the event Of a call for troops
immediate response could be made"


TIE FORTS IN THE IIARBOR.


In this connection very general anxiety
is felt regarding the progress Of the work on
Forts Sumter and Moultric, which guard the
entrance to Charleston harbor The work is
going on under the direction Of Capt. Heap,
and is being pushed forward as rapidly as
possible. There are about fifty workmen en-
ploycd on each Of the forts, but the progress
is necessarily slow, owing to the circumscrlbed
limits in which it has to be carried on. In
Fort Sumter there are at present two fifteen
inch and two 2O0.pound Parrott guns mount
ell en- JarJctte Thcreare also four 20O-pound
PARROT guns mounted in casemate. These
are all ready for immediate use. At Fort
Moultrie the work is considerably more adj
vanccd there are two 15-nch guns and four
200-pound Parrot rifles mounted in position.
There are at the Arsenal in this city several
hundred guns of heavy calibre used in the
late unpleasantncss, which, in the event of
war being declared, could be mounted on
sand batteries on Morris and Sullivan's Island
sufficiently quick to afford an ample protec'
ton to the harbor. The force of workmen at
the forts has not been increased, as they are
now working fully up to the appropriations.
VIEWS OF TIE COLUMBIA MAGNATES.