Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1898 — PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS.

It is estimated that instead of costing $300,000,000 for the first year, the war with Spain, if coninued f< r twelvemonths at the present rate of expenditure will cost $600,000,000. Let the people keep these figu es in mind and hold the administration responsible for every day of unneccessary delay in crushing Spain and thus ending the enormous expense of cairying on the war. Politics should have nothing to do with prolonging the conflict, but t;.ere can I e no donbt that re publican politicians are advising the administiation to make haste slowly. It is j st as easy for the forces of the United States to capture Havana and smash the Spanish power in Cuba now as it will be next fall. But there are no elect'Ons going on now iu the United States and the republicans argue that victories against Spain next fall willproduce republican victories at the polls. But the repub icans need not count on the successful working of such apo itic al tr ck. The oeo people of the United are not fools, and if nothing is done durs ing the next three months toward crushing the Spanish there will be many inquiries as to the cause of the delay. It is not at all sure that the voters of this coun ry w.ll rally to the support of a party whidh has placed upon the people an expense of $2.000,000 a dav for a period of three months simply to secure a politic cal advantage Patriotism and good politics both demand a vigorous prosecution of the war. Will the administration so the matter in that light?. .Exchange.