Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1898 — A Prophecy of the War. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Prophecy of the War.

Poor Cuba had suffered at the very threshold of this great and free country for more than a century before any active Intervention was undertaken by the United States. Outrage after outrage had been piled upon American citizens who resided there or undertook to trade at her ports. The present war ought to have been fought fifty year* ago, and it is a long, sad commentary on the too peaceful conservatism of the past that the first man killed in front of Santiago in June, 1898, was the grandson and namesake of the Secretary of State who held back the hand of justice In 1870 when the Virglnius affair stirred the American people to indignation. It seems to prove that,, whether the war was deferred or not, it must come in spite of the conservatism—in spite of the cost of life and money. The thought that it would come was present in the minds of many, and in one instance at least seems to have been developed into a J>asis for action. Many residents of our city have noted in the street cars among the advertising’ signs which are so prominently displayed a series of cards which refer tonaval and military lines, and which have a double interest at the present hour. Although they were placed in thecars over a year ago, before the Spanish war was thought of, their text in not a few points seems to foretell with accuracy some of the relations of the war.

Is there not a certain prophetic touch In the suggestion, “A clean nation ha» ever been a strong nation,” with the further humorous advice to ‘‘fortify with Sapolio,” backed by a picture of Uncle Sam marching up and down behind a rampart formed of cakes of that well-known article? Truly civilization and soap seem to go together, and the clean, well-tubbed, nicely housed AngloSaxon seems to have in that regard a great advantage over his soap-avoiding enemy from the peninsula of Spain. We realize the dread realities of war when these cards suggest tp us that the proper ammunition with which to resist

dirt is Sapolio. The campaign in Cuba, has resulted in a loss of life on the battle-field of about one hundred and fifty, while every evidence points to the probability that double that number of deaths will result from the yellow fever scourge, which largely originates from the Spanish lack of cleanliness. No les» a statesman than James G. Blaine stated publicly that one'hundred millions would be a cheap price to pay for Cuba if by proper sanitary measures we could prevent the annual scare of yellow fever along our coast.

If, as these active advertisers assert, the advance of civilization is marked by the use of Sapolio, there should be a good market for their useful article in the Spanish possessions which have lately fallen under our control. Whether they were prophesying or not? their announcements nre brisk and timely, and the advice they give is—like the American arms—irresistible.