The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-19
THE UNITED STATES A GREAT
POWER.

1t must be evident TO every person that
the foreign relations of the United States
are becoming more extended and compli-
Gated than they formerly were. For a long
time our fortunate geographical location
and remoteness from other countries. and
our widely separated interests enabled us
to avoid diplomatic entanglements, except
in time of war or when some special ques-
ton came up for settlement. But this con-
dition is changing. The rapid growth of
the United States to the rank of first
class power. the strengthening of it's navy,
the new assertion of the Monroe doctrine
and the proposed annexation of Hawaii
have opened the eyes of other governments
to the fact that there is a new and impor
tant factor in the international affairs of
the world. This does not imply that the
United States has any intention of med
ding in European affairs, although En-
peror William was foolish enough recently
to predict such an event, but simply that
the Nation has reached a stage of develop
ment when it's power has to be recognized
and when it must assert and maintain it's
rights with firmness and dignity whenever
occasion demands. 1t is evident. too, that
even our geographical location, which has
always been so advantageous to US in many
and complications. The maintenance of the
Monroe doctrine is one of these. The posi-
ton of the United States as the one first
class power in the western hemisphere, and
its repeated assertion of the doctrine of
European noninterference among American
states, involves a continuing possibility of
foreign complications. So, too, geographic
cal location is responsible for our present
delicate relations with Spain and for what
ever complication may grow out of the an
nexation. of Hawaii If Cuba were on the
other side of the world we should not care
any more about the instruction there than
we do about the one in the Philippine
from San Francisco, which would bring it
much nearer to Japan than it is to the
United States, we could afford to say let
Japan have the islands and welcome But
Cuba lies almost within gunshot of our
coast and commands the entrance to the
nearer the United States than it is to any
other country, and is a point of much
more strategic and commercial Importance
to us than to any other nation. 1t would
be astonishing indeed if the United States
should not take lively interest in the fate
of Cuba and Hawaii 1t could not afford
to wrest Cuba from Spain, but it would be-
ccme a laughing stock and object of con-
tempt among nations if it should allow
Cuba to pass under the control of any
other power. So it would if it should fail
to annex Hawaii when asked to do so by
government which has been recognized by
all the other governments in the world.
Regarding the matter from an American
point of view there is not a statesman in
Europe, outside of Spain, who would not
say that the United States ought to own
Cuba, and. probably, there is not a states
man in the world outside of Japan who
would not say she ought to own Hawaii
And eventually she will own both islands
There is not a particle of doubt of it. 1t is
so recorded by the finger of fate in the
book of manifest destiny. Events are NOV
ing very rapidly towards the annexation of
Hawaii and while the acquisition of Cuba
may be delayed some years yet possibly
many years, it is certain to come. Timid
Americans fear the acquisition of these
islands will weaken the Republic and be the
beginning of the end of the government.
On the contrary, it will be a magnificent
proof of the strength of the government
and the vitality of republican principles.
These islands would be bright gems in the
crown of the Republic, all the more con-
spicuous because they gravitated to it
through the irresistible force of political at
traction. Let us not despair of the Repub-
lie because it is proposed to extend its
boundaries, nor of republican principles be-
cause it is proposed to widen the scope of
their beneficent operation. 1t is time for
Americans to recognize the fact that the
tod Sfafn &c