Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

tdu HOW NC uulS u III Cllt uSoOldCSu
homes of Cuba.
Some Of the eventsof 1898 surprised
Americans, but presence Of mind was
retained admirably.
Twenty million will be a good nest
egg for Spain now that the heavy and
useless colonial drain is ended.
Bull fighting has been prohibited in
Santiago, and Gen. Wood will be care
full to bar out pugilistic fakes as we'll.
Uncle Sam is not only mining a good
deal of gold, but getting big pile
from the gold produced in other
countries.
Uncle Sam and John Bull will not
swap jackkniyes, but what may be
done when it comes to islands remains
to be seen.
Spain has found the best way to stop
the colonial drain. With proper gov
eminent its home affairs should begin
to improve.
The whole Philippine question is
now in American hands, and this the
best assurance that it will be properly
disposed of.
The events of the year 1898 insure
that The United States will command
a fair share of the commerce of the
Pacific Ocean.
Spain is about to part with its col
onies formally. They were lost to it
when their Inhabitants were goaded
into revolution.
Peace is noble word when honor
ably attained. The people of the
United States welcome it with a sense
of duty performed
1t is as good as settled that no COM
bination in other continents will close
the Pacific against the business men
of the United States.
The anti-eXpansionist gets into
trouble the moment he undertakes to
exactly define his plan of action in
regard to the Philippines.
The year 1899 will be one of new
problems to the American people, but
they have settled many heretofore
promptly, safely and properly.
Admiral Dewey started out to pro-
tect our shipping on the Pacific and
the administration has backed him
up in making permanent job.
One thing the Cuban ruraliSt must
learn is not to cut down telegraph
wires when he wishes to bale his hay.
The custom is not strictly up to date.
It was Weylerism and the deStruct-
ton of the Maine that precipitated
the war. The sorrows of Cuba, how
ever, must have come to an end some
time.
a movement for the higher educa-
tion of women has been started at
Santiago The old town is aroused at
last from its Slumber of four CEN
turies.
The threat of reputation in Spain
is another sign of mental arrangement
in that country. OF all trap-doors to
decay and ruin reputation works the
easiest.
Gen. BlancO thinks that Spain will
derive important advantages from the
war. There is 20 doubt Of it. and to
be saved from utter bankruptcy is one
of them.
One of the disabilities of the demo-
cratic party is its habit of antagoniz-
ing the republican position. This
gives the republicans first choice and
the right one.
The fact that the Philippines Ques-
tion was settled in accordance with
the views of Admiral Dewey tends to
confirm the idea that the right sola-
tiOn was found.
1t is true that the law of force has
been applied to Spain. War usually
takes that form. In this case force
was not used until persuasion for
thirty years had failed.
The Spanish remaining in the late
colonies will find the Americans a
generous people and disposed to be
considerate of their position under
the new order of things.
Senator Hoar at first opposed the
annexation of Hawaii, but voted fol
it after a\full consideration. The
Philippines debate may be depended
on to clear the atmosphere.
The Agricultural department is
much interested in our new posses
Sions. whose main industry is tilling
the soil But the ancient methods OF
doing it will soon be changed.
There are anti-eXpanSionists who
say that we should set up a republic
in the Philippines and act as its pro
tector. That might be much largel
responsibility than annexation.
1t is said in Berlin that the whole
German iron trade is talking of com