New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-28
DISTRUS7 OF AMERICAN CAPACTTY

Another howl Of dismal prophecy arises. this
time from Mr.. Sherman. about the acquls-
ton of any territory from Spain. It really
makes no difference from whom this latest pre-
dcton comes. but Mr.. Sherman has been so
accustomed for long years to prophcsy disaster
as the sure result Of protective tariffs that he
may perhaps obtain as little confidence as
anybody else But II Is about time that this
lamest Of all substitutes for argument should
be dropped as worthless For n century or
more every time man has found himself I'M
able to present convincing reasons against the
course which his personal interests or feelings
oppose he has promptly rushed into vatcination
and solemnly predicted that the country would
be ruined II this thing should be done.
The annexation OF Texas and the war with
Mexico We're going to ruin the country, in the
opinion OF some good people in New England
who have nevertheless lived. like James Rus
sell Lowell. 10 accept high honor from a not
ruined country. The election Of any Repub
lean President was sure to ruin the country in
the opinion Of some Northern Democrats who
have lived. like Mr.. Cleveland, 10 pay honor
to the statesmen and soldiers who saved the
Union Some Of the Southern men who were
certain that the country would he ruined by
resisting secession have now been, like Gen
erals Wheeler and Lee, wearing with honor the
uniform against which they fought Also pay
ment Of bonds In gold TO bring ruin
In the mind Of Mr. Pendleton, and the enact
ment OF the protective duty on iron and steel
products was sure TO bring ruin In the opinion
OF many Democrats who have since become
distinguished and prosperous iron masters, and
the Mckinley tariff was denounced by this
same Mr.. Sherman as passionately and with
as dismal Cassandra vision as he now de
nounces the acquisition OF any territory
In these later days. when n man predicts ruin
for the United States II is safe to assume that
he has no argument TO offer and does not know
much about the people Of the United States.
little study Of their history shows that they
take great deal OF running, and through It all
march on TO the foremost place among the ma
tons. They have the faculty which rises above
or fights through difficulties. even the greatest.
Such a catastrophe as the Civil War might have
ruined many nations. but the Blue and the Gray
now fight for the same flag Such disaster
as was brought by the election Of Cleveland
would have Frustrated many nations for gen.
Grafton. IL not forever, but one year after Mr..
Cleveland went ont this country was again
TNHuluR lHc prosperity Vi us DtSt years. III IL
not an infallible nation, and 1t does not contrve
always to avoid costly mistakes But the peo-
pie have the resolution and the power to rise
above their own errors, and make them the
stairs by which they climb to better things
It Is not to he denied that acquisition OF
territory mainly inhabited by men Of n differ
ent and defeated nation, and ruled for centuries
by institutions and laws as unlike our own as
possible, will expose this Nation to serious
trial. 1t will even test most severely that
which all know has been the weakest point OF
our political system, the proneness TO permit
places In the civil and military service to be
filled as a reward for partisan efforts But it
Is precisely by errors committed that this Ma
ton has learned most thoroughly how to over
come them. Many keen foreign observers have
deemed 1t marvel that. In spite of all defects
IN our system Of appointments, the public ser.
vice here has been more clean and free from
corruption. and on the whole more efficient.
| than that.o Of almost any other nation. II IA
largely because every mistake has brought with
II swift penalty and education, and so surely
that the service as a whole has been slngularly