Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-09-02

found itself in a war so suddenly
that before the people were
hardly aware of it it was over
and Spain's boosted feet was in
the bottom of the sea, her army
destroyed and fragments oft on
our shores as prisoners of war
and the other miserable remnant
of it being transported to Spain
by hirelings, and the islands con-
quered from her with a half civ
ilized population dependent on
this country for subsistence, pro-
lection and perhaps for their
very lives. Nothing a year ago
was farther from the designs or
wishes of any portion of the peo-
pie of this country than the con-
ditions that are now upon us.
But they came in the same IRE
sistiblecurrent that we have been
speaking ofand without the pre-
science of man, and which he
would have been powerless to
prevent if he had foreseen them.
Americans cannot return to the
shores of America without let
ting the conquered islands revert
back to their original conditions.
If they are retained this govern
ment must pursue such a course
in respect to them as shall COM
port with its great power, high
honor and loudly proclaimed hui
mainly.
The country is now in condi-
tions of doubt, perplexities and
anxieties never before expert
enced. The course to pursue is
most doubtful. But we hear
some one say: Gift is to be d.
rected by uncomfortable events
what can men do about directing
the course to be pursued? ?" They
may do nothing to control the
worlds great events but they
can do much to prevent getting
bruised themselves while great
events are moving nations in the
courses they are to take. 1t may
be that it is already decreed that
America shall draw a line around
) those islands as far out on the
sea as she can naturally and con
sistently exercise dominion and
keep clear of entangling and hos
{ tile contact with other powers
and include nothing but what is
naturally and from its location
: American. Now if that SHOULD
: chance to be so would it not be
: better for the American people tc
e be content with that situation
r at first than to be driven back tt
I it after a slaughter of Thousands
! upon thousands of its citizens
l. and untold expenses to be pait
by heavy taxes on her people, al
= growing out of a contention
S with united foreign powers; ant
a contention for gain and con
n quest and nothing else? Beside
l. the fortunes and happiness c
e the people who are living ami
n these great events depend upo
n their own course. They may no
s. affect the final destiny of the ne
o ton but they can serlousl
le affect their own. If a great mu
d titude of our people are to abar
y don their efforts to develop tn
E. country industriously, educf
Is tionally and otherwise and b'
H. come rovers seeking contention
10 with foreigners at the expense
n this people anybody can see tina
IL instead of all producing and d
IT veloping the wealth and powt
nc of this country a portion WI
nt have to labor and economic t
support the other portion. TIL
ct nation could become might,
is probably the greatest militar
Is power on earth, instead of bein
o. so strong at home as to need II
III considerably navy. She may b
TO come brilliant in military glor,
e. and in wholesale slaughter
a. contentious not in defence of he
On self or her honor, and if the pc
as pie can live on such glory and
40 happy then so be it, forif they s
ne across the waters for the purpo
ne of getting something they w
X surely get it or something else.
ng "
en- The great day-election day
IRE courSe-draWs very near al