Evening star., 1898-05-31
FUTURE NATIONAL POLICY
An English Editors Views Upon the Present
Situation.


Daily Chronicle, whose letters from this
city during the Venezuelan boundary dis
pute attracted such wide attention, is In
Washington again as ar correspondent of
his paper. He has cabled the following to
the Chronicle:
Since my arrival have sought diligently
in all quarters for some true outline or
suggestion Of the policy to be pursued by
the United States in the immediate future.
Tie result Of the war is foregone conclu-
sicn. Each days news has, therefore, only
an incidental interest But wholly without
intention on the part of the administration,
the country is rapidly approaching situa-
ten where decision more momentous than
any for a century past must be taken. The
results of this decision will affect European
nations hardly less than America Itself.
Upon such matter 1 have been unwilling
to say word until convinced 1t was based
uron solid facts. have conversed with
almost every man. beginning with the
highest, whose authority will mold the
issue. and with many old friends and new
acquaintance representative of all shades
of opinion. The inquiry has been like the
search for needle in haystack, and 1
have now reached the conclusion that in
this particular stack there is no needle at
all.
1 mean that neither in the White House
nor the State Department is there any def
mite conviction or determination concern
ing the future direction of the national
policy with regard to the disposal of those
oN ersea possessions over which the Ameri-
can flag will be flying when the war is
over This may sound like hostile criti-
cism. Nothing is further from any mind.
The United States has drifted steadily to-
ward its new fate. If the Maine had not
been blown up, war would not exist today.
The neutrality of England forced Admiral
Dewey's squadron to sea to smash the
Spanish Asiatic squadron. and to seize Ma
Mia was his only course. This accom-
plished, it became instantly imperative to
send reinforcements, and these had to be
strong enough to defeat twenty Spanish
regiments and occupy the principal islands.
The same is trIle of the Atlantic. When
war was declared it was believed that the
insurgents were capable of taking the field
against the Spanish if supplied with arms,
ammunition and food. 1t is now known
they are wholly incapable of this, and the
military authorities have become deeply
averse to any cooperation with the insur-
gents, holding the view that the American
army should act with complete independ-
ence, so as to be free to face whatever sit
uation may arise after the Spanish are eX-
PEELED. To President Mckinley alone is due
the escape of this country from the fatal
blunder of recognizing the insurgents as
beiligerents, and for this every thinking
American today Is profoundly grateful.
Again there was originally no intention of
bombarding or seizing Porto Rico. Ad-
miral SIMPSONS bombardment was fall
ure; it should have been sooner and final or
not at all That mistake Is not to be
peated, and the second Spanish fleet will
rot find a base there. Moreover, nobody
could have foreseen the extraordinary
change of public opinion after Admiral
Dewey's victory. Between April 30 and
May a revolution took place On one day
the idea of keeping the Philippines had not
occurred to anybody; on the next, few peo-
pie thought of giving them up. Now. also,
it is appreciated that it is impossible to dis
pc Sc of them 10 any other power without
the gravest complications, while public sem
timent is intolerant of the idea of restoring
them to Spanish misrule. Thus in every di-
rect.on events have moved and the admin
istration has followed. In Ambassador
position of invisible hands. The moving
finger has written and it cannot be lured
bG ck to cancel half line
The question is, will the United States,
when peace is signed, withdraw within its
old limits, abide by its old traditions and re-
sist the temptation of empire; or will it ac-
cept boldly what the fortunes of war have
brought and turn its face toward a new
destiny? The struggle will be long and
bitter.
He would be a bold or a reckless man who
would venture to prophesy the outcome.
Still 2,GDO men have gone TO Manila, 5000
are going in ten days and more afterward
probably till 10000 are there, and these
troops are hardly sent merely to be recal-
ed. Moreover l have reason to believe 1t
has been decided to enforce only a mod
crate revenue tariff upon the Philippines,
10 which American goods will be subject
IKE the goods Of other nations. and this is
already so great departure from tradition
as to reJ,der other departures less surpris-
ing. Cuba will be given every chance of
freedom, but If, as may well be, she lacks
the elements of independence. she must be-
ccme American. That Porto Rico will b.
retained feel sure