The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-26
THURSDAY. MAY 90. 1895.
"THE WAR WITH SPAIN An"
AFTER"

=, IN. Atlantic Monthly for June Is On
article by the editor on 'Hhe War ~ i.N
soain and After" which is so nearly !"
line with the doctrine which we nave
49,, preaching with reference 10 TINS
momentous question, that we cannot re-
sist the temptation to reproduce the
leading Thoughts anu arguments
We find in the beginning OF the aruc'e
.u.o timely quotations. one from Buckle
30 other from President Elliot. of har-
,.ora University. a people who regard
the mast with too wistful an eye says
r,,ollo twill never bestir themselves to
helm the onward progress; they VIII haru-
~ helieye that progress is possible 10
them antiquity is synonymous with WIS
dom and every Improvement Is dam
Ferrous innovation.
Continuing in the same line, the au-
thor goes on TO saY that spain mas
never been touched 10y the spirit of pro-
eress that has influenced the civilization
of other European nations. but has slept
on untroubled, unheeding impassire' re-
celvine no impressions from the rest OF
the world and making no impressions
upon It. There she lies he concludes.
"at the farthest extremity Of the con-
,tnent. huge ana torpid mass the sole
representative now remaining OF the
feelings and knowledge Of the Middle
AGES And what is the worst symptom
OF all she is satisfied with her own con-
dstion. Though she is the most backward
country in Europe. she believes herself
10 be The most foremost.
Never was a truer picture drawn OF
this rapidly decaying nation. and Lord
Salisbury. no doubt. had Buckles oDser-
walton in his mind when he made his re-
rent address in London on the downfall
Of Spain and China. lie did not mention
names. but so faithfully was the pic
ture drawn that such mention was not
necessary. The picture spoke for IT.
self
Next we come TO the quotation Of Pre-
sidcnt Elliot. "These five contributions to
civilization" said he "-peace-keeping'
religious federation. the development Of
manhood suffrage. the welcoming Of new
corners. and the diffusion Of well being
hold to have been eminenuy charac-
teristic Of our country, and so impor-
tant that in spite Of the qualifications
and deductions which every candid citi-
zen would admit with regard 10 them,
they will ever be held in the grateful re-
membrane OF mankind.
1t Is upon these great principles that
the American republic has been built up.
1t is the lack of these great principles
that is responsible lor the downfall Of
the Spanish nation. The American prin-
CHILE is the nucleus about which modern
civilization is crystalized. That princi-
pie is found IN its greatest perfection on
American soil. In a degree II exists In
all the progressive nations Of Europe.
Except in America. it is most potent in
England. and hence the bond Of SYM
pathy between that nation and ours.
The principle has not reached state
OF perfection however. IN any country
but the leayen is working, and as Spain
goes down 70 the grave clinging TO the
semi-sayage doctrines Of the Middle
Ages. so the American principle in this
country and in Great Britain IS evolving
a perfect civilization.
But II is to the concluding portion Of
the Atlantic's article 10 which we d.
rect special attention, Tor 1t IS here that
the author warns us against the dan
ger that threatens the American repub-
llc. He points out that the race from
nhlch We are sprung is race that for
a thousand years has done the adlenlur-
GUS and outdoor tasks Of the world,
that the English have been explorers.
colonlzers conquerors OF continents,
founders OF states. while we ourselves,
every generation since we came 20 Amer
lea, have had great practical enterprises
10 encourage as such as the fighting
with Indians the clearing OF forests, the
war for independence, the construction
OF goyernment. the extension o. our ter
ritory at home, the settlement Of the
slavery question, involving a great civil
war. and lastly the reunitlng Of the sec
tons into one harmonious whole
For generation past, the author IN
Inmates. We have been without am occu-
patton. and therefore he thinks It not az
ali strange that the three Books which
haye found most readers within the past
several years are Progress and Power
fy.s Looking Backward aud Coins