Evening journal., 1898-05-30
A LONDONER'S VIEW
How The Chronicles Editor
Saws the War Will Result.
PHILIPPINES WILL Be RETAINED.
The Manifest Destiny Of the United states
Leads TO Territorial Expansion-Puer-
TO Rico VIII BE Ours and Pos
sibly Cuba Too.

his paper Last night he cabled the fol-
lowing to The Chronicle:
Since my arrival here l have sought
diligently in all quarters for some out
lire or suggestion of the policy to be
pursued by the United States in the inn
mediate future. The result Of the war
is a foregone conclusion. Each days /
news has therefore only an incidental |
interest. But wholly without intention |
on the part Of the administration the |
country is rapidly approaching sit |
uation where a decision more moment |
Gus than any for century past must |
be taken. The results OF this decision |
viii affect other nations hardly less than |
America itself. Upon such matter l |
have been unwilling TO say word un-
I'll convinced II was based upon 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 ae-
quaintances, representatives of all
| shades Of opinion. The inquiry has been
| like the search for a needle In hay
| stack and I have now reached the con-
clusion that IN this particular stack
there Is no needle at oil.
II mean that neither in tho White
House nor the state department is
there any definite conviction or deter
mination concerning the future direc-
tlon Of the national policy with regard
to the disposal Of those oversee possess
sions over which the American flag will
be flying when the war is over This
may sound like a hostile criticism.
Nothing is further from my mind. The
United states has drifted steadily to-
! ward its new fate. IL the Maine had not
blown up, war would not exist today.
The neutrality of England forced Ad-
miral Dewey's squadron to sea To smash
the Spanish Asiatic squadron and seize
Manila was his only course. This ac-
compllshed, it became Instantly I'M
| perative to send him re-enforcements
and these had to be strong enough to
J defeat 20 Spanish regiments and occupy
the principal islands The same Is true
VI the Atlantic. When war was declared
il was believed that the insurgents
we're capable Of taking the field against
the Spanish II supplied with arms, am
munltion and food. It is now known
they are wholly incapable OF this. and
the military authorities have become
deeply averse to any cooperation with
! the insurgents, holding the view that
the American army should act with
complete independence so as TO be free
u AaIt Whatever hAAA0N@Rh AAAe1 -NHNN
2 after the Spanish are expelled. To Pres
S hient Mckinley alone Is due the escape
of this country from the fatal blunder
. Of recognising the insurgents as bellig-
\ erents, and for this every thinking
s American today Is profoundly grateful
| Again, there was originally no intention
= fof bombarding or seiging Puerto Rico
u Z Admiral SIMPSONS bombardment wae
!. failure. 1t should have been sooner
Eand final or not AT all. That mistake is
]. \ not TO be repeated, and the second
i = Spanish fleet viii not find a base there
Moreover. nobody could have fore
+ seen the extraordinary change Of pub
y lie opinion after Admiral Dewey'e VIC
r tory. Between April 30 and May 1 q
j I revolution took place. On one day the
idea Of keeping the Philippines had hot
9 | occurred to anybody. On the next few
e people thought of giving them up. Now
also II is appreciated that Il Is impossi-
n bic 20 dispose OF them to any one power
T. without the gravest complications, while
q public sentiment Is intolerant Of the
idea Of restoring them TO Spanish mis-
L rule. Thus in every direction events
have moved. and the administration has
followed. IN ambassador Hays words
It has been a case of the imposition oi
invisible hands. The moving finger hag
written, and It cannot be lured back e
L cancel half a line. The question is vii
Y the United states when peace Is signed
withdraw within its old limits. abide b!
its old traditions and resist the tempta.
n ton of empire. or viii Il accept boldl!
is what the fortunes of war have brough
p and turn its face toward a new destiny
l. The struggle viii be long and bitter.
le THE opponents of annexation urgi
r, that the constitution permits no terri
e. tory to be incorporated In the UnioI
which cannot become a state. II is re
he piled that America must no longer le
L George washington do its thinking 10
r It. 1t is declared that the country pos
~ sesses no class Of men capable Of ad
ed ministering eastern countries and tina
e. these viii merely become tho prey o
professional politicians. The retort &
OF that the necessity Of finding such mel
t. will compel at last a complete reform O
ed | the diplomatic and consular service
re and thus deprive the politicians Of thei
q old spois why ask the ones, 'shoul
he we needlessly entangle ourselves wit
,h European powers and enter the ia
/ eastern perilous arenaY
as we are already entangled' repl
is the others. our interests are equal I
n those of England in keeping open tn
vast markets Of China, and England wi
h. be overborne and China seized piece
en- meal unless we range ourselves along
nd side her.
y. 1t will take a great army and navy
say the objectors 1t is perfectly evi
ient reply the annsNationists. that III
country has already determined To hav
a strong navy and an army such tina
az never again shall we be caught in hi
nu disgraceful state of unpreparednes
Ill Having these. therefore. why should "
not use them to advance our materi,
at interests and the general civilization
sst Besides add the annexatiOnists. i'm cor
I'D rlusion. we are called upon TO take
olace in the world commensurate wit
nm our numbers. our wealth, our strengt
NO and our future. Precisely the san
Ut | counsels of timidity and the same war;
ines Of disaster have greeted every oil
accession of territory and today n,
~ body would surrender an inch.
tt In view Of this sharp division
sui opinion it is obvious the only state
NJ manlike course Of the president is
I Inf 10. %.