Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-19
possible for Spain to pay any consider
able indemnity, and
HER ONLY ALTERNATIVE

possession, or at least Porto Rico and
the Philippines, for we are estopped
by the most solemn declarations from
holding Cuba for any purpose. 1t
would be hazardous to form any opin
Ion as to the revenue producing capac
lty of the two former countries that
would ensue upon their sequestration
by the United States, but it would GER
tainly be very long time before they
could liquidate any considerable indem-
nifty; so long, in deed, that taking them
as pledges would be tantatmount to
permanent annexation. AS to recoup-
ing ourselves by selling them to other
powers, that is practically out of the
question. The Monroe doctrine stands
in the way of any such disposition of
Porto Rico, and the Philippines would
be as hard to dispose of as while eie-
plant, since the purchaser would take
with them the constant probability of
war with at least three of the great
European opwers.
The point, however, to be kept in
view is that war indemnity insisted
upon by the United States is likely to
lead at once to the most radical change
of policy that has ever occurred in its
history; and this may be done in a
quiet, routine way without the people
being able to express themselves on SO
momentous a question in any effective
manner until it is too late. The ending
up of the war without some kind of
treaty with Spain will, according to
present indications, devolve in part
upon the Senate as at present consti-
tuted When the National conventions
meet the matter will no doubt have
long since been settled, and the House
of Representatives that is to be elected
will probably find the subject practical
ly disposed of when it convenes for the
first time In view of these facts it
would seem that there is no danger Of
a thorough and complete discussion of
all the questions that are bound to grow
out of the war being premature. The
party that has clear and definite views
as to what ought or ought not to be
done at the end Of the conflict should
be ready at the approaching conven-
tons to declare itself. Above all he
Democratic party should insist
that no action that will in effect ire
vocably commit this country to an en-
tirely new course of foreign policy shall
be taken in the dark but only after
people familiar with the question in
all its bearings.
AS have indicated, Cuba is virtually
eliminated from any dealings we may
have with Spain when the war is over.
She is to take her destiny in her own
hands, and We may neither annex her
nor prescribe what individuals are
to constitute the new government. Yet
it is by no means improbable that she
will prove
SOURCE OF GREAT ANNOY ANCE
and trouble to us in the near future
We have in a manner assumed respon-
sibility in the face of the world for
future peace and order in the island,
and this assumption has imposed Oh
legations on us that may not be shirk-
ed. The progress of the Latinized
races toward efficient elf-gOvernment
has been painful and stormy, even in
the absence of many hard obstacles
peculiar to Cuba. The republican reg
ime that is to be established may de-
generate into perpetual war OF fac
tions, and the humanitarian idea that
is now driving out Spain may in the
near future compel the United States
to gravely consider whether anneXa-
ton is not The only permanent anti
dote to universal anarchy. If these con-
sderations should arise and the Cuban
people freely express wish to become
a part of the great republic as the only
practical escape from themselves, one,
if not both, Of the great parties would
be soon found advocating an
nexation. A party If fore
sight and courage might even
now take a stand on this question
that would be of help to it in the future.
Undoubtedly there is a growing
number of Americans who would pre-
fer a foreign policy more dashing and
brilliant than the simple creed handed
down from the Revolutionary fathers.
Young men, especially, are caught and
dazzled by the idea of an imperial re-
public, with its merchant fleet covering
every sea, and its battle flag streaming
in all of the great harbOrs of the world.
On the other hand, an immense number
of thoughtful, conservative people
would view with alarm any departure
from our time honored traditions on the
subject, for to them any territorial ex-
pansion beyond the shores of the two
great oceans is fraught with frequent
international complications and unend-
ing disturbances of the quiet we have
so long enjoyed. What the whole peo-
pie would do after the whole question
has been thoroughly discussed remains
to be seen, but there is no doubht that
the political party that first correctly
divines the drift Of sober popular
sentiment on this and kindred questions
and acts accordingly will occupy coign
of vantage for many years to come.
The cardinal principles and well-es-
tablished traditions of great historical
party are usually sufficient to indicate
what its course of action will be on
ordinary ephemeral matters that spring
up between campaigns, but vital, burn
ing questions, such as the war is now
thrusting upon the political arena, re-
quire specific action.
EITHER A NEW DEPARTURE
must be announced in explicit terms,
or the old doctrine must be re-affirmed
in clear-cut and definite language. In
fine. it would seem that too much
light cannot be thrown on these ques
tions prior to the meeting of the dis
trict conventions Some action must be
taken on them. Thorough and intelli-
sc PrObablv no single drug