The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-28
Our New Foreign Policy.
From the Baltimore Sun, May n.

st is serious fact for thoughtful citizens
to ponder that, for the first time in our history
as nation, we are engaged in foreign war
brought on by the action of a majority in
Congress, which was neither asked for nor
recommended by the Executive. The whole
world knows that President Mckinley was
exerting himself most earnestly to reach
pacific settlement of the Cuban difficulty, and
that he was reasonably hopeful of reaching it
if a little more time had been allowed HIM
for diplomatic negotiation. But the majority
in Congress, and especially the majority in
the Senate, could not wait for diplomacy to
exhaust its efforts for peaceful adjustment,
and the President was overborne.
The same impulsive statesmen who thus
compelled war which might otherwise have
been avoided, without sacrificing either the
honor or the interests of the country, will
have, before long, to deal with the far larger
questions concerning the disposition of the
Spanish possessions which we either have
conquered or are about to conquer. 1t is
easy enough to say that it is none OF Europe S
business what we choose to do with the Phil
ippines, or with Cuba itself, after we have
taken them by force ofarms. Unfortunately,
the European nations are showing a lively IN
terest in the course of the war, and it Is PLAIN
" to be seen that We shall have to give them
some consideration when we come to DRAFT
the terms of peace, unless we are ready TO
take the responsibility of bringing on another
war of indefinitely large dimensions.
Even if all the European powers were con-
tent to be ignored in our final settlement with
Spain, the question OF what we ialI do with
our newly conquered territory, after we have
grave perpeXities, from the standpoint OF onr
own interests If we keep the Philippines,
how shall we govern them? As territories,
to be admitted later as States As DEEPEN
denotes? If so. how shall we organize an
administration for them, for which any basis
or sanction can be found i'll our constitution
Shall we turn them over to some European
mower in exchange for desirable islands nearer
home? If we are to do that, we certainly
cannot pretend that it is none of the business
of any other European power, and immediate
" we are brought within the danger line OF
further international complications. The tu-
ture Of Cuba, after we have taken possession
of it. is likewise bristing with difficult ques
tons. When we drive Spain out we shall
have to see that some sort OF decent ana STA
bic government is set up there. Shall we
stav there ourselves? Shall we set up ma
tive government there, in which the black
popuIation will be the ruling element? What
order. and for fair treatment, without retalla-
tory persecution, of the conquered Spanish
portion of the island's inhabitants?
All these are serious questions, and, even
| if all Europe holds entirely aioot from them
and gives us Il free hand to do as we will
which il is not safe to take for granted-they
| will reouire to be dealt with in spirit OF wise
! and flr-seeing craftsmanship. We have no
/ doubt that there is craftsmanship in this coun-
/ fry equal TO the task. The country has great
men enough, but we do not see them al the
/ front in Congress at this moment. The per-
sistent scramble for Spolls that has been gong
on for many years past Is responsible ior
! putting lemagogues i'll the places where we
Shall presently need statesmen to pilot the
ship of State through the dangerous channels
of foreign policy that are now in sight.
/ 1t is an easy thing, all too easy, to find men
capable of playing upon the passions OF tne
people and bringing Oh u romantic war Tor
the liberation of oppressed islands as near as
! Cuba or as far off as the Philippines he
role Of the friend of freedom for all mankind,
far and near, black. yellow or white, ready
To redress all their wrongs, no matter OF what
expenditure of American blood and treasure,
is cbarminglv simple But, i'll the end real
craftsmanship will be called for TO keep the
nation out of the tange Of foreign adventures
and troubles into which the fanatics are rush
ing it. After all, 1--WE have troubles OF our
own" The American people themselves are
suffering severely in many ways from the
abuses of their own system sf government,
whereby 50 many incapable and knavsh men
are elevated to power and enabled to prey
upon them. By and by there will be a reac
ton against the new and QuiXoic foreign
policy which proposes to go all around the
world looking for rebels to sympathlZe with,
instructions to assist and ''causes OF human
ity' to champion. We shall hark back at
last to Washington's prudent and patriotic
counsels, and once more steer by the chart
he left us-no European entanglements, the
cultivation of peace with all nations, and,
above all, the preservation OF good govern,
ment among ourselves. based on honesty and
virtue.