The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-07
LOOKING FORWARD.


war between the United States and
Spain is as sure as that the sun rises
in the east and sets in the west. Once
having entered upon the struggle, ev-
en- if there should be reverses at the
outset, which so many of the quid
nuncs here are anxious to prophesy,
there is only one issue for the United
States and that is full and complete
victory. 1t is case where only one
party to the quarrel can, sue for
peace, and that party must be Spain.
The position of the United States
after the war will be unique. Upon
matters in the Western world she
will have voice far stronger than she
has ever had before. Before she has
spoken from theory, in the future she
will speak from theory backed by
practice. If her word has been pow
erful in the past, it will be doubly so
in the future.
The argument thatIs set up on the
continent of Europe, that the United
States has no right tqdictate to Eu-
ropean power is uttkry fallacious. In
the case of Cuba, by the law of ma
tions, the United States has a perfect
right to intervene. If the condition
of affairs within a country contiguous
to her borders is such that it inter-
feres with her trade, Injuries those
of her subjects who have undertaken
commercial or agricultural ventures
there, and the conditions are such
that the administration is blot up
on civilization, the powerful state has
right to intervene, whether the
wrong comes from Europe, from At
RIGA or from Asia. If it comes from
Europe, so much the worse for the
European power, and it is high time
that the representatives of European
power should be taught that they
must rely upon proper methods of
government at least in the Western
world, and not upon the prestige of
former deeds. 1t is the living, breath
ing, active present that the United
States has to deal with, not the de-
caying, worn out, and dead past that
it considers.
The European powers consider they
have much to say in the Western
world. They also consider they have
much to say in the Far East, and At
RIGA is juicy joint that all have been
carving at for many years past, with
out much reference to the actual hol-
ders of the soil. sHas the United
States no similar rights. If she choos-
es to exercise them, in the scramble
for trade in the Eastern seas, it will
be seen that the United States will
assert herself and fake the position
she ought to occurE not only as the
most powerful nation of the Western
world, but one of the most powerful
and progressive nations of the whole
world. ~"
At the present moment, however,
the United States is occupied in set
ting straight wrongs which are oc-
curing at her very doors, and she
should receive the moral support of
all right thinking men and women,
in her crusade against tyranny, cru
city and despotism. War is to be
avoided if possible. 1t is the last APP
peal of generous race, but it is one
of the necessary evils of the world
The despotism of man is ever tenn.
pered with the dread of assassination
The despotism of people is often
and often tempered by the dread o.
war. Spain never believed the United
States would fight. Half Europe new
er believed it. She has now proved
that in the cause of liberty and hu
manity, she will draw the sword, ant
no cause can be more honorable O.
sacred.