The times., 1898-05-19
The Logic of Events.

can see that all the great movements
of national advance, expansion, or de-
fense for which The Times has been
fighting for a year and a half are
justified and neeessitated by the well
fare and safety of the American Union.
Readers of this journal who, in the
past. may have been bored by our We
hement and continual insistence that
the Nicaragua Canal should be built
and controlled by this Republic; that
the Hawaiian Islands should be an
nexed to protect that canal and our
Western coast, and to give us a coaling
base in the Pacific Ocean; that our
Navy should be largely increased, and
docking facilities constructed; that cur
coast defenses should be put in condi
ton to meet any danger from without,
and that, generally. the country should
be organized to face the eventualities
of future rife with responsibilities
and perils. will now realize that The
Times was not indulging in sensation
alism. but knew from the first what it
was talking about.
There is not one of the national or
international questions upon which we
have taken forward and radical ground
which today is not acutely before the
American people and demanding settle
nent in exactly the manner The Times
has earnestly and urgently advocated
since December, 1896. The Nicaragua
Canal. the commercial and naval ne
cessity for which we have insisted up
on, even if every dollar of its cost must
be paid from the Treasury, is now rec
ognized as vital to the future good and
integrity of the nations trade with the
world. Its protection from American
outposts in both oceans is no longer re-
garded as a matter of Indifference or
doubtful policy. Ii is seen to be some
thing which must be accomplished.
The acquisition of the Hawaiian Isl
ands, without the possession of which
the canal would be impossible of ade-
quate defense by US. is not now de-
nounced as an undertaking Of useless
movement if we are to maintain an
important position in the Pacific Ocean,
and develop our commerce with the
Far East The feverish haste with
which at last an attempt has been
made to add to our naval strength
and fortify exposed points on our long
shore line, proves that The Times was
right in urging the Government tc
! hasten those measures of preparation
We are sorry that the movement wa:
not begun earlier, but glad that it ha!
come at last The grave international
problems that confront US may sur.
prise a great many Americans. but not
those who have watched the clouds
gathering on our horizon for years
We have repeatedly warned Congress:
and the people that the surplus pro
! ductions of our teeming millions, null
tiplied in some directions an hundred
fold by the achievements of American
inventive genius and the labor-savinG
machinery resultant, if forced into for
eign markets, must, of necessity, tak'
! nf
/ ducing populations in other countries
We have strongly represented that, un
less this nation were powerful in a mil
itary sense such a condition would b.
bitterly opposed by our commercial ri
vals. and that the day would inevitabl!
come when they would seek to destroy
our power of competition by armed
force.
How true this position is may b
judged by the hostility which is mani
! tested against us nearly Throughout
Europe 1t is not that continental ma
tions have any particular love 70
/ Spain. 1t is that they see a startling
danger To their political and CONNER
! ciaI interests in the worlds struggl
for existence East and West. in TIL
sudden appearance of the Unitet
/ States as a first-class military and ma
val power, ready and willing to use it
vast lighting population and its re
sources to demand and maintain ii
fair share of universal trade, inf1u
ence, and territory.
Like Admiral Bermejo, we ''cal
scarcely control our Joyful emo
tions" to think that the things fo
which We have striven with all tn
American conviction and pertinacity il
us are fast coming to fruition. TIL
campaign has been one fraught wit
many discouragements and opposi
tons, but no doubts as to ultimat
success. The results amply repay tn
thought and labor bestowed in the pa
triotic effort to promote them.
It is greatly to be regretted that in a
emergency like the present the Gar o
Russia should SO long have been withou
an ambassador at Washington. The EN-