The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-30
THE FLAG WILL STAY
POINT TO BE INSISTED ON BY OUR
PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
Merritt Has Been Ordered to Paris
at Once-Cuban and Porto
Rican Commissions.

! otto fever and the utmost calmness is nee
essary considering our future course" said
| United States Senator c. K. Davis, before
| leaving the city for home to prepare for
| his journey to Paris as one of the five COM
missioners to arrange the final terms Of
peace between the victorious United States
and defeated Spain.
Even this has made us one of the great
powers of the EARTH he continued. What
| ever we may have desired ourselves here
| tofore, destiny has forced upon us response
| bilities that we must recognize and accept.
| We have become a potent factor in the
| worlds progress A great and actual naval
| and military power we were already. We
are not strong enough yet, but not an hour
| must be lost in equipping ourselves to cope
with any emergency that may confront us.
| Our volunteer army is as good, if not bet
| ter, than any force of the kind in the world,
but we cannot rest secure in that thought
| We must have a large regular army. ready
at call in the future. We must have as
good a navy as any nation on earth. We
need fear nobody, but we must build ships
We know that we have the men to put be-
hind the guns. Love of gunnery is an
American characteristic. When we were
boys all of us knew how to handle fire
arms. A gun is the earliest thought of the
American youth, and men are only grown
up boys. That explains our success at Ma
Mia and Santiago"
How are we likely to be menaced in the
future?" was asked.
Actually we are not whit more ex-
posed to attack as colonial power than
we have been every hour since the active
advent of steam power. The glorious
victories of our navy have brought us new
responsibilities. but the Philippines or Sand
wich islands are not more isolated than
parts of our Pacific coast. Hereafter our
power must be felt In the Pacific ocean.
The mere addition of a few hundred square
miles of territory by capture or treaty does
not increase our danger. China is the COW
eted part of the earths surface to-day, but
who could have predicted six months ago
that Russia, Germany or Japan would not
covet foothold on the North American
continent? Now we see the trend of events
in the East Providence has stepped in to
point the future course for us. We must
police the Pacific ocean. Its coast has been
our vulnerable point
You understand, I am on record as ia
voring the retention of territory that has
been acquired by the splendid victories Of
our arms. am an American citizen, speak
ing as such. and my remarks have nothing
to do with official duties, that l shall under
take on Oct. l, as a commissioner to the
congress of Paris. What that body will or
will not do, / would not predict if / could.
1 talking of the situation as 1t exists
to-day and as every American citizen can
see it. The interests of the United States
must be jealousy guarded from this hour
onward We have been remiss: Indifferent
in the FThink Of he
ere. That was the hour in which should
have taught Spain her lesson Long years
of suffering and bloodshed would have been
avoided. 1t is idle to say that the Virginius
was not an American ship. Many Of the
men aboard her were American citizens and
the ship was caught the high seas The
men were shot in cold blood, and we stood
it. We endured such outrage with Gen.
Grant, a brave and true man at the head of
affairs. 1t was not cowardice on the part of
the American people, but it was lethargy
and indifference that was quite as debas-
ing in the sight of the world. That was
what justified all subsequent Spanish bluff
and bravado.
But we have risen to new plane-to the
level that we really were entitled to hold
all along Nothing but the indifference of
our statesmen has prevented the United
States from occupying the place to which
It belonged. The American people have had
the courage of their destiny all the time
They have never faltered. Hereafter tell
you, the maritime, commercial and political
genius of our people will not permit their
governing power to be Indifferent to their
honor or their progress. An outrage like
that at Santiago de Cuba-where nearly half
hundred Americans were stood up against
wall and shot-would not be passed to-
Cay. How do you suppose similar mas
sacre of American citizens in Havana would
be received this afternoon? Why our war
ships would be on their way to that port
before midnight That's the difference
And it is well. 1t is as it should be-
THE United States has ceased to be the
China of the western continent. We are
alive, thank God, and must not be insulted
by any power in this world, great or small
That's the difference between the United
States of the seventies and to-day. And is
rot the change one that ought to make
every patriot glad? Wars are inevitable
or all history is false. Steam power has
broadened their arena. No nation is safe.
Japan's triumph over China was robbed Of
most of it's value to the victorious nation
by the intervention of a stronger power.
Are we to be weak like Japan? Can we
contemplate for an instant the interference
of any power that shall abridge the majesty
and glory laid at our feet by the incom-
parable Dewey? / say, never Therefore
you may quote inc just as strongly as you
can as saying: More battle ships and after
that, more cruisers and battle ships again.
The men will step forward as fast as we
can build the ships
Suppose that Dewey had been defeated
at Manila? What might have been the fate
of the Hawaiian islands and our Pacific
coast from Boring straits to San Diego? The
Asiatic situation is ore that deeply concerns
us. If we are outwitted there we must at
once prepare for defense of our western
coast line from the same aggressions that
lave hun:bled the oldest empire on earth
in the eyes of modern civilization"
What do you think of the cordial rela-
tiCns between this country and Great
Britain?"
''They are timely and welcome The aver
sion of generations has passed away"
will the Cubans govern themselves?"
Il hope so. We have made them free from
the yoke of Spain and their destiny is be-
fore them.
MERRITT ORDERED TO PARIS.
Expected to Join the Peace Commits
sion i'm Sixty Days.
WASHINGTON Aug. 29.-It was an
nounced this afternoon at the War Depart