The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-15
Is America Oh angling?


This little Spanish war Is making an
amount Of history far OUT OF proportion TO
its real importance. writes the Washing
ton correspondent of the New York Even
ing Post. No speculative topic naturally
occasions so much comment here as the
tremendous change in our domestic policy
which the present exercises of inteFna-
tional police power seems bound TO bring
about The war will do its share OF map
making, but more important than that Is
its probable effect upon the eonQuerors.
II is frequently, and with a considerable
show of reason. asserted that this little
war will make of the United States q
great naval power. In other quarters 1t is
pointed out that the ultimate eject of
the struggle must be a revolution of our
revenue system To an extent implied in
the other two propositions, the war, IL is
said, will change our traditional attitude
as a member Of the community OF ma
lions. The doctrine of political isolation,
laid down by the fathers Of the republic,
is receiving a severe blow. and the stead
lest of hands will be required to maintain
1t for the few years succeeding the close
Of the war Perhaps instead OF zscribing
results so vast TO the little war. they
should have been set down as tendencies
OF the times, which would have worked
their way out in any event had there
been war or not; however that may be,
the fact remains that the war is seem
tngly working out amazing results.
The chief question of navy has always
been whether we wanted to pay for one
or not. Nobody has had any doubt OF The
ability of the United States to build.
maintain and man as large a naval esta0-
nshment as they might elect to have; but
squadrons are expensive and a large ele
ment in congress has always objected to
great OUTLAWS IN that direction The re-
suit has been that In spite of the Chand-
ler-Wh itney revival. We began this war as
about the sixth naval power in the world,
Great Britain. France. Germany, Russia
and Italy oueranking Us The fear that
passed over the country at the prospect
Of the Spanish torpedo boat flotilla, and
the general alarm lest the old, decaying
monarchy were SO near our own naval
strength as to give US considerable trou-
bic. will henceforth be used as an argu-
ment, and OF some effectiveness. for
steady Increase IN our naval establish
ment. What would have happened. II is
frequently asked, IL we had suddenly got
into trouble with some flrst-class power
like Russia or Germany, with our popu-
tS0S 6E6 SOdSS S4I4CS comparatively
protected7.
There are, Of course, two sides 10 this
theory; wars make great naviss. and
great navies make wars. Had we owned
no navy. We should have had to keep out
Of this Spanish war. But If the present
temper Of congress IS any test OF the fu-
ture policy OF the nation. it seems to be
predetermined that We shall go ahead and
build navy second only to England. and
become one of the great lighting powers
of the world. This war is everywhere cit
ed as emphasizing the need of certain
things we haven't gothic Hawaiian ca
BILE, the NicaFaguan Canal. coaling sta
tons all over the world. and the other con-
comitants OF strategy and strife. These
things they tell us we must have before
another war breaks out. and the momen-
tum of present sentiment is likely to go
some distance In bringing results 70 pass
But the most serious effect of the war is
its feeding the dangerous appetite for ter
ritorial expansion. Polls taken today on
the question. What shall We do with the
Philippines when the war is over? are al
most worthless, for congress is generally
waiting to see what will turn up Prob
ably a large number of congressman
would go on record as unreservedIy
against territorial expansion in any shape
or form. A smaller number would an
nounce themselves as in favor of getting
good possessions wherever We could while
the great battle-ground sentiment is say
ing, Let us wait and see what seems best
when the time comes. This war resembles
in many respects that waged against
Mexico in 1s4s'4S-a big nation against
small one. and a series of victories for the
Nr.rfr.r
pointed out. lock at the acquisition of ter
ritory resulting from the war. To be
sure. the United States went through the
form Of making some compensa ton to
Mexico. 1t is possible that the present
war may be settled without any imme-
date extension of boundaries, especially
since the United States is committed by
the Teller resolution against the annexa-
ton of Cuba, and yet il. would be diff
cult TO hold back the impetuosity of con-
gress 'enthused" with the results of a
successful war.
1t is too early to see how the parties will
align on this question. The old line DEM
ocrats Of the south seem as opposed TO in
crease Of territory as the conservative ele-
ment Of eastern Republicans. But no one
would have thought when San Domingo
was rejected that so soon afterwards the
same question would be tried again In the
case of Hawaii. and apparently with diff
ferent results. This is TO say, there seems
TO be an annexation majority in both
houses and the only question Is whether
it will get a chance 70 vote in the SEN
ate. The reason assigned for Hawaiian
annexation at this time is that Il is a nee
essary war measure" This term should
be plainly understood as meaning a mea-
sure for future war and not me pres
ent one With the Spanish feet in the
Philippines smashed. and the war plainly
near its end there is nothing in the pres
ent situation TO demand the annexation
of these islands; but as part Of future
colonizing schemes, and a base Of op-
erations in thfe Pacific for carrying out
the imperial policy, the advisabnity OF
their annexation IS. of course. apparent