The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26
Tho Purnoxe of the War.

We appear TO be forgetting the purpose
of the war We began the war for hu-
mainly We proposed to give freedom 10
Cuba and food 10 the Cuban reconcentra-
dos. We do not hear much these days
either IN or out Of Congress, about free
dom for Cuba or about the reconcentra-
dos The recoucentrados seem to have
disappeared as a factor in the war, and
distinguished Republican congressman.
the supposed mouthpiece of the admins
tration, said IN a speech the other day.
that it would be time enough to talk
about providing government for Cuba
after we had driven the Spaniards out of
the island.
What we do hear, however, and what
is being discussed from one end of the
country to the other. is whether we shall
retain permanent possession of all the ter
rltory, except Cuba, which we capture
from Spain. on that question the peo-
pie are divided, the majority, however,
being on the side of holding on 10 all the
>territory which comes into our possession.
The Republican LEADERS, are clearly try
ing to make this question of acquiring ter
ritory a party issue. Senator Teller said
in the Senate recently that wherever our
flag is raised, either by consent of the
people. or by the right Of conquest, there
it must forever remain, and Representa-
tive Grosvenor, in a speech, last week,
said that by no Republican administra-
ton, and certainly not by President Nc
Kinley's administration, would the
American flag be pulled down from any
Flagstaff where conquest had placed ii.
These expressions show clearly the posi-
ton which the Republican leaders are
taking on this question of territorial ex-
pansion.
on the other hand, Democratic leaders
are inclined 10 oppose the acquisition of
distant territory, though a good many
Democrats of prominence are taking the
position that the public welfare is in the
direction of holding all the territory we
take from Spain. Two of the most con-
spicuous Democrats. MIR. Cleveland and
Mr.. Bryan, are against territorial expan-
sion, and it looks now as if that position
would be taken by the Democratic party.
Efforts are being made to show that the
Democrats are inconsistent in opposing
territorial expansion-that most of the ter
ritory acquired by the nation was acqur-
ed under Democratic administrations 1t
is true, of course, that most of our ac-
QUESTIONS of territory were made while
Democrats had control of the govern
ment. but such acquisitions were ada
cent 20 our own territory and readily be-
came a part of it without the adoption of
different system of government for
them. The territories which it is now
proposed to annex are distant from on"
shores, have populations which are so
different from our own that they cannot
be assimilated and would make us parties
10 questions in which European Powers
are profoundly interest ed-auestions
which would in all probability, involve us
in complication with those Powers.
1t is apparent, therefore, that the ques-
tons involved in the acquisition of terri
tory from Spain are vastly different from
those which were at issue when we acquir.
| ed Louisiana, Texas, Alaska and other
territories The acquisition of these terri.
tories permitted us to still adhere to the
doctrines of the founders of the republic
to keep clear of all entangllng alliances
The acquisition of Hawaii, Porto Rice
and the Philippines would make us parties
to questions which keep Europe in a state
| of unrest 1t would compel us TO have g
colonial system and big army and q
powerful navy. Democratic leaders
therefore. are right in opposing a policy
| productive of such satisfactory results.