The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-15

Estimated in dollars, the country has lest
by the war. The expenditures may reach
S5OOOOO.OOO. while the revenues of the terri
tory the Nation has gained will not more
than pay the cost of keeping up local gov
ernments. Before Cuba has a stable gov
eminent and tranquility the expenditure
will be increased All gains cannot be
measured by dollars, and some which cam
not be so measured are above that standard
of measurement. OF such gains we have
made many.
The people of the United States have
gained in their own estimate of their power.
For years this country has had a consid-
cradle number of men of ability and prom
inence who have made it their vocation to
disparage the United States and its people.
These men have had able organs and the
run of the magazines. Less than twenty
years ago they told the country that the
United States could not build war ships,
but must purchase them in Europe in order
to possess the best. Their predictions
caused much hesitation, but after time
the experiment of home construction was
ventured on. Then constructors and con-
tractors were assailed. War, they told us.
would prove the inadequacy of our naval
construction and of our navy. The country
quite generally believed these predictions.
The war has shown how far these wise men
were from the truth. We can build the
best war ships in the world, and, untred as
were iron ships and modern armament, our
naval officers and men have shown skill
that has astonished Europe. The materiel
of our navy has been exceeded only by it's
personnel. The little navy which was ridi-
culed six months ago and classified as
scarcely the equal of that of Spain has, in
three months. by its brilliant achievements.
made us a navy which Europe respects 1t
will never again be the object of our own
and the worlds sneers.
We had not been at war for third of a
century. Our regular army was handful
of men compared with the armies of Eu-
rope. In spite of the fact that in the war
for the Union both sides presented to the
world the highest fighting qualities, Euro
peans quite generally had come to the con-
clusion that we were nation of noncom-
Blatant money-makers. Our little regular
army at Santiago and the volunteers with
it showed a quality of audacity and skill in
battle which called forth the applause of
critics.
In the past the United States have not
been counted in the list of the great govern
ments which settle the disputes and control
the affairs of the world Whether we would
have it so or not, hereafter this government
will be one of the potential elements in the
worlds affairs. Hereafter when policies
are considered and issues are to be made up
affecting the world, the United States will!
be consulted and it's voice will be potential.
But the greatest gain of the war is the
unitication of the American people. For
many years the United States have not
been, in the highest sense nation. This
war has made US one people. Other nations
have counted upon past dissensions to
weaken us in the event of an outside war.
They can count upon sectional hates no
longer, for there are none. Thus united, we
have proved to the world that we are one
of the potential nations of the globe
There will be growing over war taxes
and extravaganza will be denounced by
demagogues, butt the silent American peo-
pie will be certain that the 500, OOO, 600 which
the war may cost is one of the best invest
ments the American people ever made