Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-16

diplomacy in Europe has long peen
among the fine arts. Spain being iar from
the least accomplished country IN inc
exercise of It's most effective nnesse'
The visible results OF our recent "ai
with Spain have startled the soperest
and wisest OF the controlling spirits OF
the Old World. They all recognize at iast
the momentous fact OF the presence Oh d
power Of unmeasured and almost lmmfa-
surable strength on this side or the sea
And they are observing all the ihulcatiohS
of the future foreign policy OF THIS coun-
try with an anxious eye. Hence "hen
the members OF the Peace Commission
take their seats to begin their WORK each
OF the great nations of Europe Will nave
its lookers-on watching intently for the
protection and promotion OF vital Interests
outside the immediate matters penoins
between the United States and SPAIN 30
the Peace Commission may nave .ne
peace OF all Europe In its keeping. ana tme
very life of our own mighty repupno
may be Involved in the outcome Oh is
| ~counsels. In its adjustments just now 50
delicately dependent Is the equipoise vi
Europe that n single sweep OF the Amer,
can Eagles wing might break IL up anu
| bring on a war far worse in every way
than any war the world has Witnessed III
modern times. All through its situngs
Il l'lt cave tOHlillo''Oh 'H
| an atmosphere of diplomacy. Then ana
there will be the war OF WIS. The repre-
| sentatives of the United States VIII
| doubtless prove TO be not only the peers
but the masters of the Spanish memDeTs'
In clear and vigorous intellectually put
they need not be expected 10 approve
themselves such adopts in the diplomatic
| arts as the Spaniards are. Uncle sam. Is
honest, robust, with a big brain ana a
brawny arm. But he has had nttle schooi-
| ing in the councils Of courts, ana Wneh Nv
| meets in contest an experienced diplomat
from the other side Of the sea, 1t Is Ike a
| brave old farmer. equipped with a fence
rail, parrying with a fencing master WIN
a rapier in his hand. Since cur country
must now take her appointed pace
among the great powers of the World'
as the Jingoes say, we must henceIoith
be less Indifferent to diplomatic training
for those who are to represent us aDioao,
Whether the war is over or not VIII
largely depend upon the action OF inc
Peace Commission, OF course. III TINS couh-
try shall firmly stand by its ante-pelluih
declaration that the war WIFI op"i"
should not be a war OF conquest tnete
can be little danger of any such SERIOUS
disagreement as might lead to colllsloh
with any OF the other Powers. But IL III
addItion IA Porto Rico we shall demand
\ hlUlllOI " Il III
the whole Philippine group, instead OF re-
tanning Manila ana Manila Bay alone, II
IS not improbable that we may soon nhu
ourselves reckoning with Germany anu
possibly Russia as well.
What do we want with all the Philip
nine Islands. 5000 miles away? what 40
we want with 100000 of seml-savdses
as our fellow-citizens, forsoothE Nhal
do we want with a substitution OIL the
sword for the ballot in any territory WIN
our flag Of freedom floating over II! what
do we want with such a departure from
the principles and policies of our govern
ment as would be really a revoiu-
,ion2 What do we want with a
new course for our country In It's re-
lntions 10 other countries, carrying
us straight on to decay and death, as II
has carried other governments ana other
lands as confident in their strength even
as our people are.
Let us madly resolve upon girdling the
globe with an American zone OF lfhpe.
riaIism in the name of liberty, and not
many more generations VIII come ar
90 without a melancholy history OF the
great republic, as it was designed TO De-
and as il was before its fall. NOW Is the
time for reason, not passion, in the ex-
ercise of American statesmanshlp' IL
may he exciting. exhilarating, fascinating
TO contemplate our flag lying as a sym
hol NJ our country's sovereignty wherever
the ann shines, but the fathers OF oui
Government did not counsel in mat dlrec'
tion Those men, of heroic mould In every
wav who framed the great charter loi
, The preservation of our liberties forever
warned us against these very rocks aho
reefs ON which our government Is no"
i'm danger of dashing TO It's dealh' NV
is the time for the conservatism Oh wv
country 10 be boldly asserting ltseil' IA
men of poise, as well as patriotism
should be making themselves hearu' =.
There is something of a war spirit II
= tho air. as a matter OF course. so soo'
after the war. And there are those am
among them many OF lne %.
l and bravest, too, Who' "hipII
: of further military renoWh' 49, |,
l have this government hoio an ,
has in its power. and welcome al
n" even TO generations t'
; como they are the headlong spirits IN
ronh ard dangerous counsellors to d.
I foared no more by their enemies tnah o!
,Sair friends. This country in TINS Wa
/ ha, made a name that inspires all IN
n,tnnd nations of the world with a su
ornrn4 respect for its prowess, its chral
nv. and it's humanity. II Wouiu " We
= n rest right there for aWnlle'
l war spirit is not the legitimate Spit
b, Of y republic. A republic, nevertheless
,,ben occasion calls. may be as mighty j
arms as the most military power IN IN
wcrId Martial glory loses nothing OF II
snlordor in ormin a nimbus around IN
goddess of Liberty's head.
- Va Sentember Is, 1898.