The Irish standard., 1898-12-31

or the national honor, and will resort to
every trick Of the demagogue to gain
the support of the American people in
his policy of expansion.
THE END OF A MEMORABLE YEAR
The year 1898, which ends today, has
been memorable one in the history of
our beloved republic. OF all the years
within the memory of the present gener-
alton it has been the most notable. The
war with Spain, though of short dura-
ton, was glorious one of which all
Americans have reason to be proud.
When the Inflated Maine was destroyed
in Havana harbor ON Feb is. with sew
eral hundred brave seamen on board.
thrill Of horror like on electric shock
ran through the breast of eery American.
and such was the effect of the catas-
trophe on the public mind that the Nc
kinley administration was forced to call
on Spain to leave the western hemis-
phere or fight. Spain preferred to fight
than to give up Cuba, and there is where
1t made the biggest mistake of it's life.
Within the short space of ninety days it's
fleet was utterly destroyed and it's SOL
diers had surrendered.
How promptly the American people re-
sponded to the call of the president for
troops is a matter that surprised the
world. The government could produce
million men if necessary, but it was
not. What Americans feared most was
the Spanish navy, which was said to be
quite formidable. The American ad-
mirals went in search of it, and failing
to find it, thought it was enchanted. On
the list Of May Dewey met a squadron
of it in far-off Manila and in few
hours sent it to the bottom of the bay
without losing man or ship. On the
4th Of July, the anniversary of American
independence, Schley sank the other
Spanish squadron in Santiago harbor
without losing man or ship. The
third Spanish flotilla kept away at safe
distance and found its way to Spain,
With the destruction of the Spanish
navy the Maine was amply avenged and
the war was practically over.
All the world wondered at the ease
and rapidity with which America had
conquered proud Spain. Our loss was
only 1,6G8 men killed and wounded, while
that of the enemy was much greater. The
feats of bravery performed by our SOL
diers and sailors will live in history and
animate future generations to heroic
deeds.
Not only did Spain lose Cuba, but
Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands are
ours as a result of the war. The honor
of the nation is pledged to. give the
Cubans their independence when they
are considered fit to govern themselves.
and Americans will fulfil the promise
made by their representatives in con-
gress.
The only Spanish elephant on our
hands is the Philippine Islands, purchas-
ed for s20OOO,OOO. What to do with 1t ~
problem very difficult to solve. The
plutocracy desire it for colony to be
governed by military force for COM
mercial purposes; the democracy Is OPP
posed to its retention without the con-
sent of its inhabitants under a repub-
lican form of government. The major
ity of the American people will decide
the question at the polls, and we think
they will decide it Alright and justly.
We hope that the new year Just open
ing will bring peace and prosperity to
the republic. Instead of entering into al
liances with foreign nations we hope
our legislators will keep the republic out
of European complications and make
good laws for the people whose servants
they are. Instead of getting big stand
ing army for foreign conquest let them
depend as heretofore on the citizen-sol-
diery to guard the republic from danger.
When the car of Russia proposes DIS
armament of the nations to avoid blood
shed, the president of the United States
should not favor a large army for mill
tary purposes We wish happy New
Year to the American people and pray
that God may keep them in the paths OF
righteousness and peace.