Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-10-05

GfTraSEzI war Il spain na1 WITH
drawn peacefully from Cuba. causing Us
no expense of life and treasure no dis
turbance Of national quiet we should
have had no course save 10 abide by our
congressional resolution. which clearly
contemplate what yye were 70 do in case
Spain aecedel 90 the .sruls il presented
But she did not aecesie, she forced war
upon Us. forced Us u wrench Cuba from
her by conquest. On April - we form
ally decla-. Il war, unconditional war
war without reference whatever 20 the
resolution PASSED ia time of peace, That
resolution was repealed by implication.
anngiled by the refusal IF the Spanish
government Ia permit Il even 10 be pre-
senred 10 them This present.,d the new
condition upon which we have ever since
acted We did not make solemn
promIsas we merely defined the Inten-
ton OF the government ar the time the
resoluttea was passed, an intention based
upon facts very different from those that
soon afterwards arose. When facts
changed, intention necessarily changed
with them Every consideration of states
manship and patriotism demanded the
Change, and it came.
The Question to Meet.
The only real question ia the whole Gu
ban matter Is simply this: Is ii best for
flag over the island We owe Cuba moth
ing; she oNes Us Everything. The war has
shown tha&Sthe Cubans could not have
conquered peace with spain in any
number of years. We have conquered
that peace. Our freedom is good enough
Tor Cubans or anybody else.
Scarcely one person in this country who
knows anything at frs. hand about Gu
bans believe that Cuba would be peaceful
and PROSPEROUS under their control. We
need Cuba fortiiication guarding +he
entrance to the Gulf OF Mexico and the
canal that, We must build between the
oceans. Under our rule Cuba will be-
come rich. prosperous and happy. just as
all other territories and states under our
nag have become rich. prosperous and
happy. Under Cuban rule she would be-
come revolutionary. torn With internal
troubles ana pitifullv unhappy, just as
all other American eoul'tr es governed by
Latin civilization have done These are
facts indicated by history. and facts are
better than editorials
Young. bright bold minds do not doubt
the adequacy of our government II there
Is one thing above all others disgusting TO
strong hearted American it Is this un-
patriotic assertion that if we take Cuba
permanently we are going 10 Cypress. mis-
use and misgovern the Cubans. What
sort of American is 1t who is constan5lv
doubling his governments What sort OF
citizen is il who habitually takes the side
OF an alien people against his own people?
These self-constituted friends of the Gu
bans are always harping about I he wei
fare of he Cubans, but they say never
word about American welfare in that con.
neetian. II they mention America at all
1t Is to insinuate or openly say that our
government Is sure TO do the Cubans
great evil if il gets full control of the
island. But does history support these
unpatriotic prophets IN what they sayg
What people, what territory, what region
has our government miSrulcd? Not one.
Wherever we rule there the people are the
happiest in the world. Facts are better
than editorials.
And if American political history is
proof of anything it proves in advance
that If the Democratic party shall attempt
TO set up the worn cry OF free silver and
free trade against the glorious shout of
nstfs.aai destiny and national adequacy
to fill VERY demand of that destiny, there
will he about rs much probability of
Democratic success as there was in 1868
The cohquering hero is more admirable
and more available than the hero who
doubts his country's moral character and
secs only calamity in every great national
undertaking.
Recent indications point Enthusiastically
to the fact that the managers of the
Democrt t;c party in Indiana are shaping
the canIbaign in this state with a view TO
electins IA United States senator com
rnitted q - ne doctrine that our govern
uuent is dot s-ooti enough for Cuba. that
our freed .ssa~Axould be iniquitous when
applied II CGbans and that Cubans can
formulat and erect IA better government
than ouM
1t is TIT part of wisdom to look ahead
and do nav what viii make for the glory
of our coI,ntry in the future. Now is the
time fors young men to think and act
Young uien have done the fighting. they
have borne the heaviest hardships of the
war Young men have borne our flag to
the heigh1s of Cuba and Santiago and
have stood behind the terrible guns of our
victorious ships. they have the right to
large voice and a powerful influence in de
ermining what shall be the result OF the
victory. Young men, you fought for youl
country-you did not all go, but you al
fought in spirit and We're ready to die Il
necessary Shall Ii be for nothing? Are
we TO see the glorious results of patriotism
turned over to population unit for self
government and our country left just
where it WAS before we went to war?
MAURICE THOMPSON.
indianapolis. Sept. B.