The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-04

destitute and suffering people. We owe our
national prowess and personal liberty to the
revolution and the kindly offices of foreign
sympathizers. The immortal Lafayette did
us a marvellous kindness which future gen.
erations never can forget. Human progress
demands that we compel Spain to withdraw
from Cuba, even at the cost of war. Spain
stands in the way of the highest and best
ual life. That proposition needs no argu-
ment To point to the history of the Span
ish people for the past three hundred years
is sufficient. That she be driven from this
hemisphere has the prestige of history. In
IiSo Spain was compelled to Withdraw her
claims to certain parts OF what now con-
stitutes the southern portion of the United
States and to allow the federal govern
ment to navigate the Mississippi and make
New Orleans a port of deposit for our Ma
ton In 1868 she was, compelled to cede
Louisiana to our government, and Florida in
1919. Then followed in quick succession the
independence of Mexico and the Central
and South American states. Spain as
back number and is no longer entitled to
the exercise of governmental functions IN
the new world She and Turkey have out
lived their usefulness and must go down
before superior civilization. They have
been weighed in the balance and found
WAR has often been the final arbiter that
has made human progress possible. 1t was
by means of war that Greece gained her
freedom from eastern dynasties and thus
made it possible for. her to occupy such
a high place among the ancients. war
made Rome the mistress of the world at
a time when the world needed a central
government. England has waged many
useless and bloody wars, but war was neceS-
sary in many instances before she could
hold her commanding position upon the high
seas and among the nations of the earth.
And who doubts the Importance of Eng
land in the progress of the worlds his
tory? And even our own colonies were
compelled to resort to this bloody arbiter
in order to secure that independence that
has been theme for poet and orator for
more than a hundred years. Slavery was
haniShPd from American soil through the
Intervention of war and the shedding or
blood Even the Hebrews resorted to war
while under the tutelage of Jehovah Tor the
purpose of driving out the enemies OF the
great God and for the purpose or advancing
the worlds CIVILIZATION Inns ne1ho i Oh Sic Sic
of barbarism, is horrible in the extreme:
and among civilized nations is court or
last resort. 1t ought to be appealed to only
in behalf of a noble cause. for one be-
lieve that President Mckinley has counted
the cost, and while perhaps oVercautlous,
he has found that our Nation has every
reasonable assurance that through the IN
tervention Of war it can secure the indie
impetus to the upIift of the human race
If Spain will not yield; If every possible ell
fort has been made to secure a ceSsatlon
OF hostilities on honorable terms ana nave
failed as we believe they have done, then
/ for one hope that the President and Cor
gress will hasten the issue. They should not
Re deferred by Wall street influences or coll
siderationS nor by the cowardlce ana ul-
patriotic sentiment which sometimes cr1es
Peace at any price 1t is an easy thlng
for those of us who are without RESPONSE
bility in this matter to criticse those who
have the burden 0 bear. I for one have no
doubt but what the affairs of our govern,
ment are in safer hands than IL lntrusteu
to many of us. 1t behooves us, therefore,
who are not always familiar with all OF the
facts in the case to manifest our Iioyally
better opportunity to know what, ought to
be done than we have. But with present
light IL would seem, under the c1rcum-
sfances while keeping cool and possessing
our tlr'' souls in patience, our Nation should be
firm and aggressive. We ought not TO re-
treat from plain duty. In the present Crisis
LET us be loyal; let us be sure we are right
and then go ahead, regardless OF con t.
ouences. When a nation is enllsted IN Ine
cause of Justice and humanity we peneve
we can Invoke Jehovah's protection and pe
assured of His leadership on to spiendlo
victory"