Evening star., 1898-05-21
American Character Will Be Better
Understood Than Before.
PROBLEMS THAT WILL CONFRONT Us
Our Greatest Need Will Be for
National Self-Restraint.
FOR EVENTS FOLLOW FAST
From the Atlantic Monthly.

From the Atlantic Monthly.
Not only is there in the United States
an unmistakable popular approval OF war
as the CnIy effective means of restoring
civilization in Cuba, but the Judgment OF
the English people promptly approved it,
giving evidence of an instructive race and
institutional sympathy. If Anglo-Saxon in
situations and methods stand for anything.
the Institutions and methods of Spanish
rule in Cuba are abomination and
reproach. And English sympathy is not
more significant as an evidence of the ne
cessity of the war and as a good omen for
the future OF free institutions than the
equally instructive sympathy with Spain
that has been expressed by some of the
decacent influences on the continent; in
deed, the real meaning of American civfli-
zation and ideals will henceforth be some
what more clearly understood in several
quarters of the world.
American character will be still better
understood when the whole world clearly
ICrCcIvcS that the purpose of the war is
only - remove from our very doors this
cruel and inefficient piece of mediaeyalism
which is one of the two great scandals
OF the closing years of the century; for 1t
Is TO. var Of conquest There is a strong
and ceicite sent-ssSnt against the annexa-
ton Of Cuba, and aSAnst our responsibility
1OE its government further than We are
boInd TO be responsible. Once free.
let IL govern itself; and it ought to govern
Itself at least well other Spanish
American countries have governed them
selves since they achieved their indepen-
deDce.
Problems That Confront Us.
The problems that seem likely to follow
the WAY are graver than those that have
led up 10 it; and if It be too late to ask
whether We entered into it without sufh-
citnt elaboration. it is not too soon to
make sure OF every step that We now take.
The inspiring unanimity of the people in
following their leaders proves TO be as
earnest and strong as II ever was under
any form of government; and this popular
acquiescence in war puts new response
biIty those leaders. and may put our
institutions and our people themselves to
new test. 4 change in our national pol
Icy may change our very character; and
We are now playing with the great forces
that may shape the future of the world
almost before we know It.
Yesterday we were going about the pro-
sale tasks of peace. content with our own
problems of administration and finance,
EatiCn To ourselves" commercials, as our
enemies call US in derision. Today we are
face % face with the sort of problems that
have grown up in the management OF
world empires. and the policies of other
nations are OF intimate concern 10 U.S. Shal
We stilL be content with peaceful industry,
OF does there yet lurk us the adventur-
spirit of our Angl lo-SaxOn forefatherS?
II
great enterprises awaiting US at home, we
shall be tempted to seek them abroad?
an Adventurous People.
The race from which we are sprung is
race that for a Thousand years has done
the adventurous and outdoor tasks of tine
world The English have been explorers,
colonizers. ConquerOrs of continents,
founders of states We ourselves. every
generation since we came to America have
had great practical enterprises to engage
uS-the fighting with Indians. the clearing
OF forests. the war for independence, the
construction of a government the exten-
sion Of our territory, the pushing backward
Of the frontier, the development of an FL
Dorado (which the Spaniards owned, but
never found. the long internal conflict
about slavery, a great civil war, the build
ing of railroads. and the compact unifica-
tion Of a continental domain. These have
been as great enterprises and as exciting.
coming in rapid succession, as any race
of men has ever had 20 engage it-as great
enterprises for the play of the love of ad-
venture in the blood our kinsmen over
the sea have had in the extension and the
management of their world-empire. The
old outdoor spirit of the Anglo-Saxon has
till lately found wider scope in our own his
tory than We are apt TO remember.
The Present Generation.
But now generation has come to man
hood that has had no part in any great
adventure. In politics We have had diff
cult and important tasks. indeed but they
have not been excitng-the reform of the
civil service and of the system of currency
and the improvement of municipal govern
meEt. These are chiefly administrative. In
q sense they are not new nor positive
tasks. but the correction of past errors. In
some communities politics has fallen into
the hands of petty brigands, and in 9TH
ers into those of second-rate men, partly
because it has offered little constructive
dTrtie heer
regGiatIve duties; its prizes, only COM
monplace distinction to honest men, and
the vulgar spoil Of office to dishonest ones.
The decline in the character of our public
life has been a natural result of the lack
of large constructive opportunities. The
best equipped men Of this generation have
abStaiued from Ii. and sought careers by
criticism of the public servants who owe
their power to the practical inactivity of
the very men who criticise them. In liter
atCre a well we have well-nigh lost the
art OF constructive writing. for we work
too much on indoor problems, and content
ourselves with adventures in criticism. 1t
is noteworthy that the three books which
have found most readers and had per
haps the widest influence on the masses of
this generation. are books Of Utopian So
cial programs (mingied with very different
proportions Of TRUTH. by whose fantastic
philosophy, thanks 10 the dullness of the
times. have tried seriously to shane
our national conduct-Progress and Power
ty. Looking Backward. and Coins Finan-
t-eai s7'.lit"sa ppSlOlC ItrNOr. romantic
dreaming. and blatant rnisinformation have
each cagtivatea the idle-minded masses be
cause their imaginations were not duiy
exercised in their routine coil. II has been
time Of social reforms, OF the "eTnancipa-
uo2 OF women. of national orga nizations
OF children. OF societies for the prevention
OF minor vices and for the encouragement
OF minor virtues. Of the study Of genealo-
gy. Of the rise Of morbid fiction Of Jour
nails f"r ladies' Of literature for babes
OF in=lodrama on the stage because We
nave lad IneiOCcaIna in life also-of criti-
Cisin and reform rather than of thought
and action.
Lack of Opportunity.
These things all denote a lack OF adyen-
turCCs opportunities. indoor life such as
We have never before had a chance to en-
Joy; and there are many indications that
u hfe Of quiet may nave become irksone.
end may not yet be natural to us Greater
facts than these denote a period also Of
fescD and such weil-beinR as men OF our
hqfu