Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-25
ne Enc q IL ylar a. AftAr

An unsigned article in the latest
number Of the Atlantic Monthly is at
tracing wide attention. It is entitled
THE End Of the War and Alter, and
Is to be commended to the public for
careful perusal, as judicious and en-,
lightened discussion. though necessa:
rily brief, of some Of the most imports
ant and most debated topics of the
present day. The current talk about
this nation being :'et the parting Of the
Ways and about to venture upon new
and untried paths may be dismissed
as idle. The nation is not at the part
Ing Of the ways. but is passing by the
entrance to a side alley. and. instead
OF trying a new path. it is persisting
in the good old way of expansion and
advancement which was adopted by
its founders. The only change is that
Its natural progress is bringing it into
a larger field and upon a higher plane.
1t is with the enlarged duties and
privileges Of such a situation that the
writer in THE Atlantic" deals.
We must. he argues, assume respon-
sibility for and government of the
lands we have conquered from Spain.
We cannot give them back to the mis-
government and tyranny of Spain,
now worse than ever. We cannot, hav-
ing destroyed their only government,
leave them without any, in anarchy.
We cannot turn them over to any
other nation, for we are not slave
traders. We must take charge of them
ourselves. In this there is nothing
revolutionary, nothing contrary to the
doctrines of the fathers. And to say
that the task of governing those is
lands and fitting them for some ac-
ceptable form of lf-government-
which may be far off in the remote, fu-
ture-is beyond the ability of this ma
ton is simply childish. The writer
is not certain whether the Islands are
to remain permanently autonomous,
supposing they ever become so, or are
to be annexed wholly to our domain.
Neither is any one else. But what is
certain is that their future, in which,
ever way that question be answered,
is to be dominated by the influences
of the United States; and this, too,
that if we do annex the islands out
right. Cuba included, We shall be under
no obligation whatever to erect any of
them into states.
What European nations will think of
us need cause us no uneasiness. In
any event, our national policy and our
conception and fulfilment of duty are
not to be governed by alien opinion.
But, as a matter of fact, such opinion
acquiesces in what We are about to do.
European nations will look, and are.
now looking, upon this country with
greater respect, not to say difference,
than ever before. Our manly execu
ton OF the tasks before us Will only
heighten their respect. Certainly this
nation ought not to regard itself less
highly. If European contempt has
been changed, as this writer says, into
respect, whatever of distrust of self
we may have had should be replaced
with confidence. Consciousness of ma
tional unity and strength, and of the
justice of our cause and of the great
ness Of our opportunities, should move
us to work out our own problems and
build our own future with a steadier
purpose" That is what comes after
the war, and it marks the war as not
having been waged in vain. ~