The times., 1898-06-07

man history.
The record of the past few weeks has
disiIlusioned us. Instead of finding Rus
sia our friend, we have seen in the
press of ST. Petersburg indications that
the Russian government is inimical to
our necessary national expansion; is
unwilling that we should properly pun
ish the common enemy of civilization;
or that we should accrete to ourselves
the legitimate fruits of our justified
war against Spain.
Today, we are unwillingiy compelled
TO credit reports that Russia is at
tempting 10 bring the Hispano-Ameri-
can quarrel 10 a close, and on terms to
be dictated by European monarchical
tribunal. There is still chance that
the Car may refute the story, but to
do SO, he viii have TO say that what the
Novosu has stated is unauthorized by
his government, and influential st.
Petersburg papers do not MAKE inter
national threats without the sanction
of the highest authority. Here is what
the Novost ventures to print:
a
war Spain's appeal is A sort of capituation,
but. on the other hand. America must volun-
taTlly submit heF Tretensions to tribunal OF the
powers. America cannot avoid doing this, as her
position with two long and exposed coast lines,
is not such as could withstand the combined
fleets OF TIVE three European powers Let
Europe raise her mighty voice and restore that
peace to which mankind looks for the only peace
ful expansion, and for the triumph OF civiiiza-
ton
The text Of the excerpt is its own ref
utation The American people are not
gaging in "a senseless and criminal
war" They have accepted the mandate
of God and humanity to crush that foul
power which oppresses subject popula-
tions and devotes them TO the horrors
of torture, rape and butchery. For
century they have impatiently tolerated
at their very doors deviltry which
would nave seemed horrible in the days
when Nero was the standard of mid
government: but al last they have risen
in their might and magnitude, and they
viii have no more of it, although il
were necessary that they should fight
the whole world TO destroy the evil.
AS far as we can judge from the re-
ports, il is not that Russia so much
objects TO our sentiments of philan-
thropy. They are all right as long as
they do not interfere with European
interests in the East But that we
should take and hold the Philippines
is another matter. The continental
nations might not even object to our
occupation Of a Far Eastern territory,
if the geography OF commerce We're not
about TO be rewritten The difficulty,
from their point Of view, arises in the
manifest destiny of the United States
as frankly predicted by statesmen and
publicists on this side. of the water.
The construction of the Nicaragua
canal will Inevitably change the direc-
ton of the worlds trade. Our posses
sion Of such a point of vantage in
Asiatic waters as the Philippines. added
TO our control of Hawaii and a strong
naval base in the Caribbean Sea. in
evitably would give the Western En-
pire domination of the earth's COM
merce. That would necessitate a re-
adjustment u liiE WI AlOle GbSiIliC SNS-
tenn of commercial and political rela-
tons, with the prospect of America ;
coming out on top.
From this point of view it is not diff
cult to appreciate the tendency in con-
tinental Europe to check our progress.
We should accept a check. Fortunately
ii happens that, while there has been
friction between the English speaking
peoples. there is a basis of common IN
terest between them when all are as
sailed by the Latin and SIavonic in
fuences. Consolidated for purposes of
mutual protection, they are inYincible,
and, beyond that consideration, it is
probable, almost certain, that the ag-
gressiye race concentration which
seems to be among the prospects of the
twentieth century will draw them to-
gether in a struggle for life against the
other leading peoples.
We neither wish to see nor unneces-
sarily to precipitate such a contest; but
the American character, once aroused
- A4DL AEtNNig " aFo5G Tire A7ssuC- AiCA Z
are seventy millions of people in this
country, and most of them can be de-
pended upon to display the same kind
Of heroism that has been shown by
Dewey and Hobson. We want to live at
peace with our decent neighbors,
whether in this or the other hemis-
phere. Our long and exposed coasts,
to which the ST. Petersburg Novosti
significantly refers. VIII not prevent us
from defending our interests and honor,
against any force which hostile nations
can bring against us.
Once more, it may be as well for for
eign embassies, legations, princes, po-
tentates and powers to understand
that we will keep the Philippines. that
we will take and retain Porto Rico, that
we will see Cuba Independent, and that,
if they do not like it, We have several
million fighting men, plenty of re-
sources, plants. ingenuity and mechani-
cal ability which we will trade for the
use of our British cousins navy. and
stand out with them for fight to the
finish against all the rest of creation.
The Stamp Tax.