The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-28

| eoPs OIL 1nts KaPeI nctehFeO In the
City.
Yesterday we obtained a copy OF the
Hongkong Weekly Press. published in
Honggong. China, of the date OF April
goth. In ~glancing over its columns We
noticed h following interesting edi-
torial: xxa
"A resolution in congress has been
necessary TO declare the existence Of a
state or war between the United States
n Spain. II was expected that the
declaration would have come from the
Spanish side, and the policy of the
states was directed to bring that about.
but Spain has declined the invitation
and LEFT il TO the states TO take I'D
formally as we'll as practically the
position Of aggressors. The aggres-
/ is a ~justiiable one and English
sympathy will naturally be with our
American cousins. Spain has been
unable herself to restore order in Cuba.
the preservation of neutrality i'm
posed On the United States, with their
tenslV seabOard. a difficult task in
the prevention Of fl~ibustering expe-
dltlOns. The whole coast had to be
closely policed with cruisers. at on
siderable cost to the state and annoy
ance TO legitimate trade, and as there
appeared no prospect OF immediate
nnailty TO the var without outside in
terference h states have stepped in
to restore order themselves. In doing
so they have the double satisfaction
OF self-interest and sympathy with the
wrongs of the Cubans.
The war will probably be short and
decisive. With rebellions in progress
both in Cuba and the Philippines
Spain cannot hope to make good her
| defence in either of those colonies af-
ter her navy has been destroyed, and
she could not possibly act on the often
slve against America with any pros
pect of success. Even assuming that
h were able to sweep the American
mercantile marine off the seas, the
states would be well able to stand the
loss for the time being and in the long
run would make Spain pay a heavy bill
for damages. There can be no idea
of Spain striking any effective blow at
the states on American soil, and when
she has lost Cuba and the Philippines
she will have nothing left to fight for
and the war will presumably come to
an end. Possibly the Spanish navy
1hoy NC ooICI W hCCp IAC Z ms LHblA
is anticipated, but at most it is only
a question of time, for America can
increase her navy at a more rapid
rate than Spain and acquire such a
preponderance of strength as cannot
fail to ensure victory. America has
u~nbounded wealth at her back; the
financial Of Spain are almost
exhausted.
Spanish colonial rule has proved a
~lamentable failure and no regret can be
felt at its downfall. The question of
interest is, what will take its place?
In Cuba no doubt a republic will be set
up, for the states have disclained any
wish to annex the island. Possibly
annexation may be forced upon them
ultimately should the native republic
prove a failure, but there appears no
reason why the Cubans should not
prove themselves as capable Of self
government as the South American re
publics that were formerly under Span
ish rule. With regard to the Philip
pines the question is not so simple.
The native race appears to be cOnsid-
erably more advanced in civilization
and Intellectual attachments thar was
until recently supposed, and might, il
it were given a chance, prove itself ca
pable of self government; but with the
large foreign interests existing in the
islands it can hardly be expected that
the Powers concerned should consent
to the complete withdrawal of Western
influence and control from the admin.
istration. The states, however, are
not prepared to assure the government
| thnmCQlunC thnIph that would he thk
most satisfactory solution of the ques
ton. Mention has been made of al
alleged lien held by England upon Ma
Mia u of the non-payment Of the
indemnity for the ransom of the city
after it's capture by the English il
1862, but it is also said that paymen'
of the amount due under the agree
: ment made at that time was formally
5 waived by the British government
e some twenty-seven years ago. How
ever that may be, the question posses
SEES no practical Importance now. L
must be assumed that as between ma
tons there is a constructive though
not actual statute of limitations which
would bar the setting up of antiquatet
claims that have not been kept aliv'
liz the meantime. Whether formal!
waived or not, the British claim OF 176.
has been practically waived, and i
Great Britain now appears in the ques
ton of the future government of tn
Philippines it will be by virtue of he
present commercial interests in tn
islands and, possibly, by the Invitation
of the United States. A lot improba
BILE settlement is the setting up of
native administration under the join
control Of the United States and Grea
Britain modelled on the control exer
cised in Samoa by Great Britain, tn
United States, and Germany. At tn
Samoan conference held at Berlin i
1889, at which Great Britain, Germany
and the United States were represent
ed, an act was signed guaranteeing tn
neutrality of the islands, in which tn
citizens of these signatory power
i --.r 500 &c -@-,Io-4n $rndf