The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-12
DoIliVer on The
War and It's Issues

SFHE MOST eloquent, and one of the
III most sensible members of con-
III gross. J. 7. Doliver, of Iowa, In
III lecture at Ocean Grove the other
day. spoke In part Us follows: I'VE
have gained In cur war with spain In
nnitcly more than We have lost, and the
Gnerring instinct OF the people at large
whose sovereign purpose overruled the
judgment OF the statesmen in the initial
stages OF the conflict, has given us new
national prestige at horc aud abroad-to
ourselves Il new basis OF sclf-respect, TO
the nations Of Europe new and health
ful insight Into our resources and power.
The world will be slow to make quarrel
with community that can raise s2O0,0OO
900 without the ala of syndicate at
home or abroad within two weeks by
popular loan The cabinets OF the old
world Will hold long session before al
lowing themselves to be drawn into col"
| lision with a nation which. in five years.
Will have at its disposal q steel fleet, OF
which the Brooklyn and oregon are only
| the types and forerunners. The war has
perfected our strength at home by the
| total obiteration of the lines of sectional
prejudice marked upon our map by great
struggles OF the last generation. General
Joe Wheeler. IN the thick Of the fight at
Santiago. stands for the larger patriot
| ism north and south. which has turned
It's back upon the past and opened its
vision to the sublime destiny of a reunit-
ed people.
The same influences that have restored
the perfect union of our country have
brought back harmony to which broad
minded men of both countries have long
looked forward In the relations of the
English-spcaking world. At the out
break of the Spanish war the restless di-
piomacy of Europe was circumVented by
| the prompt notice Of the English govern
ment that any constraint placed by the
powers upon the government of the Unit
ed States would have 10 count upon the
disapproval and active hostilities of the
government and people of England and
| thus by n simple act of national fellow
ship, the worn and thrcadbare prejudices
| of century yield in both countries to
recognition of the common cause which
| the English race scattered Throughout tho
earth is now to make for liberty and CIV
| ilization.
| The peace which is now at hand i'm
poses upon our government problems
vastly more difficult than the prosecution
| of the war. 1t puts the destinies OF the
\ Spanish West Indies at once in our
| hands. 1t gives us Porto Rico--the gov
| ernment of which will probably be an
| easy task-and requires us to establish
stable and orderly government in Cuba
| agreeable to the people of the island. We
| have already raised the flag of the United
| States over the Hawaiian islands, now
| familiar with republican institutions Nd
| miral Dewey, in the harbor of Manila,
| by the most notable exploits in the his
| tory of the navy has brought us face to
| face with the problem of the Philippines.
| Two things the American people are al
| ready agreed upon. The first Is that we
| ought not to desert our insurgcnt allies
| in the hour of our victory and leave them
\ to the tender mercies of an unrestralned
| Spanish despotsm, and the second is that
| the question is strictly an American ore
and that what we do shall not be con-
| strained by the interference of any for
| eign powers, prince or potentate whatso-
| ever.
1t may be counted as certain that the
flag of the United States Is in the Philip
| pines to stay and that, whether our gov
| ernment assumes sovereignty over the
| whole group or not, we will secure such a
! naval and commercial station there as
| will enable us to administer to the needs
| of our own commerce and become the
agents and guardians of the peace and
liberty of the islands. From the beginning
| to the end of the war ii Is evident to the
| devout student of history that our people
in strange way have been subject to the
| guidance of powers wiser than any hui
man foresight and that we have come 10
N our present situation in the providence
of God Without our knowing it or in
tending 1t, we have been caught in the
| ourrent-in what our fathers used to call
the course of human events. Up to this
hour we have discharg rged every duty with
herosm and a self-sacrlfice that has TAX
en- no thought for ourselves. 1t cannot
be doubted that the president of the
| United States secure in the confidence
| of all the people, without regard to poll
tics, will go forward in the discharge OF
every duty which arises out of our new
relations to the civilization of the world
and behind him will stand the united mil.
lions of our people ready for their duty
as old Bismarck once said, 'in the fear
| of God and nothing else"