The evening times., 1898-12-26
Accepting the Facts.

Long ago il was said that II is easier
10 criticise and find fault than to give
Intelligent praise or to suggest improve
ment That fact was never more cb-
lious than now, when objections are
raised TO the American policy of expan-
sion. Anybody can imagine reasons for
opposing anything that anybody else pro-
poses. and the cheapest sort of activity
is that of chronic objector. AS new
member Of Congress said to another who
| posed as 4 watch dog and whom he had
| observed for a few weeks: IT seems TO
me you're agin a good deal more than
you're fur Yet the world never
advance except by being for things. The
Democratic party has always made its
best record when it proposed and not
when il opposed measures-not when 1t
was mere anti party. 1t has been shown
again and again that no religious sect
ever amounted TO anything when its
creed was only a negation. No man can
pu: his heart into preventing somebody
| else from acting as he can in promoting
something positive. This is particularly
| apparent in the enemies of expansion.
! They are fretful, petulant. hysterical,
but they are not reasonable and hearty,
and if left alone they would destroy One
another They are wholly unable II agree
on any reasons for opposing the policy OF
/ rcfute those of another.
/ General Wheelers comment them
| covers the widest ground. The few citi-
/ zens who oppose the United States estab
| fishing temporary military government in
/ the colonies. he says, do not suggest
any other line OF policy for US to pursue
/ They are not men who build, but only de-
stroy, and they have no other common
motive than that. Different ones have
suggested different policies on being push
ed to the wall. hut they are insincere and
obviously impracticablc. Mr.. Carnegie
urges that the Filipinos especially. should
! be allowed absolute independence. How
1 impractlcable this is other DIRECTORS show
I by urging as their sole reason for object
/ ing to annexa ton that the people are in
capable of governing themselves That
this Is the present fact no intelligent per-
( son seriously doubts. What the Philip
.
grants from the States Join the thousands
/ of volunteer soldiers who intend to remain
( there after their discharge we can guess;
but at this moment to concede indepen-
dence would be 10 give The islands over
: 10 revolution and massacre. Another of
the opposing factions asserts that the
islands belong 10 Spain and that We had
no right 10 wrest them from her, and
should return Them. That the conscience
of the American people would ever con-
sent to this is an utterly absurd suppo-
sition. One might as reasonably suggest
+ that the colonies he attached 10 the plan
Ct Mars. The Rev. Mr.. Fisk. in his
Christmas address. stated a fact against
which ii is useless 10 struggle.
The treaty is signed and viii be ratified We
are in for ii. We cannot shake il of or shIk
/ il. 1t is poor statesmanship, poorer patriotism
! and poorest manhood TO stand haggliny about
what nigh, have been done We have nothing to
do but face the facts 10 meet The existing
I conditions fol God and humanity. We accept
with a solemn JOY this immense Clrstma. token
in the very spirit Of the angels song TO the
shepherds OF Belhlehem-Giory to God in the
highest, and earth peace, good will 10 men.
I We have only to read the Christmas
greetings from the Old World, published
this morning, TO see how much stouter
is the trust of the experienced statesmen
of Europe in the greatness and capabIlity
of The American nation than is shown
by the few people in our own country
who would shirk the duties imposed on
us They are frank TO admit that Amer
ica seems the chosen of Heaven for the
grandest Of national destines-as far
seeing men have predicted for centuries.
We are meeting the hopes recorded in a
little book by Charles Sumner, Pro
phctic Voices Concerning America and
the people as a body accept their ra-
sponsibilities with gladness and full con-
fidence Cowards should at least keep
silent IN the rear.