The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-09-07

We professed that Uux constantly increasing
ton. -
There have. indeed. of late been many
threatening indications that these profess
sions had not the force of principles; that
safety, prosperity and ignorance had cor
rupted the moral sense of the nation and
weakened its sense of responsibility; that
there were vast numbers of people too UNI
acquainted with the teachings Of history to
set right value on our peculiar ana price,
less national privileges; that there were
others, including many men of more than
average intelligence and virtue, who had no
absolute conviction of ,.the->wiekedness of
war, and others still. including aiarge body
of politicians, SO Indifferent 70 right and
wrong as to be -eager-.tO- force the nation
into war il by SO doing their personal or
partisan interests could be- promoted.
And vet many an optimistic and we'll
meaning citizen shutting IFS eyes, after
the common American fashion, to- the signs
of danger continued to trust that the prin-
ciples of peace Were or such ihcontestabe
virtue, and the principal motives for its
preservation 50 strong, that in spite of all
evil influences it would be still maintained
as our national policy. They have been rude
y undeceivei. Flinging common sense and
moral principle alike to the winds under
the influence of hysterical emotion, with
out decent elaboration, without due prepar-
atiOn the representatives Of the people rush
with childish precipitancy into war. and,
what is worse, forced war upon weak ma
ton. which, whatever it has done to pro-
woke 1t. showed itself finally ready to make
every reasonable effort to avert it and to
meet every legitimate demand of the United
States.
Even if the good faith of Spain were to
be questioned We put ourselves in the wrong
by refusing to test it. No attention was
paid to her repeated offer of armistice in
(tub1 of an for m m sci To ua-
termnc the responsibility for the destruc-
ton of the Maine. or the grant of practical
autonomy to Cuba.
The president and our minister to Spain,
both presumably better informed Of the con-
ditions than any other men, declared their
belief tina: the ends we had right to seek
could be secured by negotiation, and urged
that the attempt thus to obtain them
should not be abandoned. But congress.
representing the nation refused to listen to
the counsels of prudence. of patience and of
peace. The national conscience seemed dead
to the sin of war and the national imagi-
nation was dull to it's results of evil.
Ihe worst of war is that its results can
never he fully foreseen and that they may
turn out far worse than the actual calamity
of its course. The United States went to
war fancying that a comparatively simple
easy and brief task was before it, Peace
has nomnally come. The actual conflict
has ended. but less than 100 days Of war
has resulted in revolution in the United
States.
The foundations on which the republic
has rested have been unsettled: the princi
pies upon which the government depends
have been violated; we have undertaken
obligations which neither our institutions
nor our national character enables us prop
erly to discharge; we. the great non
military power in the world, have suddenly
joined the ranks or the natruns- burdened
with great armies and navies; we have
loaded ourselves with an enormous national
debt, and with an enormous increase of an
nual expenditures, permanent oppressive
tax upon the industry of the people; and.
further, whateveC disposition. may he made
OF the Philippines, we are already, through
holding them and claiming the right to dis
pose of them. brought into entangling rela-
tons with the nations of the old world and
run the risk of losing the inestimable boon.
which has hitherto been ours, of freedom
from the complications of the international
politics of the old world. and of remaining
the Independent masters of our own for
tunes. 1t is, indeed, momentous revolu-
ton. p. ... ..--..
We are in no condition to add new re-
sponsibiltles to those which already rested
upon us. The tremendous and magnificent
experiment of self-governing democracy
is by no means satisfactorily solved. The
results of the war makes its solution IN
fnitely more doubtful and difficult. We are
threatened by enormous domestic dangers.
political and social The results of the war
add to their peril and increase their number.
But the more threa tening the dangers. the
greater the difficulties: the more doubtful
the issue SO much che more strenuous and
steady must be the effort of the good citi-
zen for the welfare of mis- country. He
may lose hope. but he does not lose courage.
IF hopes were dupeS, fears maybe. liars.
This is an able address and we'll
worthy of consideration by all intelli-
gent minds. l. u.