The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-04
A Nation Born Anew.

The nation on this day rounds an
epoch in it's history. For the first time
since its natal day it is a nation full
grown: a nation in instinct. in unity,
in national consciousness of a national
destiny. There have been Fourths ere
this when these things were said, but
the statements were then only frac-
tional truths. Before the civil war the
title deeds of American citizenship
were clouded with mortgages to the
doctrine of state sovereignty. That
war Cancelled the mortgages but it left
in place thereof an immense accum-
ulation of sectional bitterness.
1t was reserved for another war, an
unselfish war having its inspiration di-
rectly in human sympathy, a war for
the freeing of an alien race, to whom
we have been obligated by propinquity
alone, to bring together our divided
sections, wipe out this bitterness, take
the sting out of recently growing class
prejudices and show to the American
tacle of "a mighty power self-directed
no less in war than in peace to ad-
vancing the worlds common civiliza-
tion. A nation born in war and saved
by war finds now in war a new dedica-
tion of its superior might to its incom-
parable mission. Let human insects
count the cost in blood or treasure and
haggle DER the price. The pen of his
tory will write that this episode of our
war with Spain was the greatest single
triumph for humanity in the whole
eventful course of the Nineteenth CEN
tury.
In view of these facts, the day we
celebrate is justly day of pride in
citizenship, Offering, for the eXultation
it arouses, larger warrant than any
the world has yet known. But 1t is
none the less a day of solemn duty,
which calls every thoughtful American
to mediate upon its problems and re-
sponsibilities. Situated, as we are,
upon the threshold of a new century,
which brings with 1t for the American
people new prestige and new oppor-
tunity, we have to consider how best
the other. The course of events, in
which many perceive the hand of Prov
idence, has suddenly put within our
control the disposition of the future
of many millions of human beings, our
interiors in the scale Of civilization
children in the school of successful
government, yet politically or
phaned by operation of our arms and
thereby thrown bodily upon our mercy
In Cuba, this problem is simplified
by nearness to republican institutions
and facilitated in its solution by a
large engrafting Of American inter.
ests; but in the Philippines distance
ISOLATION from examples in honorable
rule, complications in race and religion
and the besetting perils of European
greed combine to suggest a prodiglous
task, yet II the United States be not
equal TO this task what nation or sys.
tenn is? Can we escape it? Dare we
ignore II? Would II be right to rear
The eclat OF successful arms and ther
shirk the ensuing responsibilities
Would 1t be in keeping with the tradi,
tons of moral courage upon which oul
republic is builded to commemorat,
The freeing OF Cuba by deciding upor
The reinstatement of the Philippines
These are among the thoughts which
nstinctively connect themselves with
the present occasion. But the ques
lions we have asked practically an
swer themselves or ind their reply IL
he sterling character of the American
people-a people which has expanded
is domain from thirteen struggling
colonies to AZ prosperous states anC
lifted itself from lowest to first among