Arizona republican., 1898-07-12
FUTURE PROBLEMS.

Now is not the time to waste words and nerve tissue over the future of the Philippine islands. the Ladrone islands. Porto Rico and Cuba.
 When war was declared against Spain notice was served that the land and naval forces of that country should leave the island of Cuba by fixed date The declaration was also made that the United States was not seeking to possess Cuba for its own use, but merely to provide for the establishment there of stable government. In ten days, however, by one of those unex- pected events that come with war, the United States found itself in practical control of the capital of the Philip pine islands. At once the carping crit ics began to shriek imperialism" and to point ou the dangers of the United States maintaining control of territory in the China sea- Sight was lost by these critics of the fact that the de- struction of the Spanish fleet by Dewey and the investment of the city of Manila was one of the natural re- suits of the war
 The proper policy of the United States was to lessen the power of Spain on the sea, to insure protection for vessels carrying our flag, and to seize and hold Spanish territory. Already two of Spain's possessions are under our control, and already two of Spain's fleets have been destroyed. The sec ond city of Cuba is about to succumb to the American forces, and later Porto Rico may be held by the forces of the United States. All these acts are in line with war. As to the dispo- sition of these Spanish possessions seized by the American troops, that is a problem for the future. In time of actual warfare there is no time to talk of peace propositions. When tender to sue for peace, however, is made the question of the future of the Spanish possessions now held, or to be held by us, will properly come up for solu- tion. The American people will de- clare themselves as to the policy to be adopted, and then will come the time to discuss the subject seriously.
 It was only two months ago that the idea of 'imperialism" bobbed up- Spain's blunder in permitting the de- struction of her warships, valued at several millions of dollars, will sim ply increase the burden of the indem- nity to be demanded by us when hos tiIities cease. Instead of making the end as easy as possible, Spain is mak- ing her bill of expenses so tremendous that a settlement is hardly to be ex- pected. Thus far there has been no official suggestion that we are to go into the business of territorial expan- sion thousands of miles away from home. When that is done it will be time enough for the people to line up.
 We must get some returns for our enormous war expenditures, and if 1t be necessary to hold the Philippine is- lands and Porto Rico there Is nothing to stand in the way Germany took Alsace and LOT raine from France, and not a power ob- jected. If we have to take the Philip pines it is our own business and no other power has the right to utter a word of complaint Much less should Americans complain. In the mean time the work of our army and navy is increasing the respect of the rest oi the world for our capacity to turn from the plough, the lathe, the desl and the shop to become sailors and sol diers. The American people have good reason for being proud Of thei1 men in the field.