The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11
HonoR TO THIS HARVARD MAN.
Americanism and Sense From Prof.
Albert lIushnelI Hart.

AtOert bbueOueu mart.
From the Boston Evening Transcript.
In concluding his lecture In History
IL. at Harvard, this morning. Prof. Al
but pointed remarks on h present
American-Spanish crisis. Until two
or three weeks ago" said Professor
Hart. II was convinced that the plan
to interfere In Cuban affairs was largely
q political scheme; that the motives for
the proposed Intervention were purely
selfish, and that this country had not
sufficient interest in Cuba to warrant
armed Intervention. When. however, j
began to look into the matter carefully
and to study the history Of our rela-
tions with Cuba for the past 100 years, I
saw things differently.
Il found that the Cuban difficulty
liz not begin In 1895. nor in 1868, but
tina for 81 years this country has had
to face the question Of its duty to Cuba
Moreover. / found that in fs22-26. when
Cuba would in all likelihood have been
able to gain her Independence by the
aid OF neighboring countries. the United
States government interfered on behalf
of Spain. The reason for doing SO was
that Cuba. II independent, might be un-
able to govern herself and be picked
up by one of the great powers. An
other reason which kept us from inter-
III "a thE l'ot tIot supotiS ~
might bolish slavery in the island. and
this would be detrimental to slsvocracy
I'm the United States. Therefore, down
to 1868 and even to 1895, the United
States may be held responsible for the
Cubans not gaining independence from
Spain. We a kept up the Spanish
government in Cuba We now have the
moral responsibility TO rid the Cubans
Of Spanish government.
ssI- nm, cnnvincad that tho deem com
viction in the heart of h American
people is that the United States has a
great interest in Cuba. although annex
alton may not be desirable. There have
been principal reasons advanced for our
not intervening ,forcibly i'm behalf of
Cuba: First. that the whole thing was
not worth fighting about. This l can
not for a moment consent to. The in
terest which the United States has in
Cubs rs worth the price of war. II Is
not a selfish interest, but simply a just
and honorable obligation that the island
should be given the nance tn exist un-
der a civilized form of government. 1t
has been urged that diplomacy could
settle the Cuban question and that wal
was unnecessary i firmly believe that
there was no peaceful solution Of the
problem. Spain has always misman-
aged her colonies. Spanish government
is disagreement and must be so. The
only final solution OF the Cuban diff
Guilty Is the withdrawal of the Spanish
government from Cuba.
mo diplomacy could ever have COM
PEELED this. We might have put the is
sue on a few years longer. but war was
inevitable. The present war therefore
is to my mind a just and honorable
war. waged in behalf Of civilization. As
to n Cubans being able to govern
themselves, l think IL possible that they
we have.
"Of the $4,000, 600 voters in the coup-
try. one-sixth of them probably did not
want war on account Of business inter
ests. But this is a government of the
majority, and I am firmly convinced
that the great mass Of the American
people believed that the time had come
for forcible Intervention.
AS to our duty here at Harvard. Tho
first duty Of a soldier Is to obey. III
any student was a member of the mill
tia and received the call to go the front
IL was his duty to go. There Is an OPP
portunity for any student to go. and to
such a one I would say God-speed. But
! do not believe the time has arrived
when we are needed. II will come later
In the war. I think likely. when men
will b. needed both to so to h front
to tight and to repel invasion at home.
Then will be the time for US TO volun-
teer. and ! am sure that when that
time comes students n instructors
alike will be ready to give their serv-
ices. and their lives, II need be, to their
country"