The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-23
OUR FUTURE. :
Interesting Comments Of the
London Papers.


themselves to discussion of what the
Speaker terms compulsory Imperialism, y
and compliments the behavior Of the
Americans at Santiago.
The Spectator says: GAS the Americans
marched in the Middle Ages fed. The
moralist would think the Americans had
contracted weighty and even terrible obli-
cations to.the colonlsts of Spain, which
they were bound to discharge without
thinking too much of the consequences to
themselves. Most of our European con-
temporaries arc crying to Washington to
be generous. Generosity would mean that
Spain should recover authority over the
100000 dark persons whom she has mis-.
governed for three centuries at the
moment when every virtue and every vice
of the Spaniard would incline him to
severity in punishment and to betray the
tribe of the Tagals into the hands of the
Spaniards would be nothing less than
baseness. 1t is doubtful whether Wash.
ington can govern Cuba through a pro-
tectorate. The Americans have en-
franchised a people and must see that en- :.
franchisement is not a curse. Ifgenerosi-
ty is to be exercised it should be in Porto
Rico where the conquest is only claim. ;,
Dicussing the influence of dependencies
upon the United States and its policy, the
Spectator says: ''The worlds future
greatly depends upon the principal
character of the Americans When in
1850 they are 2o0,ooO,0oO they can crush
any people except the Slavs. To fit them
for that destiny the Americans should
have difficulties, dependencies and COM
plicated relations with the remainder of
easy to them. They live too much to
themselves. They must learn to govern
as we'll as to be governed and must add
to their splendid patriotism the English
gift of cold and lofty tolerance. They
must keep subordinate governments as
free from corruption as their supreme
COURT ,.y;5
The Speaker says:gTstsT The Presidents s
proclamation opens upswa prospect so
much better than could be- offered by a
Cuban republic as to make it clear that
annexation is manifest destiny. The ac-
QUESTION of Cuba implies that of Porto
Rico as provision against menace to the
American coast and the Nicaragua
canal Directly the Spanish ports are
attacked the Monroe doctrine will be
abandoned Though bonn bardment would
be greivious mistake it is probably the
most natural method of bringing Spain
to her knees. :"
The Saturday Review predicts "War
of determination between Americans and
Cubans six months after the conquest of
the island.
The Statist says: "The new policy will
necessitate great change in the Ameri-
can governmental system, the President
and the House of Representatives acquir-
ing powers and the Senate losing them.
The United States will speak with more
potent voice in all International affairs
than any continental country. None of
the latter conld infiict serious injury to
the United States in case of war; while
the American navy would be able before
long to sweep from the sea any conti-
mental navy. The time is not far distant
when the United States will speak with
unequiyocal and determined voice in the
far east. While 10th at first to meddle in
European affairs such events as the
Armenian massaores will certainly lead
the churches of the United States to raise
the cry that such atrocities must be
ended "