The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-25
OUR HAND is FREE.
We Are Under No Pledge in Regard to
Any Island but Cuba.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
Many. persons imagine that the United
States is pledged by a ''Self-denying ord-
nance to acquire no territory from Spain
stance of the fantastic tricks unaided men,
Dry plays with the human mind. The reso-
luton these persons have in mind is the
amendment proposed by Senator Teller 10
reconcile conservative senators to the reso-
buttons declaring that the Cuban people
ARE, and of right ought to be. free and in
dependent, and to secure the assent to
those resolutions of a majority of the
House. 1t was adopted by both houses, and
THAT the United States hereby disclaims
any disposition or intention to exercise SOW
island. except for the pacification thereof,
and asserts it's determination when that is
accomplished to leave the government and
control of the island to its people"
One might easily bubble about this reso-
luton and insist that it only declares the
intention and purpose of the United States
before war broke out, and that these have
been changed by the swift march and rapid
change of events. But this is not needful.
Though the war has changed nightly the
intentions and purposes of the United States
IN relation TO other Spanish dominions, it
mas brought no change in our purpose in
relation to Cuba. We have acquired no
eighty, jurisdiction or control over said ISL
ana, except for purposes of pacifcation.
ization of settled and workable govern
ment after expelling the Spaniards. may
take longer than we supposed. 1t is still
our determination, when that is accom-
plished to leave the government and control
of the island to the people," though we may
find it as difficult to do that as the British
found it to keep their solemn and repeated
pledges to evacuate Egypt. But this reso-
luton relates to the Island of Cuba alone.
It has no reference to the other colonial
possessions Of Spain. AS TO them we have
an absolutely free hand. We are bound by
no pledge in relation to Porto Rico and the
Philippines, the Ladrones or the Carolines.
nn Pol Arrf1e
Spanish peninsula itself
Here is a fine illustration of how this
point, as all real wars do. When it began
we thought of nothing but Cuba. We would
send feet and army (heavens knows
where we thought it would come FROM to
Havana, turn out Blanco set up Gomez or
somebody, and come home with the proud
consciousness of duty done.-This looks child
children in historical perspective, and it is
really what we meant to do Two things
prevented. Dewey was caught away from
q home base, turned out of a neutral port
and had to go somewhere He went to Ma
Mia, and the crash of his guns Jared out
Of clear; invisible. solution the flashing crys-
tai of the idea of American empire. That
was the world event of the century The
suspension of the Prussian Constitution to
of the German empire was less momentous
Sober men pinch themselves awake when
they catch fragmentary glimpses of the re-
suits of that shock. turn dazzled eyes away
and wait for clearer light
The other event was commonplace We
found that we had no army and couldn't
attack Havana. 1t was needful to attack
something or be ridiculous. and we turned
attention to Porto Rico. Cervera diverted
us and we destroyed the naval power of
Spain. All her coasts and islands lie open
to us, but Porto Rico is still the most con-
siderable place we have troops ready to at
tack. We are going there because we must.
War constrains US and must be obeyed.
War cannot stop. 1T must move ON or die,
and it follows the line of least resistance.
What we shall do with Porto Rico and the
Philippines after the war nobody knows;
any more than we knew before the war that
we. should have anything to do with them.
Only this: we shall do what we please; we
have a free hand. 1t Is tied no more by
self-denying ordinance than by fear Of Eu-
rope.