Evening star., 1898-07-23
LONDON WEEkLIES' VIEW
As the Americans Marched Into Santiago
the Middle Ages Fled"
"The Worlds Future Greatly Depends
on the Political Character OF
the Americans"

The London weeklies, issued yesterday.
devote themselves TO a discussion of what
the Speaker terms compulsory imperial
ism," and compliment the behavior Of the
Americans al Santiago.
The Spectator says: "As the Americans
marched in the middle ages fled. The
moralist would think the Americans had
contracted weighty and even terrible OBJ
legations to the colonists of Spain, which
they were bound to discharge without
thinking too much of the consequences to
themselves. Most of our European con-
temporaries are crying to Washington to
be generous. Generosity would mean that
Spain should recover authority over the
eight million dark persons whom she has
mlsgoverned for three centuries At :he
mOInent when every virtue and every vice
81 the Spaniard would incline him
verify IN punishment: and to btiray the
tribe of the Tagais into the hands of the
Spaniards would be nothing less than base
ness.
1t is doubtful whether Washington can
govern Cuba through a protectorate. Tie
Americans have enfranchised a people and
must see that enfranchisement Is not a
curse. If generosity is to be exerCized, it
should be in Porto Rico. where the con-
quest is only a claim
The Worlds Future.
Discussing the influence of dependencies
upon the United States and its policy, the
Spectator says:
The worlds future greatly depends up
on the political character of the Ameri-
cans. When, in 1850, they are two hun
dred millions, they can crush any people
except the Slavs. To fit them for that
destiny the Americans should have diff
fculties, dependencies and complicated re-
IatiOnS with the remainder of mankind.
At present everything is too easy for
them. They live TOO much To themselves.
'h.aNr n.asa-
be governed. and must add to their splen-
did patriotism the English gift of cold
ana lofty tolerance. They must keep
subordinate governments as free from cor
ruption as their Supreme Court.
lhe Speaker says: THE Presidents proc
lamation opens prospect so much better
than could be offered by a Cuban republic
as to make il clear that annexation is man.
ifest destiny The acquisition of Cuba i'm
plies that of Porto Rico as a provision
against menace to the American coast and
the Nicaragua canal Directly the Spanish
ports are attacked the Monroe doctrine
will be abandoned. ThoUgh d bom5ard-
nent will be a grievous mistake it is prob
ably the most natural method of bringing
Spain to her knees"
The Saturday Review predicts war Of
determination between Americans and Cu-
bans six months after the conquest Of the
island" 1t adds:
Cuba will corrupt its American gov
ernors and the reign of the American boss
is not likely to be exemplary. The cost of
the whole proceeding will be more than
two hundred and fifty millions, and the
game is not worth the candle"
More Potent Voice.
The Statist says: THE new policy will
necessitate a great change in the Ameri-
can governmental system, the President
and House of Representatives acquiring
powers and the Senate losing them. The
United States will speak with a more po-
tent voice in all international affairs than
any continental country.
None of the latter could infiict serious
injury the United States in the event OF
war, while the American navy before long
would be able to sweep from the seas any
continental navy. The time is not far dis
tant when the United States viii speak
with unequivocal and determined voice in
the far east. While 10th TO NEEDLE in pure
ly European matters, such events as the
Armenian massacres will certainly lead the
churches of the United States 20 raise the
cry that such atrocities must be ended"
The Saturday Review says, also: THE
lesson of all our conflicts with America was
that the American soldiers and sailors shot
markedly better than our own. and won
astonishing victories 1t looks as IL The
old lesson holds good today.