The record-union., 1898-05-30
Opinion of the London chronicles" War
Correspondent.
VIII We Abide by Our Old Tradi-
tions and Resist the Tempta-
tions of Empire or Accept
Boldly What the Fortunes of
War Have Brought US and Turn
Our Faces Toward New
Destiny?

WASHINGTON, May 29.-Henry
Norman, editor of the Daily Chroni-
cle,' whose letters from this city during
the Venezuelan boundary dispute at
tracted such widespread attention, is in
Washington again as war correspond
ent Of his paper. Tonight he cabled
the following to the Chronicle" and
through his courtesy the Associated
Press is able to present the matter from
this side:
Since my arrival / have sought dill
gently in all quarters for some outline
or suggestion of the policy to be pur-
sued by the United States in the imme-
diate future, as the result of the war is
foregone conclusion. Each days
news has, therefore, only an incidental
interest. But, wholly without inten-
ton on the part of the Administration,
the country is rapidly approaching a
situation where a decision more mo-
mentous than any for a century past
must be taken The results of this de-
cision will affect European nations
hardly less than America itself. Upon
such matter I have been unwilling to
say a word until convinced it was based
on solid facts.
man, beginning with the highest, where
authority will mold the issue, and with
many other friends and new acquaint-
ances, representatives of. all shades of
opinion. The inquiry has been like the
search for a needle in a haystaek, and
1 have now reached the conclusion that
in this particular stack there is no
needle at ALL
IN
House nor the State Department is
there any definite conviction or deter
mination in the further direction of
the national policy with regard to the
disposal of these over-sea positions
over which the American flag will be
flying when the war is over This may
sound like a hostile criticism Nothing
is further from my mind The United
States has drifted steadily toward its
new fate. If the Maine had not been
blown up war would not exist to-day
The neutrality of England forced Ad-
miral Dewey's squadron 20 sea. and to
smash the Spanish Asiatic i squadron
and seize Manila was his only course.
This accomplished, it became instant
ly imperative to send him reinforce
ments, and these had to be strong
enough to defeat twenty Spanish regi-
metns and occupy the principal islands,
THE same is true of the Atlantic.
When war was declared it was believed
that the insurgents were capable of
taking the field against. the Spanish,
supplied with arms, ammunition and
food. 1t is now known that they are
wholly incapable of this, and the mill
tary authorities have become deeply
averse to any cooperation with the in
surgents, holding the view that the
American army should act with COM
plete independence, SO as ito be free to
face whatever situation may arise after
the Spanish are expelled. - Elsusn
'To President MeKin1hy alone is due
the escape of this country from the
fatal blunder of recognizing the insur-
gents as belligerents, and for this every
thinking American is to-day profound
Ily thankful. Again. there was origin
ally no intention of bombarding or
seizing Porto Rico Admiral Simpsons
bombardment was a failure; it should
have been sooner and final, or not at
all That mistake is not to be repeated,
and the second Spanish fleet will not
find base there.
Moreover, nobody could have fore
seen the extraordinary change of pub
lie opinion after Admiral Dewey's VIC
tory Between April Both and May
1st a revolution took place On one
day the idea of keeping the Philippines
had not occurred to anybody; on the
next day few people thought of giving
them up. Now also, it is appreciated
that it is impossible to dispose of them
to any other Power without the gravest
complications, while public sentiment
is intolerant of the idea of restoring
them to Spain's misrule.
1.-The question is, will the United
States, when peace is signed. withdraw
within it's own limits, abide by its old
traditions and resist the temptation of
empire; or will it accepts boldly what
the fortunes of war have brought and
turn its face toward a new destiny?
The struggle will be long and bitter.
I'm view of the sharp division of
opinion it is obvious the only states
man-like course of the President is to
finish the war first and let the policy
take care of itself
II have reason to believe it has been
decided to enforce only moderate rev.
enue tariff upon the Philippines, to
which American goods will be subject
like the goods of other nations, and
this is already so great a departure
from tradition as to render other de-
partures less surprising. Cuba will be
given every chance of freedom, but, if,
as may we'll be, she lacks the elements
of independence, she must become
American That Porto Rico will be
retained, / feel sure. Europe. there
fore, needs to envisage a development
of American policy which will upset
many calculations, and possibly rad
ically modify the present balance of
power. In all this. the relations of
England and America are vitally con-
cerned."