The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-14
AMERICAS NEW BIRTH.
From the Globe-Democrat.

From the Globe-Democrat.
The persons who are casting a horo-
scope of magnificent possibilities for the
United States as n result of the war with
Spain have history and reason on their
side Every great var has influences 10"
the successful nation which project them
selves far into the future. This truth has
been particularly obvious in the history
of the United States. BY the war OF 17Ij-
81 this country gained political independ-
ence but social and industrial indepeni
ence did not come until after the war of
lSl2-l5, which ended the period of Amer
lean vassalage to Europe, cut the coun-
try off frCm all connection with the OLD
Worlds interests and ambitions, and en-
ablod us to develop our resources and
create a dlstirctively American type of
civilization. The war of lSl6-4S. with
Mexico which immensely broadened The
national area also constrained the coun-
try to take large Views of its mission
and possibilities. Two clements of weak
ncss-the institution of slavery and the
theory held in Ct trtain states that the gov
ornment was merely a league, and not
nation--rcmainec TO humiliate the coun-
try, and TO harper 1t in its endeaVor to
utilize to the utmost its physical and
moral advantages, and these were re-
moved by the war of 1S6l-5.
That the war with Spain is TO alter the
character Of the Country's ambitions and
activities is inevitable. The predictions
that il will result in an immediate en-
largoment of the standing army and the
navy, are, of course, entirely safe. II
these had been enlarged long ago the
present war would probably have been
averted, for the odds would then have
been SO obvious that no Spanish dynasty
or ministry would have dared to tempt
fate as has been done in the present con-
flct. But IL, nevertheless with the-odds
so strongly against her, Spain had pro-
voked war, her overthrow would have &C.
CURED in far less time than 1t will now,
and with far less loss of life and money
on the American side. An immediate re-
suit of the war will be the destruction
of the century-old superstition that an
adequate army and navy are menace
TO republican institutions. The destruc-
tion of the old noticn that liberty is such
feeble plant on American soil that a
standing army of the size of Switzcr-
| lands or Belglum's could imperil It will
represent n growth I'm political sanity
| which is worth all the sacrifices which
the present war will entail.
o.
A new America, to use tho term given
| by Henry Norman. the alert and intelli-
| gent American correspondent OF the Lon
don Chronicle, has been born within the
past few weeks, and all the world grasns
| this circumstance and will hereafter be
| compelled to reckon with 1t. Through no
! design on our part, the circle Of our re-
| sponsibilitics has vastly broadened. The
area Of our activities Will be enlarged to
| an extent not dreamed of when the pres
ont war began. This condition has noccs-
| stated now examination of some OF our
| old political conceptions, and has results 4
In the rejection Of some traditions. To
have questioned the wisdom Of the isola-
tion policy would once have been regard
ed to be as sacrilegious as to attack the
| Copernican theory in astronomy. Studied
in the light of the larger capabilities and
I interests of this period, however, the iso-
! lation idea loses much OF it's sanctity. IL
was an excellent principle for the age in
which It was enunciated, but the wise
men who proclaimed 1t, II they were here
| now, would probably see and acknowl-
! edge that II was too narrow and rigid TO