The Republican journal., 1898-05-19

Enthusiasm over Dewey's Victory. f. W.
Gosen Describes the Stirring Scenes in
the Quaker City.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May I, 1898. 1t
is war, war against the Spaniards; that is
all the people seem to think or talk about
these days in Philadelphia. And when
the glorious news of Admiral Dewey's
victory in far away Manila broke over this
city in the early hours of Saturday morn
ing, the enthusiasm knew no bounds. En-
thusastic crowds filed the streets, shout
ing and singing national airs, and even the
children sang them and paraded the streets.
Hundreds of new flags were added to the
wealth of bunting which had already been
floating on the breezes Whistles We're
blown, bells were rung, and no other
topic was discussed in the city than the
great victory achieved by the brave Dewey.
As l listened to the bands playing that
famous old hymn we all love:
My country tits of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
OF thee | sing"
And to the people cheering again and
again, my eyes grew dim with tears as l
said; Thank God, the fires of patriotism
have not gone ont on the hearth stones of
this republic; this uprising of great peo-
pie in the government of the United States
is to put a stop forever to the terrible dis
tress and hunger Of a human race who
have been stricken with fear and sorrow
by the cruel armies Of Spain. Who is not
proud TO be a citizen of such a country,
( here under the constitution all men are,
by nature, born free and equal? No nation
in the world furnishes such fine oppor-
tunities for securing wealth and honorable
position as the government in which we
live, and how great have been our triumphs
on and and sea. Washington overcame
every difficulty and danger as he led our
armies in the war OF the Revolutions; and
founded upon political equality. The de-
struction of the Philadelphia in the waters
at Tripoli by Decatur, will ever be remem-
bered in history. But the great victory
won by Admiral George Dewey of dear
old New England in the waters of Manila
harbor will be a fascinating subject for the
century.
Our nation has not entered on this war
with any idea or wish for territorial &C
QUESTION, but every intelligent citizen
knows full we'll that the crushing defeat
of the Spanish in the Philippine Islands
opens up new era in the history of this
country. ! clip the following from to-
days issue of the Philadelphia Press,
touching this most important subject:
The victorious guns of the American
fleet have closed one chapter of our ma
tional history and opened another. The
destiny of the Philippines is not to be de-
clded In moment or prematurely deter
mined; but whatever the decision and
whatever the determination, the United
states must decide and determine. No
other nation can. This responsibility we
cannot divide. Leaving the consideration
of merely American conditions and aban-
doning circumstances and an environment
limited to this hemisphere, the United
States is forced to step upon the worlds
stage and to deal with the worlds prob
lens. These are no light problems. They
sober with responsibility in the very in
toxication of victory. They call for
broad view, wide outlook and sane,
careful decision and these are only to be
reached, taken and executed as the Unit
nh
new drlties in the worlds council cham
ber where nations decide the dest4nes of
men, independently but not apart.
| visited League Island Navy Yard Sat
urday soon after the news was received in
town, and | never can forget my visit
there. The place was in a ferment of ex-
cltement. The officers and men in the
yard were giving tremendous cheers over
the victory of our fleet. The crews of the
big war ships fitting for service at this
yard are all impatient to be at sea and to
take part in the war of humanity. What
an insane idea for the Spanish nation to
tackle Uncle Sam, when they could not
put down little rebellion like that in
Cuba Poor and unhappy Spain, already
lapsing into anarchy and dissolution, your
cruel and bloody reign in the Philippines
and in the land Columbus discovered and
took possession of in the name of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, will soon be swept
away by the armies of greater and more
powerful nation. FRANK W. GowEN.