Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-26
OUR UNW|SE CHOICE,
We Have Taken The Path Of
Foreign Conquest
We ARE ALREADY "ENTANGLED,"
By Holding On 10 Philippines We Ire
Losing independence.
SOLDIERS NEEDLESS SUFFERING.
II Has Disclosed n Miserable Spec
,acIc of omciaI Incompetency, for
Which Account Must lie Rendered
md Penalty Exacted.
md Penalty Exacted.

AsHFIELD. MASS. August 25.-The
Usructh annual dinner in aid Of the San
5s-e0n Academy was given this after
noon. with Charles Eliot Norton, pro-
5ssor emeritus of fine arts in Harvard
University. presiding. The principal ad-
dress was made by Professor Norton,
who devoted himself to discussion OF
tbe late war. lie said in part:
and yet our hearts have been heavy
with new weight OF care. and the very
nr.ebtncss Of the sunshine has but deep
,rc5 by contrast the cloud Of our sor-
roUfl thoughts-sorrowful that our
nation should have turned its back upon
us old ideals ard standing at the parting
ysvs should have chosen that ancient
rath familiar TO the old world. worn by
the bloody feet of hapless generations,
and which has never led to anything but
Il-the path Of aggressive war. Of foreign
conquest. of alien territorial asgrandize-
meat. the path that leads from trouble
10 trouble.
OFFICIAL INCOMPETENCE.
"The black and brutal visage Of war
has indeed been lighted no from time TO
time during the summer by the gallant
deeds Of our men in service. and by the
good conduct and marvellous good for
tune of our navy and by the general tenn
per of humanity displayed so soon as the
actual fight was over by both officers
and men. But it has taken on deeper
shade of gloom from the needless suffer-
ings which our brave soldiers have had
10 endure from the lack OF due provis-
ion for their needs, alike in camp, on
field. and in hospital. 1t has been mis-
cradle spectacle of incompetency, for
which account must be rendered and
penalty eXacted."
After a review Of the events leading up
TO the war, Professor Norton said:
"ENTANGLED" ALREADY.
peace has nominally come The ac-
ton in the United States The founda-
100 days of war has resulted in revom-
tion in the United States. The founda-
tious on which the republic has rested
have been unsettled; the principles upon
which the government depends have been
violated. We have undertaken obligations
which neither our institutions nor our
national character enable US properly TO
discharge. We, the one great non-military
power in the world, have suddenly joined
The ranks of the nations burdened with
great armies and navies; we have loaded
ourselves with an enormous additional
debt and with an enormous increase OF
annual expenditures, 4 permanent op-
prcssVe tax upon the industry Of the
people. and further, whatever disposition
may bee made OF the Philippines, we are
already. through holding them and claim
ing the right 10 dispose Of them, brought
into cntangling relations with the nations
of the old world, and run the risk OF los
ing the inestimable boon which has
hitherto been ours of freedom from the
complications of the international politics
Of the old world. and of remaining the
independent masters of our own fortunes.
10 is. indeed, a momentous revolution"