The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06

expenses OIL government.
WAR AND THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
"A war will retard the reform move
ment. Let Cuba alone, and free Ame1-
can wage slaves" These and similar
sentiments have been expressed by many
good friends Of The New Time and have
found an echo in some excellent reform
publications.
We take issue with these friends.
Considered from the purely selfish
standpoint of policy and expediency, they
are wrong. 1t is always good policy to
do that which is right. It is right that
Cuba should be free. 1t is right that
Spain be dispossessed of every foot Of
territory adjacent to this hemisphere. It
is right that the United States shall
maintain it's dignity among the nations
of the earth. It is right that the murder
Of American sailors shall be avenged.
1t is right that every friend of reform
should sympathize with and extend aid
to the Cuban patriots who are so gallant
ly struggling for their liberty.
The true reformer must reckon with
human nature. 1t is natural to love ones
country, it is natural to demand
that its enemies be punished. It Is
natural that the people Of republic -
even though it be one only in name
should reach a helping hand to those
struggling for freedom from the most
CALLING tyranny Of modern times.
The spirit of the American people in
this crisis is the most hopeful sign which
has been made in this generation. Had
they remained dumb the cause for which
The New Time Is striving would be all
but hopeless. When the people Of a
nation fail to resent such outrages as
have been committed against this coun-
try, the spirit of liberty is dead beyond
hope Of resurrection.
A reform movement which can be re-
tarded by striking blow for Cuban lib
erty deserves to be abandoned.
Freedom for Cuba would pave the way
for grander progress in this and other
countries. 1t would encourage those
faint heats which sink beneath the
weight Of successive defeats. 1t would
be a signal to the world that it is yet
possible for brave and resolute people
to shake off the chains Of despotism.
I cannot understand the philosophy
of those who sheer at the war spirit now
pervading the people. There are times
when war is justifable. There are
times when it becomes necessary to bat
ter down with shot and shell the citadels
of ignorance and barbarism There
are times when argument, logic, el0~
Quence and persuasion are worse than
wasted. There are times when evolu-
ton has decreed that progress shall move
forward on a blood stained path. can
look ahead to day when in the inter-
national brotherhood of man peace shall
prevail and no hand shall be raised in
violence gainst another. War Is wrong
in theory So is the wage system. Yet
it will hardly do to urge men to refuse
wages pending the dawning Of better
system.
War will exist just so long as injustice
attempts to perpetuate itself by force of
arms. Unless read history to no pur-
pose, those who now maintain their po-
sition with armies and navies will never
yield one inch OF their advantage until
| forced to do SO by people able and
willing to meet them with their own
| weapons. Peace will come when the pro-
| ducers have disarned the robbers. The
| brotherhood of man awaits the dissolu-
ton of the brotherhood of greed and
gold. The fact that this nation Is now
ruled by such men as Hanna and Morgan
is no reason why its people should SUI
pinely submit to Spanish insults. You
cannot insult Hanna. Nothing could
drive him to war so long as his f1nan-
cial interests are involved This ma
ton can recover from four years of Han
naism. There Is small chance that
Prnsidenf McKfn1ev IA strong enough To