Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-03
wHAr WAR MAS DOVE FOR Vs.

We have recovered our own national
feeling. Four months ago we were
great mass of people rather than com.
pact nation conscious Of national
strength and unity. by forgetting even
for this brief time our local differences
we have welded ourselves into u con
scious unity such as the republic has
not felt since its early days.
This consciousness il the keener tss
cause of the increased respect that 9th.
or nations have for us. The United
States was never before understood In
official Europe, perhaps not even In OH.
cial England. When the war was bo
gun most Of the continental nations
failed to conceal their contempt for ~:
they now respect us as they never
dreamed they should. Nor Is IL only
our naval victories that have given the
world somewhat new conception Of
the United States. Quite as impressive
has been the absence of the Oltl.time
barbarities Of war and Of warlike vim
dictivcness. TO send home across the
ocean u captured army. TO parole the
officers Of captured squadron. TO feed
not only the victims Of Spanish misrule,
but the Spanish themselves. have laid
emphasis on other reasons for war than
the old reasons of the punishment Of
enemies and the conquest of tribute
bearing territory. In humanity to tho
enemy this war Is without parallel.
Both the power and the aims Of the ~
public are more clearly understood in
Europe than "a half century of peace
could have revealed them. and lin no
spirit Of boastfulness) we might add
the American character, also.
1t II to be hoped. too, that we have
had some effect on the medieval diplO
macy Of Europe. We have often been
called blunt and discourtcous In our
diplOmacy-nO doubt with truth: for
European diplomacy Is a dilatory art,
II has usually been mendacious. Min.
listers have seldom said what they or
their masters meant. Now, II the deal.
ings Of civilized Governments with one
another nre ever to advance beyond
evasion and cunning, the old diplomacy
must change to republican directness
and frankness. II need not take on dis
courtesy In manner. but II must speak
the truth and keep faith. II we have
even In slight measure discredited the
old mendaclous and dilatory methods
We have done something toward fur.
thering political civilization.
Nor will the impulse that asserted Il.
self In the war stop with the war. The
spirit OF the people once having looked
outward. American enterprise will seek
new fields Of cOnIuest-nOt by arms.
but by trade and legitimate adventure.
Our navy has revealed to ourselves NOS
less than to the rest Of the world our
rIghtful place among the nations. Mod.
ern transportation. which We have
done most to develop. has changed all
International political conditions. by
reason Of It We are already "entangled"
with other peoples In ways that the
fathers could not f0resee and that no
policy can prevent. The great outward
pressure that all nations feel In the
pressure OF commerce for new markets;
and statesmen, whether they know 10
or not. minister to trade. and through
trade to civilization. With larger and
further.reachlng political duties, too.
which appeal TO the Imagination rather
than to the private greed Of men. our
public life will once more rise to the
level OF craftsmanship. - Atlantic
Monthly for September.