Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-26
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DIS
CUssEs WAR QUESTIONS.
PORTO RICO SHOULD BE KEPT
IT Is NEEDED BY OUR MARINERS AS
COALING STATION.
No Excuse Tor Taking the Philippines
or Cuba-Mr. sherman in Favor
of n Greater Navy and
Larger Standing
Army.

WASHINGTON, July 25-Former Secre-
tary OF State John Sherman, in an inter-
view. said:
II regret to hear of the reported differ
ences between Generals Shafter and Car
cia in Cuba If the Cubans deserved
enough respect to be recognized by the
United States, il seems to me they should
be respected on the field of battle. They
have battled for liberty and freedom from
Spanish tyranny for half century or
more, and, now that the object which
they have SO long fought for is in sight,
they should share in the fruits of victory.
General Garcia should have been invited
TO the surrender of Santiago. and if he
was not a blunder was made.
Congress passed resolution to expel
SpaiE from Cuba In that resolution it
was clearly stipulated that we would leave
the island TO the control of the people
thereof, after a firm anu stable govern
ment had been established. Therefore, we
cannot. with any show of consistency, lay
claim TO the island after it has been taken
from Spain.
1t IL yet to be determined whether or
not the Cubans are capable of self-gov-
ernment. IL they are. well and good; we
should turn the island over to them, but
If the Cubans become dissatisfied with their
ID.
and rebel against it. We would doubtless
feel called upon to step in and take the
island. This, to my mind, is the only con-
tingency which could arise wherein the
United States would be justified in taking
Cuba
At this time il is not possible to form
7 an approximate estimate of the amount of
indemnity We should demand from Spain.
Much depends on future events. 1t seems
10 me. however, that the Maine incident
should not be lost sight of when the United
States begins to figure on indemnity.
have always believed that the Maine was
blown up by the Spaniards. 1t may be,
however that the act was done surrepti-
tiously and without the knowledge of the
Spanish government. But the Maine went
into friendly harbor on friendly mission
and should have been protected while in
that harbor. This is a fact which the
American people cannot lose sight of.
''Of the Spanish territory which may ac-
crue to US because of the war, there is only
one island which would be in favor of
retaining. and that is Porto Rico. There
are reasons why Porto Rico would be q
desirable acquisition. But, as / believe.
there is no excuse for taking the Philip
pines or Cuba Annexation of the Philip
pine islands would mean endless trouble
for our government. Already we are con-
fronted with the insurgent leader. Agui-
naldo. who has bedecked himself with jew
aIs whistles and other trinkets to distin-
guish himself from other mortals. If We
attempt to lay claim to the Philippine
group We may have serious trouble witt,
the insurgents.
Porto Rico is needed as a coaling sta
tion for our warships in time of war, and
for our merchantmen in time of peace. The
day has come when We should have ccal-
ing stations In all parts of the world. The
present war has forcibly demonstrated thai
coal is as valuable AS gunpowder. and we
should make every. provision for fuel in
the future.
I'VE have a navy of fair proportions
but the future will require an enlargement
of our present sea force. L am emphatically
in favor of an increase in our naval
strength, but ii is just well that this in
crease should come gradually.
Our land forces also should be aug
mented; standing army Of 50.00e would
not be too large for our population.
An interoceapic canal, which l hope &c
see constructed in the near future, would
be of great advantage to us in defending
our Western sea coast. 1t would do away
with the necessity of maintaining large
navy in the Pacific. A canal connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans should bs
built by the government