The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-14

~ashiugton posf.)

With the gradual closing in of our
forces upon Cuba and the hourly grow
ing certainty that the island will at an
early date come into our possession.
the Cuban problem takes on new quail
tiles Of difficulty and delicacy. We en-
tered upon this enterprise Of war with
the airy assumption hat we had only
to invade Cuba, relieve the suGerings
of the victims, preside over the estab-
lishment of a free and civilized gov
there and then retire with The
proud consciousness OF having served
n cause Of human liberty and happi-
ness and contributed to the moral ele-
walton of the world. Now we find
that to do all his is not so simple as
II seemed two months ago, and that
we have undertaken more serious re-
sponsibilities than were dreamed of at
the outset. n problem grows in
complexity as we advance.
Already it has been made clear TO US
that many things had to be done be-
fore We could wisely move on Havana.
In the first place it was a military ne
cessity that we should capture and oc-
cupy the Philippines. That has been
done. Next, il became imperative that
We should destroy or paralyze Ger
vera's fleet, and that, after some weeks
or ardous operation, ppear TO have
been achieved. Now, it is discovered
that Porto Rico must be seized as an
indispensable precedent to the final ex-
ecutlon Of our real purpose in the
premises. That also will be done as
promptly and effectively as human
courage and intelligence will do it.
Meanwhile we find ourselves in actual
n0CGacSfar of farrifnrv on6 / N Nrn1xa6
in responsibilities never contemplated
in the original scheme at all. These
results constitute no reflection upon
the integrity of our professions. They
are the logical and, as we now per-
ceive, the inevitable product of events.
We have been a~stounded at the gigan-
tic expansion of the scheme, and we
find ourselves launched upon a sea of
tremendous possibility, for which, at
the beginning, we had not thought of
providing a chart. What began on a
crusade of humanity n civilization
now disclOses the outlines of a far
reaching grasp of empire. The prospect
is fraught with bewildering suggestion.
1t dazzles and infames the magma
ton. And W. who set out with the
single purpose of rescue, mercy, and
de~liverance, stand face to face with
an equation so prodigiOuS as to daZe
the calmest and best-balanced mind.
So we come back to Cuba. Let us
assume that for all present purposes
we occupy and fix our hold upon Porto
Rico and the Philippines-that much
is inevitable, a thing of the near fu-
ture. Then we invade Cuba, take Ha-
vana, and expel from the island the
last remaining agency of Spanish rule.
What then? Cuba becomes, for the no
mont ut 10aSt III nrnn0rfu Tho fit1a
to a domain and a sphere of govern
ment must reside somewhere. 1t an
not be held in allegiance. 1t will reside
in the United States, so far as Cuba
is concerned, by the memorable logic
of e What shall we do with it?
If we postpone annexation, we are re-
sponsible to every nation having a
treaty that affects Cuba. Treaties
can be abrogated by annexation, but
not otherwise. When France. during
the last Cleveland administration
seized Madagascar, h did so with no
intention of %annexing it. That was nc
| part of her plan in the beginning. But
when our ambassador at Paris, Hon.
J.. B. Eustis, inquired of M. Hanotaux,
the French minister of foreign affairs,
touching the programme in the mat
ter of our treaty with the island, the
latter at once realized that his scheme
! was impracticable. The French for
eign office had invented a name for the
Madagascar policy, which it called
prise de possession" (taking posses
sion), but it soon became apparent
that it must be annexation or retire
| ment. Taking possession" led up to
| an anomalous and unmanageable sit
| uation. The denouement was not pre-
coded by the slightest hostile overture
, or even suggestion. 1t came with the
Irresistible logic of events. When our
flag flies over Havana, when the Span
ish authority has been banished from
the island, we shall ccupy to Cuba
the same relation that France did tc
Madagascar. Animated by an essen
TALLY different motive, seeking an al
together different end, we shall be
! nevertheless. in exactly the same pre-
dicament. The title and the RESPONSE
| bility will reside in the United States
Prise de possession will answer nc
better in America than it lie in Afri-
ca. Cuba, will be ours. both by the
title of conquest and by the obligation
of International morality.