The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-06

that she merited punishment, and that
we owed it to ourselves to inf1ict it upon
her.
CHARGES OF MISMANAGEMENT-.
81 said this at the beginning and / re-
peat 1t all now. There has been much
said recently about incompetency and
mismanagem on account of which our
troops have suffered severely. No doubt
there have been some mistakes. 1t would
be remarkable is there had not been, but
a fun investigation will vindicate the
zeal and patriotism, the courage and the
integrity of all who have been assailed.
All have only tears for the dead and
those who have been stricken with dis
ease, and overtaken with atiiction. These
are the inseparable features of all wars,
and Notwithstanding all that may have
occurred of this character, the fact re-
mains that the record Of the three months
during which that war continued is the
most brilliant chapter in American MIS-
tory.s Il has scarcely an equal in the an
nais of the world Almost before We re-
allied that we were at war, Spain was
suing for peace. Two of her navies had
been completely destroyed and one of her
largest armies had been defeated and
compelled TO surrender.
THE WIDENING OF EVENTS.
''In this war we have builded wiser than
we knew. Our fathers of the revolution
did not take up arms for independence
but only resistance to tyranny. Events
broadened their purpose. Lincoln called
for troops to save the Union. but events
broadened his purpose and slavery was
abolished. Our initial action mad refer
ence only to Cuba. but Spain reckoned
for war generally and thus widened the
field so as to include Porto Rico and the
Philippines. and thus we have greater
prestige, free Cuba and territorial acqu-
tons of incalculable Importance.
SOME OF THE WARS LESSONS
I'VE have also learned some lessons.
We have learned that it IS not wise to
be wholly or partially upprepared for war
II is a wise maxim still that in time of
peace we should prepare for war, at least
10 the extent of maintaining an army
and a navy commensurate with our
wealth and population and interests: and
in this connection we have learned that
we cannot depend upon great wealth or
great population or jealous patriotism
alone for our ational defense 1t was our
good fortune that the long peace since our
civil war was first interrupted by trouble
with Spain "a ther than with England OF
some other great power able to strike at
once. We have learned the necessity for
coast defenses "a good navy and good
army. both adequate in numbers as we'll
as in quality.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
eve have learned another thing. and
that is that the Nicaragua canal IS essen
tial not only to commerce but also to our
efficient defense. To reach the scene of
action, the Oregon was required to sail
10000 miles farther than would have been
necessary if she could nave crossed the
isthmus and now with the Iowa as a
consort she has started to return to the
Pacific and it is estimated that 1t viii re-
quire three months for them to pass from
our eastern to our western coast and
reach their destination.
THE QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR.
'sThe great questions of the hour are:
What shall we do with Cuba? What
shall we do with Porto Rico? What, par
ticularly, with the Philippines?
$50 far as Cuba is concerned there
should be no question whatever. The Gu
bans have earned their independence. We
have solemnly declared not only that they
are free and Independent, but also that
they shall have a government of their
own choosing. eWmust keep our prom
Use and we will But this promise of in
to Cuba does not apply to
ha IobiI{rpinae
these islands by the conquest of war and
they are ours 1 do not know what the
treaty of peace, now being prepared in
Paris, will provide. but l sincerely hope
it will give TO the United States, not
simply a uoaling station or a single Island,
but the whole group of the Philippine
islands. I have no fear of the ability of
our people successfully to govern them
and I feel that it will be a crime to re-
turn them to the government of Spain.
Under our protection and guidance they
can have intelligence and prosperity and
we can have a base of operations in the
far east highly essential to securing our
fair share of the trade in China and the
rest of the eastern world. Japan has
stepped to the front with a commerce
JildL - greatly ~ ttiC stNN "a lLetec ~ ali
who trade with her. The possibilities
with China are greater. All the great ma
tons are struggling for their share Of the
trade TO be developed when China has
been opened up to the communication and
commerce with the world. The United
States must have her full fair snare in
that trade.
DEMOCRATS NOT ARIE
"One Of the question now pressing upon
US is how TO provide governments for
those islands and so TO govern and direct
affairs as to acquire the commerce 70
which we are entitled and secure the con-
sequent prosperity TO all our people. Only
that party should be entrusted with i
that has shown itself most capable Of
dealing with great affairs, both in peace
and war. The Republican party has
proven equal 70 every emergency, and the
record 1t has made is a guarantee that
il will meet those problems of the future
and solve them with the same success
that has attended it in all its brilliant
career. do not believe any fair-minded
Democrat would question the fitness Of
the Republican party for the discharge
of this duty But however it might be
otherwice. the work is already in the
hands Of President Mckinley. What he
wants is the support Of a Republican
house Of representatives"
FRISCO LINE
RATES VIA FRISCO LINE.
ST Louis Fair and Exposition. October
Ord to Sch
For the above named occasion The