The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-31
NEW PROBLEMS INVOLVED

The editor Of the London Daily Chroni-
Gle has come to the United States and
taken up more or less permanent resi-
dence at washington, where he may BE-
in closer touch with the war-waging and
iaw-making factors of the government.
more fully and intelligently advised, not
only as to the spectacular events expected
on land and on sea, but as to the vastly
more important phase Of the situation
bearing upon the probable policy of the
government regarding the disposition Of
Spanish territory seized by the United
States.
The anxiety Of all Europe as to this
an anxiety that has already reached the
nervous stage-is accentuated by the
presence Of Mr.. Norman In this country,
by the unwillingness Of the Chronicle to
commit 80 delicate mission to its resi-
dent representative. Upon another occa-
sion, when President Cleveland's famous
message upon the Venezuelan question
menaced the peace Of the United States
and Great Britain, the same paper speed
lily dispatched its editor hither in q like
quest.
After sounding all in authority at the
capital, from the president down, Mr..
Norman concludes that there Is no def
mite conviction or determination In the
further direction Of the national policy
with regard to the disposal Of those re-
gions over which the American flag will
be flying when the war is over, for he as
sumes that the ultimate result of the con-
IDIOT is . foregone conclusion. But,
whereas he failed where success might
not reasonably have been looked for, in,
eliciting from the administration state-
ment Of its views or a confession Of it,
plans, he has been quick to perceive the
trend Of public sentiment throughout the
country. In a message to his journal
yesterday he noted the fact that although
on one day the idea Of keeping the Phil.
ippines had not occurred to anybody, on
the next few people thought Of giving
them up; that the suggestion of their
transfer to Spain is intolerable, and that
the difficulty Of ceding them to any other
power without creating the gravest of in
ternational complications is having it's ef-
feet in reconciling the country to the al
tentative Of turning its back upon its
traditional policy of isolation, and enter
ing upon the new destiny" involved in
the permanent occupation, colonization
and government Of lands In distant parts
"a decision that will! affect European
nations hardly less than America ITSELF"
Still with government by the people
in name and outward form, if not in fact
and truth, the all-important problem
must revert to them for final solution.
The president lacks the courage, had he
the constitutional authority, to take al de-
portance and possible far-reaching con-
sequences. A congress not elected upon
a platform more or less definitely out
lining the views Of the people would
hesitate long before venturing upon a
policy 30 fraught with peril. Mr.. Norman
correctly assumes that 1t Is obvious the
only statesmanlike course for the presi-
dent ID to finish the war first, and let
the policy take care Of ITSELF"
The finish. unfortunately, il not in
sight. and beyond the making of prepare
tions for the military occupation Of the
Philippines, and of such other Ursula,
possessions OF Spain as may fall into on,
hands, the government is not likely t.
proceed before the congressional elec-
tions shall intervene, giving to the coun.
try an opportunity to voice its senti
ments upon the permanent policy to b,
adopted.
Thers are few indications at this mo-
G3ent 70 encourage the hope that hostili