The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-19
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT ON
TRIAL.

The era on which the United States is
now entering will furnish a new test of re-
publican government. 1t has had tests be-
fore. notably the civil war, which put
great strain upon the Constitution and the
strength of the government 1t has had 9TH
er tests in the suppression of domestic dis
turbances and dealing with social disor-
ders. in all of which it has demonstrated
its political elasticity and capacity to meet
emergencies. The war just closed tested its
ability to mobilize an army and navy
pr omptly and effectively under the stress
of pressing conditions. But the coming test
will differ from all of these in that 1t will
put to the proof the power of the govern
ment to absorb and assimilate new peo-
pies, evoke political order out of chaos and
establish new civilization on the remains
of an old one scarcely worthy of the name.
This is the work before us in Cuba. Porto
Rico and whatever portion of the Philip
pines we may permanently retain. That it
is a great and difficult work none will deny
1t is far more difficult than it would be if
the islands named had never been under
any other government and were entirely de-
void of inhabitants. The present inifabi-
tants Of the islands constitute an embar-
RAISING incumbrance, second only to the
deeply-rooted medieval IDEAS political and
social, planted and nourished by Spanish
misrule Together they supply all the ele-
ments of most difficult political problem.
There are some who think the govern
ment will not be equal to the work before
it. Some of our own people, as well as some
friendly foreign critics, are of this opinion.
They despair of the republic if it shall
take on a course of what they variousy
term imperialism, territorial expansion and
colonization. They assume that because the
United States government has never dealt
with just such problems it is incapable Of
doing SO and will fall in the attempt. In
short they doubt the inherent force and
vitality of republican government.
The Journal respects this feeling. as it
does any mere difference of opinion, but it
does not share it in the slightest degree. 1t
has the utmost confidence in the wisdom of
the American people and in the strength
and adaptability of the government. From
the very foundation of the government we
have been dealing successfully with great
and sometimes difficult political problems.
The result has been the evolution of a sys-
tenn which, for strength, elasticity and adj
ministrative machinery has equal among
governments. The question of colonization
in all it's phases is an old one with us, as is
also the question of assimilating and Ameri-
canizing mixed peoples We had to deal
with them in Florida, in Louisiana and in
California. We are still dealing with them
in New Mexico, and have begun TO deal
with them in Hawaii. Every State admitted
tionary war passed through a period Of
territorial government and political tutelage
before becoming a State. Our new posses
sions can remain colonies or territories fifty
well as fifty. The government at Washing
ton is strong enough to make itself felt in
Hawaii or the Philippines, as well as in
Ohio or Indiana. The same battery that
sends telegram from Washington to In
dianapolis will send one around the world.
When cable communication is restored the
decision of United States Court in Ma
Mia will be known and respected through
out the Republic as soon as one at New
York. The political vitality of republican
government is not limited by meridians of
longitude 1t will stand this test as it has
stood others, and come out of it strength
oned and clarified before the world