The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-05
After the War.

The formal conclusion OF peace with
Spain has now become simply a matter
of arranging details. But in beating
Spain we have performed the easiest
Of our tasks, When the blood Is UP IL
is easy to fight and especially when
cheered on by an unbroken string of
victories. The American army and
navy are not to be blamed for the fact
that they did not In this instance have
the good fortune to go against an op-
ponent worthy of their mettle. Not
withstanding the weakness of the op-
position, the spirit shown In battle by
our soldiers and sailors has been all
that reasonable observation could ex-
pect: in fact, at every point of test it
has excited the most enthusiastic ad-
miration, not alone OF our own people
but of critical and perhaps Jealous for
eigners as well. On that score there is
everything to commend and nothing to
regret.
But it is fitting that the public should
be saved from the deceptive assump-
tion that with the removal by peace of
Spains armies from our pathway our
duties and responsibilities will end.
What we have done in war has been
done in the stimulus of battle, with the
| knowledge that valor shown would
| gain immediate recognition and victory
| won be the password to renown. Even
! where the ambition to win personal
| distinction did not key our fighters up
| hiph Of hprniSpo c
| at least the natural excitement of war
making to quicken interest and sustain
| nervous tension. Now, however, 1.-THE
| tumult and the shouting dies" and
we must enter, soberly and with pa
tient tact, upon the complex and try
ing problem of reconstruction, bearing
in mind that we shall have to deal in
each theater of our constructive ac.
| tivities with a population destitute al.
most of the first principles of fitness
for stable statehood and requiring tC
be almost entirely metamorphosed il
character and ideas before our worl
among them will begin to bear sub
stantial fruits in better government.
1t is q task which no other natlor
has ever set for itself in a manner So
unselfsh as our own: and it is on,
that we may be sure, will. ere il Il
! concluded, try to the utmost our pa
tienCe and our temper. If we wen
into war somewhat airily we shall sool
enough discover that we will need il
this work or maturest judgment AM
our most substantial abilities. 1t vii
be labor calling for far greater hero
ism than any which the fighting par
of the war elected, brilliant as wer
the American featsrht arms; for it vii
be a labor Of dedication to a higI
ideal, to be performed under circum
stances of the utmost dlscouragement
far from the applause of mankind an
very probably often without visibl
progress or appreciation. Yet we mus
do 1t. Our sef-respect, our individua
, and collective honor, is at stake
Spain's idea Of honor to which so niue
a in blood and treasure has been vainl
and uselessly sacrificed must be put |
. contrast with form of honor fertil
v in good though maybe slow results fo
I | civilization.
We believe that the American reput
lie will prove equal TO it's new respor
sibility. but ii will do we'll TO realize q
} once that the task before it is th
, | greatest which it has seen since til
t reconstruction period following ou
| own civil war,