The herald., 1898-05-21
THE HAzY FUTURE


and congressional circles at Washington,
OF grave concern regarding the aftermath
Of our war with Spain. Whatever the
. ultimate policy of the United States re-
garding territorial extension, apprehen-
sions Of difficulties and complications. of
y more or less serious nature, in arriving
at satisfactory settlement OF the terms
of peace, are beautifully concealed by
those in authority, as we'll as by those
whose prominence in national affairs
causes their expressions to be carefully
weighed. Thus, with something Of start
ling suggestiveness, did Mr.. Teller de-
clare, In the senate on Thursday, that he
favored two hundred million dollar tax,
mot only to provide revenue for the pres
ent war, but for the next" To him ths
signs are strong (and he is in no sense an
alarmist) that before long we shall be
involved in another war of far more Sc
rious consequences than the one that now
engages our attention. Pressed for an
explanation of this ominous declaration
the venerable senator might experience
rome difficulty in framing reply that
would comprehensively illustrate the con-
cern which he, in common with other
thoughtful statesmen, doubtless feels for
the future of the country.
Ineffective as public sentiment some
times seems to be in shaping govern
mental policies, it nevertheless must be
taken into account, and calculations
which ignore it are obviously unsafe. 1t
is of course too early to conjecture what
It will finally dictate regarding the future
policy Of the nation relating to territory
forcibly wrested from Spain. 1t is toe
soon to guess. with any degree Of accu-
racy, what party alignments will be. The
grave questions involved are too new and
too strange and novel and complex for
even the Individual at once to master
Their gravity is just beginning to dawn
upon the more advanced thinkers among
us. The difficulties surrounding their
solution can hardly yet be conjectured,
since so many uncertain quantities enter
into the problem. Were 1t matter Of ex-
elusive domestic concern, there might be
slight warrant for serious apprehension,
for the native intelligence of this country
has heretofore been equal to every draft
that has been made upon 1t. and possibly
may now be relied upon with confidence
TO work out a satisfactory solution Of the
present perplexing problem. But it can
no longer be denied that the perils are
very great and exceedingly grave for the
reason that any solution which at this
moment seems feasible, and upon which
public sentiment at home may without
much difficulty be made to unite, involves
the interests Of peoples and nations and
countries elsewhere which we have
not been In the habit of consulting, which
our national pride is loath to permit us
70 consult, and the ignoring Of which may
Involve Us in that next war" at which
senator Teller hints. and to which our
onal conclusion may lead US.
Doubtlsss the great mayses of our own
people would be entirely content with the
conclusion Of peace based upon the
Grant Of our original contention, that
Cubs shall be free. Possibly majority
4 ef the people would be willing to waive
~ payment Of an indemnity by Spain,
ond feel that we had reached the wisess
o6lution Of all the other problems raised
~ " the war by returning to 1t the ter
1lEQry Ne have seized, and may yet con-
o4er. But there are obstacles to even
(1At simple and generous ana magnani-
lools solution. Considerations Of rather
.l9r-reaching domestic interest. consid-