Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-15
The End Of the War.


war began there was nothing uncer-
tain about it except its length. and it
has proven shorter than most of us
dared to hope In less than four
months, in three months and % days,
to be exact, from the opening of hos
tilities the protocol is signed by which
the war is ended and our enemy agrees
to accept the terms of peace which we
dictate.
1t was with reluctance that our
country entered the war with Spain.
Our ways are those of peace, and the
noble and great man at the nations
head upon whom fell the awful bur-
den of responsibility at that critical
hour, exhausted every means of main
tanning an honorable peace. But when
such peace was no longer POSSIBLE
ity, and the cause of humanity, justice
and freedom demanded a war to drive
Spain forever from the hemisphere her
presence had so cursed, then under the
leadership of William Mckinley. this
nation arose in its glorious strength
and waged a war with a vigor and
success unparalleled in history. Such
a wave of patriotic ardor swept over
the land, uniting all sections and WHIP
ing out all party differences, that all
fears regarding internal dissentions in
the face of foreign foe, are forever
silenced. AS if by magic a great and
strong army sprang into being, and
our navy has given an account of it
self which has amazed and astounded
the world. On land and sea the brief
war has been a series of brilliant and
overwhelming American victories.
marked by unheard of valor and en-
durance, and the wonderful deeds of
American heroes and bands of Ameri-
can heroes in the war with Spain will
be the favorite theme of orator, poet
and novelist for generations to come
In the far Philippines and in Cuba and
Porto Rico, as we'll as in the seas
around these islands, our flag has been
carried from victory to victory, though
the odds of numbers and position has
been frequently with the enemy. The
foreign help which Spain looked for
and strenuously tried to gain did not
materialiZe. The world has begun to
realize the limtless possibilities in
giant of the West and to accord him a
respect never before given.
SO the war has ended sooner than
was generally expected would be the
case. Realizing the hopelessness of her
cause, vigorously pressed on every side,
her navy lost and her army doomed.
all her colonial possessions wrenched
from her barbaric grasp, fearing the
assault of an American feet uTton her
home coast, With poverty and rebellion
at home, poor Spain has at last sufIi-
GENTLY regained her senses to sue for
peace and. accept whatever terms we
might offer. And now the greatness of
Americas triumph is equalled by the
mercy and consideration shown the
fallen foe. By the magnanimity shown
in our terms to Spain this country has
ijai1..1 itself i'm, oil Al I,o-
fore the world, and indicated its pur-
pose in waging the war.
Cuba is free. This is the main object
of the war. Spain's authority is ended
forever then, and the United States
will be responsible for the island until
it has stable government of its own
Porto Rico is a permanent possession
of the United States. This is in justice
to Porto Rico and to the United States.
The cause of humanity and civiliza-
ton demands that Spain have no
longer any foothold in this hemisphere,
and the possession of Porto Rico is ac-
cepted by this country in place of the
money indemnity which it could Justly
demand. The Philippines are in our
possession for the present until the
disposition of the group can be deter
mined by a commission. All Spanish
forces in Cuba and Porto Rico are to
be Withdrawn to Spain at once. We
are given an island in the Ladroncs,
There is only one in the group of con-
sequence. which win prove Invaluable
as a coaling and naval station. Such
in brief are the main points of the
protocol. upon which the peace treaty
will be drawn up by the commissioners
when they meet in Paris this fall.
| The signing of the protocol last Fri
| day afternoon, was the signal for per
| manent ccssat ion of hostilitics. Havana
| falls without the costly siege or bonn
| bardment. The question as to whether
| San Juan would have seriously resisted
Miles is left unsettled, for it is ours
Without a blow. At Manila Dewey and
Merritt are indisputed masters of the
situation. The blockade is over and
the fleet as we'll as the army can rest
| on its we'll won 1aurels No doubt a