Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-07

government in the last lands taken from
Spain I'm her old West Indies.
Let us draw a few comparisons between
our foundation period Q007-l62D and tho
present Lord Bacon's outline OF mo
times then shows them TO have been
similar to what they are now. The
State is environed with envious foreign
ers (Europeans) there are encroachmenls
on matters of trade religion is a matter
OF controversy. and 10 look a year before
him would trouble the best Waterman IN
Europe"
The Spanish base OF operations then. as
now, was in Spain, and although the basis
on our side was then In Great Britain.
while the present base Is in this country
the objective points were and are lands
claimed by Spain IN her West Indies. and
the contest is still largely between the
Anglo-Saxon and the Spanish races.
Spain was much stronger and far rich
or I'm l606-l624 than she IS now, while Eng
land was weaker then than We are pow.
AS our fOrefathers, who managed ms
business, finally carried their point In tho
beginning Of the movement. re should %
able 10 give TO IL succe ssIul ending. THO
managers then, as ours did recently COM
menced the business with great dlpio-
macy, in the hope OF being able 70 avoid
force, and as they succeeded in this bet
ter than we did, we must confess that
they at Feast, understood this portion Of
the business-Spanish diplomacy pride.
obstinacy, and dllatory tactics-as well as
We do.
One OF tho chief objects OF our founders
was the establishment OF "a more nee
government" for a nation In the Ne"
World, and this IS also one OF our OH
jects. IL is 10 be hoped that we may 10
able TO lay as sure a foundation for ms
future prosperity OF Cuba and Porto Roo
as the managers OF the business did tor
us $50 years ago. and that the fate OF me
last lands rescued from the tyranny Ok
Spain IN America by the liberty-loVnS
Anglo-Saxon may be as glorious as inc
fate OF the first lands. May the immof-
tai principles which inspired our founders
be carried forward and spread abroad un-
I'll the whole world rests in peace unles
their banner OF freedom.
II is not only that the records now ayaH-
able enable us 10 rescue from oblivion no
great difficulties which had 10 be over
come; TO perceive tho real abilities OF our
founders. and 20 appreciate the grahd
ideas which inspired them, but We can
see the whole state OF the case the moro
clearly now that we have so many OF ITO
same difficulties 10 contend WIN our
selves-the dangers Of the sea, OF t"o
tropics, OF the climate OF 'the sickness
&c.-and il may be the opposition OF so'''
OF the natives as well as OF the spamat"''
while at home we still have opposing
ltical parties. personal jealousles' e,
The royal censorship over the press -
Spain Is probably almost as complete 10"
as IL was then, and history OF the pie',
cnt movement licensed BY the crown "a
Spain would probably be about as uhIs
liable as histories licensed by the crown
Of England then were; but as We are no"
Under the more free government WIZ
the crown OF England was opposips' an
which our founders were then striving -
establish. censorship Is not 80 strict ~.
party opposition so bitter on our $40
now as they were under the ho}u
Monarchie." and our publications N''
some exceptions II may be, are more TO
liable now than such things were men
but a great deal still depends upon WHICH
party or personal view We may take an
real history can only be written from tn
records. even under a republican form Ok
government
While there is so much which Is simllNt
in that period 10 this. the greatest dn'l
ences will be found in the advances slN-
made along the lines OF invention ana
discovery in arts and sciences ana We
have profted much more by these thi"h'
than the Spaniarcs have. and are, the.N
fore that much the better equipped ioI
winding up the movement satlsfactoI.y
than our founders were for managing 80
business in the beginning. When juosiMs
them. let Us remember all these n,s'"
things. ALEXANDER BkO"N