Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-26
INTER-IsLAND CABLE.
PEACE QUESTIONS.
Problems that the United states MUST
Now Solve.

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
The most interesting war topic just now
Is peace. and there are some indica-
lions that we may find 1t more difficult
to make peace than we found 1t to make
war. Not that Spain is not eager enough
to Law down her arms and her honor
sufficiently satisfied with the overwhelm-
ing defeats that she has suffered, but
that We ourselves, may be somewhat
unwilling to assume the responsibilities
that our own victories have placed upon
nc We must recognize the fact, dislike
If as we may, that a nation cannot wage
and win a war such as we are just finish
ing and return again to the same con-
ditions in national life that existed prior
To the war; Our horizon has been broad
ened. We see things Inherently ana
stand I'm new relation to the things we
see We are just now, perhaps, httle
in danger of being too lenient in the terms
of peace which we offer to our
CONQUERED foe, and it looks as If, in the
enthusiasm of our victory, we are for
getting that we are dealing with Spain.
All her dealings with us have been strict
w In accordance with her historic charac
ter of blood-thirsty treachery, and In
ms TO remember that we are dealing with
q nation that has butchered, starved. and
outraged its own subjects in Cuba and in
the Philippines, murdered in cold blood
our sailors in the harbor of Habana. and
treacherously destroyed ships that had
been surrendered to us off Santiago.
! Spain has no more claim for consideration
| at our hands than a thief run TO
earth or a murderer brought to bay.
II has been apparent for considerable
time that the question of the disposition
! of the philippines would be the really
| difficult problem in the establishment Of
peace. Manifestly, we are not anxious
to possess these islands They form a
very considerable country, with a large
| population, with great resources, and
with immense possibilities. 1t Is not i'm
possible that in the future they would
| prove to US a valuable possession, but
| lust at present we look upon them as a
niece of property for which we have no
| Immediate use and do not feel inclined TO
| burden ourselves with them. Yet, TO
| Give hack these islanders to a Power
whose rule of them has been character
| ICED only by blood-thirsty, rapacious
cruelty. and which would visit on them
| its rage at it's defeat and the loss of its
| other possessions, must be repugnant in
| the extreme. Nor are we at liberty TO
give or sell them TO any other nation
without doing violence TO the very prin-
| cinle upon which our government is
| founded. that the consent OF the gov
| erned Is essential to just government
! Nor can We being responsible for the
| condition of things that now exists In
! those islands, the practical overthrow Of
spanish power, and the partial triumph
of the insurgents, feel free TO withdraw
/ our forces with the prospect that long
and bloody war must ensue, and with
the possibility Of foreign complications.
one hopeful feature Of the case is the
fact that il would not be considered as
vet established that the Filipinos are in
capable of self-goveInment. The at
tempt of some newspapers Just at the
nresent 20 place them under ridicule
and suspicion does not bear marks OF
tire sincerity. Let the worst that can
noeeihlv be true of them be true, and
stm II would be almost impossible that
A,uinaldo and his comrades could give
80 the islands as bad government IS
thay have suffered for the last 800 years.
>fothing has as yet occurred 10
...anrort the belief that after they have
lined some things by experience, these
,aiorders Will not prove just as capable
20 self-government as Mexico and Chile
80 nroyen themselves. AS the repre-
nontatjves OF free government. brought
80 contact with race struggling for
Sraodom we owe something to the Filipi-
ros we are In their debt addition
Iii, since while we may not have en-
,arad into any formal agreement with
them. we have given them arms and
tacit recognition and have practically
made them our allies. The one honest
course open TO us. II would seem, is
manly assumption OF our responsibilities
and Straightforward action giving TO