The times., 1898-06-04
The FhiIfppfnes.

Mr. Henry Norman, editor OF the Lon
don Chronicle, on the whole, is a friend
ly observer Of events in this country
and has, in some directions, a clearer
vision than is usual with his country
men after a short sojourn in America;
but he has fallen into one error of
judgment, the effect of which may be
to confuse the minds of people in Eng
land regarding American policy and
| purpose
Thursday night Mr. Norman cabled his
| Journal, expressing the opinion that it
was madness for Spain to keep up a
hopeless struggle, and that her only
chance of saving anything from the
wreck would be to sue for peace at
| once. He was satisfied that Cuba and
| Porto Rico We're inevitably lost, and
added, but it is within the bounds of
! possibility that she might ultimately
| regain the Philippines by a prompt
| capitulation."
Nothing could be much farther from
| the facts. Mr.. Norman and all other
! persons will learn, by and by, to un-
| derstand that the American people Will
| never consent TO return the inhabitants
of the Philippine Islands to the merci-
| less cruelty of Spanish rule. If they
| could for q moment consider such q
thing they would be stultified, and their
| whole action, in undertaking the pun
| ishment of Spain In the interests of
civilization and humanity, covered with
| the appearance of ridiculous hypocrisy.
| Outside of the circle Of the sugar
and Spanish bond Tories, We are not
advised of any American element that
does not insist upon the full occupa-
ton and permanent possession of the
| Philippines. or which is not ready TO
fight for that object Certainly we did
not go to war thinking of territorial ag-
| grandiZement Porto Rico we must
have, and always knew we must, as a
necessary part of the program of Span
ish eviction from the Western Hemi-
| sphere. The Philippines fell into our
hands, the captive of our bow and
spear The archipelago is exactly what
We need to establish our proper COM
mercial position in the Orient. We will
not let go of it under any circumstances
or conditions now possible to foresee
Common decency forbids that We
should ever allow Spain to re-establish
a regime Of robbery, rape. torture and
butchery in the islands. The eXigencies
of high politics in Europe would pre-
vent a sale to any Old World power
even if We were willing to engage ir
such a transaction. Nothing is left fol
US to do but 10 keep them, and keeI
| them We will.
We feel repeatedly called upon tc
formulate the general purposes of thi:
great people in their irresistible move
ment toward that destiny which new
conditions of human life and progres
sive civilization impose upon them. Mr.
| Norman and other intelligent foreign.
ers might study the simple prospectu:
with interest and advantage. America
means TO build and control the Nicar.
aqua Canal; to establish a naval bas,
Ia the Caribbean Sea for its protection
and another one in Hawaii for the same
purpose The annexation of the Ha
waian Islands is a necessity and
foregone conclusion. We shall occupy
and retain Porto Rico and the Philip
pines, and secure the independence O
Cuba. These are the things toward
which the nation is marching 1t vii
grasp every one of them, whether il
the face of opposition or otherwise.