The times., 1898-08-15
WE HAVE GROWN.
A Nation Equal to Any Demands
Tint Gun BE Mads. ON Ii


That Can BE Made ON 1t.
With the coming of peace there is a gen.
erai recognition of the fact that this is
not the nation 1t was at the close of the
civil war; not the nation 1t was half
year ago. European observers see this,
and they marvel at much they have dis
covered about America. Noting the fact
ehat IT Is many years since Americans
have had the sensation of being the cen
ter of the worlds observation and
thought. the New York Tribune says:
The natural function of this nation is to
advance steadily, and sometimes by leaps
ana bounds. as Mr.. Gladstone said, in
material prosperity and Industrial produc-
tioh- rms has gone so far that the world
Is our debtor over $500, 000 co., on the face
or account for the last fiscal year but
such material progress has served 10 pre-
pare Americans TO face without hesitation
ON hhahclai grounds greater obligations
and duties than had been heretofore con-
templated. Wanting nothing except to
answer honorabiy the call of humanity.
Americans suddenly find that the eyes of
the world are upon them and that their
form or government their power by land
or sea, their disposition toward other ma
tions. and their peculiar characteristics as
the one absolutely independent nation on
earth, are being studied with a cIoseness
which savors of anxiety
The European critics are all astonished
TO observe that a republic once more
proves. as 1t did in the time of Lincoln
tremendously strong and quick firing
government absolute in decision because
ohiy one man Is needed to decide instant
In action because not a subordinate can
hoid his place unless the will of the la
tion's head is satisfactorily carried out
aDie TO meet every technical, scientific or
diplomatic test, because the ruler can in
stantiy and without formaIity call to his
private counsel the most capable men in
every department. and backed by personal
pride and resistless patriotism which can
not be expec.ed from nations whose gov
ernments are not their own. The Presi-
dent is the peoples executive, and they
put their work into his hands. and back il
up with all their millions, all their science
and all their technical skill. and all the
lives and blood that may be needed be-
cause he is not their master but their
chosen leader. 1t pleases the fancy uf
some Europeans to call him an elected
monarch, His power is immeasurably
greater than that of any monarch and -et
against the will of the people immeasura-
bly, smaller
This by itself is rather large prob
lem for those to solve who believe in
crowns and aristocracies and divine right
and things hereditary. But then comes
the problem of the Treasury. That is also
the peoples-their money ches:. 10 which
the wealth and the earnings of the most
productive nation. the creditor of all 9th
ers, contribute whenever there is need
Government wanted 800 900. 900 and was Of
fered $1,000, c00CoO, and would have been
off 10 s7n r0a on nno, 8
there had been a chance of getting its Sc
curities. Europeans have seen that sort
of patriotism before, principally in self
governing countries. but when one ma
ton, which produces, consumes and accu-
muiates more than any other three shows
that spirit the world stops TO do some
thinking.
Then there is the insignificant little
army. the pleasant Jest OF other powers
six months ago, which swelled in sixty
days to a quarter of million fighting
men, and in the judgment of military ex-
perts from other countries better fighters
man for man thar could be found else
where. The impressive fact is that the
change of one line in Presidents proc
lamation would have called ont zoos. 600
instead of 600 men we'll nigh as quick
ly. Europe finds the raw recruits driving
and Ponce. and considers what the OBJ
yiously possible larger army might do
And as for the navy not much is said, be-
cause Great Britain is just now the only
power which feels inclined to discuss the
subject. American shots hit, and that
also means that American sovereigns
when they fight know that they are fight
ing for a kingdom which is their own
Perhaps a deep interest, even going
beyond a profound curiosity, is natural
for foreign observers, because they do not
entirely comprehend the iron limitations
which government by the people and
for their own interest, puts upon the most
executive force in the world.
The Americans know that the President
is only the executive of their will. They
want nothing but peace. justice and hu-
man freedom within any sphere of infiu-
ence which legitimately becomes theirs,
imposing upon them responsibility When
Europe knows that fact better it will
know how much and how little it has to
fear the great Republic"