The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-31
Daily Eagle
Nj. Nj. MURDOCH. Editor.
THIS EVENTFUL HOUR.

THIS EVENTFUL HOUR.
Stirring events are at this hour crowd
ing one upon the other. Momentous
questions are pressing for answers,
which answers involve the fate of mill
ions for veal or for woe. The response
bilities Of a victor are confronting the
president. The complications of colon
iaI rule, under a republican form Of
government, whose constitution is 81
lent as to any such possible duty, are
becoming daily more urgent. The peo-
pie and the government Of the United
States have come to the parting of the
ways land they and it must decide
quickly and it may be for all time. AT
this writing it is not known whether
Manila has surrendered or not, and if
surrendered whether as a military sta
ton, as the city Of a province or as the
capital of a colony, nor has it been con-
cluded what will be done by the adj
ministration at Washington in either
Of these chances. In case Of colonial
surrender three things are possible:
first, the retention of the islands by
Spain; second, the acquisition and gov
eminent Of them by the United States;
third, the transfer of them to some
other power. This leaves out possible
Independent insurgent government.
Each of these propositions carries with
it vital responsibilities and far-reach-
ing consequences. Mr.. Mckinley and
his advisors must meet these cardinal
and essential issues and in the name of
the American people decide.
Upon this. our own side of the earth,
the portentous events are not less num-
erous nor are the questions less mo-
mentous. Cuba, with her debt, and
political obligations to this country,
with her mixed races and half-civilized
insurgents, must be taken care of, must
be guided and governed until other |
problems touching her future are solv- |
ed, until the promised independence !
shall be hers, or otherwise she is found |
annexed and a part of the United |
States Of America. Again, if Porto |
Rico is to be ceded by Spain to this
country. together with all her Carib-
bean possessions, free Of debt or other |
or encumbrance, why not the
acquisition and retention of the Greater !
Antilles upon the same conditions, and |
for like reasons?
In the mean time there is no white
flag of truce in sight. There is no arm
istice or cessation of hOstilities. Dewey
still invests Manila and holds Cavite,
while continuously receiving reinforce
ments. Miles, with his victorious forces,
Is marching on to San Juan and to add
ed victories. The navy is getting into
position to strike simultaneously at the
capital of Porto RICO, with numerous
transports conveying thousands of ad-
ditional troops TO the front. And so
SPANS talk of peace, if not indeed in
opportune or for the purpose of gain
Ing some advantage which time might
,ffer, but further complexities the en-
barrassments confronting the govern
ment at Washington.
In conclusion as the elimination Of
-hese complications and far-reaching
Incidents and events becomes hourly
more imminent, the other powers of
-arth grow more intent, if not uneasy.
Offensive assertion, much less a tend
sncy to imperialism, has never been
in any European estimate of
America or her destiny. hence an his
orical epoch with the worlds great re-
public in the fore front as its principal
actor and entity.
With the guidance of wisdom and a !
irm adherence to the everything prin-
iples Of a government of the people
md for humanity, as counselled by the
Fathers, there will come happy sclu-
ion and with it the greater greatness &
# the Man whom the world will here l
-fter designate The American. than
which no prouder title or honor can be
onferred .
--------
SHOULD HAVE GONE.
The failure TO dispatch Watson to the
cast OF Spain was a mistake. We care
ot what the representations Of. or
from, TV,,roDa ,,,;,,A. 10.