The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-24
Our Gains From the Four
Months Conflict.
CAN CARE FOR THE ISLANDS
No InsuperabIe Difficulties to BE
Met in the Government of the
New Terrffory-We Have Recoy-
cred Our Own National Feeling
The Future Influence of America.


are sent TO the press. He takes a most
territory that has come into our hands
and of America. He says that while there
was never a doubt that America would
win. victory so easily and so cheaply
won was not foreseen.
THE problem of governing countries
not only separated from the United
States, but populated by different races
| and accustomed to different institutions
from ours. is a new problem; but it is a
problem that our English kinsmen have
SO successfully solved that we shall be
| dull indeed if We do not succeed, with
their experience TO instruct US. The
present popular mood regarding this new
task, as regarding most other large un-
dertakings in which national spirit must
play an important part. seems to be a
| deep-seated and safe mood. The people,
there can hardy be doubt, prefer to re-
tain the territory that has fallen to them
by the fortune of war, and they do not
share the foreboding of the intelligent
minority. whose individualism estranges
them from the national feeling, and who
| see grave danger to our institutions in
| such additions TO our political tasks.
| National feeling is a safer guide to ma
tional development than the mere reason
ing process of critical minds.
| THE danger 10 our successful manage
ment of Cuba and Porto Rico. or even
| of the Philippine Islands, consists not in
| their distance from our shores. but in
| their difference of population and insti-
Ia
| verted into American States by any stat
utes. and no laws can change their char
acter. Nor is there any need that they
| should now or ever be converted into
| American States. We are committed 10
| two duties: we have by conquest taken
| upon ourselves solemn obligation 10 the
people OF the conquered Islands 10 insure
stable government, and the nature or our
institutions forbids tina, we should set
up any form of government except one
! that at the earliest possible moment shah
become self-government. Even II We
wished we could not shirk these response
bilities We cannot leave the people OF
these islands either to their own tate, OF
to the mercy of the Row defeated anu
| disorganized Spanish rule, or yet 10 tae
mercy of any predatory nation that might
seize them. We are become respohslOle
for their development
ment of each island will present Itself.
not as II now presents itself 20 the timid.
as n task involving revolutionary dan
gers to ourselves and complications with
all the other governments OF the word
and a denial of the doctrines or the Ia
theirs, but rather as q practical TASK
that practical and patriotic men can
successfully accomplish
'sThe main result of the war. the free
mi b rY1f=rTTlp has
been achieved. but the full fruits OF 1t
will ripen more slowly than most men at
first supposed. sympathy with the cuban
insurgents had led many persons 10 re-
gard them as capable at once OF self
government: but the conduct of a part
of them during the war has confirmed
the Judgment OF those men who knew
them best-that the removal of Spanish
rule will not Immediately nor easily
lead to the self-government OF Cuba
THE complete conquest of the island
by civilization will be accomplished
through American industry and COM
merce, which will now follow American
arms Brigands are as certain where
roads are lacking rebellion where
government is oppressive. But the fu-
ture of Cuba presents no insuDerable
difficulties, though its subsection 10 civ
llZdG1OH may require - NOiASauSA AAAA4N-
1.-THE war. then. brings within the
sphere Of English speaking civilization
two of the most valuable of the Antilles:
incidentally the Hawaiian Islands, and
perhaps a part of the Philippine group;
and these results can be only good. But
in achieving them we have achieved 9TH
er results quite as great. and no less
great because they were unexpected.
We have recovered our own national
feeling. Four months ago we were
great mass of people rather than a COM
pact nation conscious of national strength
and unity. By forgetting even for this
welded ourselves into conscious unity
such as the Republic has not felt since
it's early days. Not only have the North
and the South forgotten that they were
ever at warrior time and industry had
already well nigh brought this result
but the Pacific States are nearer to the
rest of the Union than they ever were
before, and the great Middle West is no
longer estranged from the seaboard We
can work out our own problems and build
our own future with steadier purpose.
This consciousness is the keener be-
cause of the increased respect that other
nations have for US. The United States
was never before understood in official
gland. When the war was begun most
of the continental nations failed 10 con-
ceal their contempt for us; they now re-
spect us as they never dreamed they
should. Nor is it only our naval victories
that have given the world a somewhat
new conception of the United States.
Quite as impressive has been the absence
of the old-time barbarities of war and of
warlike vindictiveness. To send home
across the ocean a captured army. to par
ole the officers of a captured squadron
to feed not only the victims of Spanish
misrule, but the Spanish themselves have
laid emphasis on other reasons for war
than the old reasons of the punishment
of enemies and the conquest of tribute
bearing territory. In humanity to the
enemy this war is without parallel Both
the power and the aims of the Republic
are more clearly understood in Europe
than half century of peace could have
revealed Them and Tin no spirit of boast
fulness) we might add the American char
acter, also
1T is to be hoped. too. that we have
had some effect on the medieval dipIo-
macy of Europe. We have often been
called blunt and discourteous in our dip,o
macy-no doubt with truth: for European
diplomacy Is dilatory art that has al
ways been as courteous as il has usually
been mendacious. Ministers have seldom
said what they or their masters meant
Now If the dealings of civilized govern
ments with one another are ever to ad-
vance beyond evasion and cunning. the
old diplomacy must change to republican
directness and frankness. 1t need not
take on diScourtesy in manner, but it
must speak the truth and keep faith. If
=