Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-17

der the providence of God and in the
name OF human progress and civiliZa-
ton, we are committed.
1t is n trust we have not sought; it
is trust from which we Will not
finch. The American people will hold
up the hands of their servants al home
TO whom they commit its action, while
Dewey and Otis and the brave men who
they command will have the support
of the country in upholding our flag
where it now floats. the symbol and
assurance of liberty and justice.
INABILITY TO FORESEE EVENTS.
What nation was ever able to write
an accurate program of the war upon
which IL was entering, much less decree
i'll advance the scope of its results?
Congress can declare war. but Il high
er power decides its bounds and fixes
its relations ana responsibilities. The
President can direct the movements of
sea, but he cannot foresee the close of
such movements and prescribe their
limits. lie cannot anticipate or avoid
the consequences. but he must meet
them. No accurate map OF nations en-
gagged in war can be traced until the
war is over. nor can the measure of re-
sponsibilliy be fixed until the last gun
is fired and the verdict embodied III
the stipulations of peace.
THE PHILIPPINES.
We hear no complaint of the relations
created by the war between this Gov
eminent and the islands OF Cuba and
Porto Rico. There are some. however
who regard the Philippines as III II al.
ferent relation. but whatever variety OF
views there may be on this phase oil
the question there is universal agree
ment that the Philippines shall not be
tttfitrd- back 10 |ii+'i-- k,.!!eI
can consents 70 that, EHen ~" ',ra
ing 10 accept theiii oul So 9, o,,i,,
nave pccl' Weah cN'aIoa tta,,
uuty 10 rcluIic .ia'l ~ ,i,ie
10 some o'het p"Nct VI ui,' lT I-,.on If
shlln w, "" M ~ hid noi have the
We t's'p 49,, -, "a eI,ch , transfer. il
ronid not hnvc been made without the
mnst serious international complica-
lions
pit oNr Ar.TrRNATIVE.
H., tboucht
Such n course couiu mot 1e ncne,t
OF. Ana yet nau We ie .ts,,id h,,'c had
thc ces3ion Vi t ,,' -, Co., tbei,. own
no power over ,nei', eSen ior ,ho ,a.
Goou. we couIu not ,,.t ,hosa &C.
Sponsip upo., u - Ia, connuest
iahuS nec"' ~, uu' . e.' IL, a., oitnrno.
or .rea.S' ait,'or Sn1in ar tho
i've, anu ma. We, Wa" ,,,a ph,,,nnines Thc
Ci ''co ... .le', ~ o.. that tbcv
other SUE s, - 49, rem, NJ CON
sliouiu oS 49, a,,.,ra ~ 10 TONS. or
-.eneioii ~ 90 tnNtlo1 farcby ond
osu' ,,rataotor,ta ~ all were
~. W - No considared The
10, ~ =, .rn,.o thon, ~ the United states.
S,omIi 20 ho,,o roouired loss and done
o,,r ju,,,o could ,vn after freeing the
HSv,,,inoS fror, Tho dnminntion of SDain
ha,.aiaf, ,ho,, witbo,,t government and
,,tthont nownr 70 nrotoct life and pro-
na,.t,- or 70 narf,rm tho international
ntitgotinrs essential ,o an independent
e.t,tno Could ,vn b,vo laft ,hen i'm n
60 or onarcbw and iustified ourselves
in o,r own conscience or before the
tr,hunol M mon,,Ind? Could we have
dono mat in tho eight of Cod and mani
D.,l.,,,,r >,lf,r ,-r,Cr,cc,pv
No-r.'r..n ~, ~ roi. ,ar.ita,., a.,
oui coi'V .l - -, '''' go 49, ,a,rIa
.rauc OF ci'iIte' ~ -, G,,,
Wnuse iite,tS," ntu "S",'h! w. AZ, a.
WHINE IL Hlu oce!i pu' IN 81 80,
~ WIS run .n'' rs, 40
nc me- "'' ~ -, ~
tn't mo- oi,G ,,,,,;,,.
Meh' rom 'l,e -, tAer"'.,I 80 ,,
ION 10 our ., ,.,S "''. nov. 49,
'ii'tiiiclH az -N"''.'' VI A., ,t
eoii'ili!ssioierS al i"IiS M u il ny ~
put as .ie scic Pul poae W &c ~ -.
ailinu mrs. aiter ne suoo -, ""r
nlil'S anu 'nc vi o"i IVA
11onor, trc ws'iu ~, - n.'piane Inv
me; tights Oh me III IT, 80.
a ,,'s,rp'I - nartnr7,, 49, oct Gov In.
so1 t.o ~ - - e H..
If their minds in every hone Of their
hearts. Was it necessary to ask their
consent to capture Manila, the capital
of their islands? Did we ask their con-
sent to libcrate them from Spanish
sovereignty or 10 enter Manila bay and
destroy the Spanish sea power there?
We did not ask these: we were obey
ing Il higher moral obligation, which
rested on us. and which did not re-
quire anybody's consent. We were do
ing our duty by them with the con