The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-02


sruu0ns. They wanted the flag hauled
down Immediately. But the people were
the government, and the people mad the
good common sense and patriotism to hold
the flag fast upon every inch of the newly
acquired territory. By the way, when did
Anglo-SaXon civilization ever abandon an
acre Of land once firmly grasped or a single
man, once encircled by its influence?
ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION.
Curious enough is the fact that the oppon-
ents of progress never have anything to Of
fer in the place of what they blindly op-
pose. 1t is cheap and easy to favor collapse:
but what shall be done with the Philip
pines Porto Rico and Cuba? Again. it is
easy TO say: Let them govern them
selves but that is an empty phrase, and a
Cow2-dly one, in. view of actual facts and
conditions. What would have been our pres
ent status had we given louisiana, Florida
Texas and California each full independ-
cnce, instead of annexing them? What will
be our situation in the next war if we give
up the gulf-commanding harbors of Ha-
vana Santiago and San Juan? Absolute in
dependence for Porto Rico and Cuba means
abandonment of the Gulf Of Mexico to the
complete control of Great Britain A glance
at the map shows this With British fleet
at Jamaica what could we do to hold the
gulf il Cuba and Porto Rico were indie
pendent and neutral? Where is to be our
harbOr, our base OF naval operation? Ex-
Governor Boutwell,, a stalwart collapsionist
says that shall likely have a war with
England. Such thing might be. But if we
do not, we can scarcely hope to escape war
with some European nation. Think Of war
with France, with Porto Rico and Cuba
standing by independent! What would be-
come of the Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas coasts? Cuba with her two mag
nihcent harbors, Havana and Santiago,
commands both channel entrances 10 the
great gulf.
Shall we go to the enormous expense of
building the Nicaragua canal without first
making reasonably sure our basis for ade-
quately defending it? Look at the map
again. Ask any competent military man
where is the strategic key TO the protecting
OF that canal, and he will answer: Cuba
The moment that it shall be certainly
known that the canal will be built England
Will treble her fortiicatons on jamaica
England never conapses, she goes ahead
Every dollar that we put into the Nicara-
qua canal will be in jeopardy unless we
have full control of Cuba and Porto Rico
The friends of transisthmian canal will
GO well never to lose sight Of this fact
Mr.. Boutwell, thinks that England and
Russia will have a war, and that our hold
ing the Philippines will involve us Well,
suppose that we had not the Philippines.
could afford to see Russia or any other
power crush Great Britain? Would not the
triumph Of Slavic and Latin civilizations
over The AngIo-Saxon beyond the Atlantic
ring The death knell of our civilization? The
sheer which Mr.. boutwell, hings at our de-
penuenCe upon England 10 hold the OLD word
on Us during our war with Spain returns
upon his own doctrine. 1t is a shallow
minded American who thinks that when
President Cleveland gave Great britain his
famous ultimatum in the Venezuela affair
he scared her. Suppose that England. in
stead OF agreeing TO arbitrate, had sent a
fleet of nifty or sixty war vessels promptly
to our shores? Our boosted navy might now
be par with SPANS, ana our Atlantic
seaboard cities all in ashes.
1t Was he y ene4uela l4nair that drew Eng
land and the United States together; it set
wise diplomats and statesmen to thinking
about the possibilities OF fratricidal war and
OF Augio-SaXon self-destruction; then the
thought came, why not AnglO-SaXon SELL
protection? The opportunity came, and Eng
land saved US. She said to France and
Austria hold off, this is not your fight. We
conquered Spain; but could we have con-
Quered Spain aided by France, Austria and
the rest? How does Mr.. Boutwell,, how do
the collapsionists. lind comfort in our weak
ulss2 Is il not time for US to strengthen
ourselves for the next war?
Just now, this day, when General Lee is
hauling down the Spanish flag and lifting
ON nigh the flag OF our country in Havana,
i'm luu view Of the spot where lies the shat
OH hnX
sounds for citizens Of the United States to
be talking about ever lowering that emblem
Of our civilization and returning that splen-
did city and harbor and that great island
TO the mercy of people so per cent. of
whom can neither read nor write and are
little better than savages! Surely party IS
hard run for an tissue" when it considers
setting itself against the progress OF lis own
people merely to exploit barren theory
as Cd bid for Il-considered votes.
A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE.
As am ACQUISITION, and regarded from the
narrower military point of view, Cuba VIII
be of far greater value to US for defensive
purposes than the Philippines. But the lat
ter will serve US the turn Of holding England
TO Us. China is the bone Of contention mum
bed by the European powers So long as
We hold the Philippines can give Great
Britain in that matter quld pro quo ohe
appreciates this fact to the full. She VIII
say to us: Go on and build the canal, ouhd
your fleet strengthen your army Europe
docs not dare interfere while we hold to-
ge,ber" We will 90 well to take the ad-
vice IL will be but a few years until Rus-
E,a VIII be looking across at our California
coast We may dream that our little hgnt
with Spain is our last war; but we VIII
awake some fine morning to a different tune
Then viii we bless ourselves if we have
strong navy. an adequate army and the Key
10 tho gulf and the canal.
Cuba must have stable government, and'
as far as possible, self-government bat IN
dependence never. Spanish civilization was
Noticeable; but Cuban civilization would be
disgrace to America so much darker than
ever the Spaniards dreamed Of that COMPARE
bon could not be made. 1t is not TO be
thought Of and will never be realized. we
must impress our civilization upon Cuba ana
Eoito Rico. This we could never do If they
were given independence, a gift fatal TO
mem and Of incalculable injury to US Wiih
'le philippines it is different. Their state
- civilization can affect US scarcely at al
~ az most, very remotely while Cuba -