The Republican journal., 1899-03-30
Our Present National Duty.


nation that thinks to have its prestige in
war offset its outrages upon civilization
and it's abandonment of it's own ideals will
learn some day, as Spain has learned, that
God is not Knocked"
The above quotation is the closing para
graph of an editorial on our military
prestige in the late war, by Rev. DR.. At
wood, president of Clinton College, from
the Unversalist Leader of March 18th.
DR.. Atwood represents type of critics
who see not much but evil and jobbery in
our countrys contest with Spain. Some
clergymen, fortunately not many such)
themselves large salaried, assured of fu-
ture plenty, can see nothing but spoils-
ism in all political action and not much
affairs. Not long since an editorial pen
not far away from the above could assail
the memory of a Christian gentleman,
one of the most brilliant scholars and
, statesmen of his time, who had just died
and could not answer, and few weeks
thereafter the same pen was used to glor-
ify noted Tammany leader and million
aire who was patron of this same Gin
ton College,! A most unselfish and in
structive CO incidence! Not faint of job
berry in it!
1t is hard to find one single element of
truth in the conduct of the late war upon
which to found the implications in DR..
Atwood's editorial. After centuries of
msgovernment and oppression, culminat-
ing in the atrocities and butcheries of
Weyler's Cuban administration and he
murderous treachery of blowing up the
Maine, Congress declared war against
Spain. The country, and the Anglo Sax :
on race, almost to a man, approved this
course. Sectional prejudice gave way to
national unity One great need of our
time was realized. Everywhere party
strife gave way to patriotism. The politi-
cal parties We'd with each other in uphold
ing the hands of Congress. The war was
and has been a war of humanity, taking up,
! y
No act of it has been inconsistent with the
highest good Of the oppressed people in
whose interests it was waged. What
''outrage upon civilization or abandon
ment of our own ideal' has been seen
during the whole course of the war. After
the declaration, what other course was
: open to us than the one pursued? Our
aggressive military energy proved the
most merciful means OF bringing an early
peace. Admiral Dewey, forcing the forts,
attacked the Spanish fleet, destroyed and
sank every vessel OF it, took one Of the
great commercial ports of the East, clear
J ed the Pacific of all Spanish cruisers, max
ing this great ocean highway of com
merce as safe as if there was no war; es
: tablished a safe harbor and coaling station,
which he must have for the navy under
his charge. The battles of Santiago, land
and naval, completed the overthrow of
Spain and brought an earnestly sought
peace. Then came the results vouchsafed
thus early by a merciful Providence The
Cuban patriots and what was left of their
starving, dying families were liberated
and fed. Porto Rico was given a good
government, and under the treaty the
Philippines given into our hands. What
then? Could Manila and the other Phil
ippine cities with their European resi-
dents be abandoned to be sacked and pill
LACED as the savage instincts of the natives
would have impelled them to do? This
would have been indeed an ''outrage upon
civilization.' And that these half saw
ages would have done just this is evident
beyond doubt from their recent firing on
our flag of truce and their savage mani
festo to butcher all the inhabitants of the
islands who were not Flipinoes. Now,
instead of Offering threats and hard terms
to these "half devil and half .id'' ma
tives they have been rendered every rea-
sonable Cancellation. Our troops have
been wisely held back from any overt act
against them, notwithstanding their
treachery and threatening attitude. But,
under mistaken encouragement from
Washington and the ambition of their
duped leaders, withoutsany provocation,
they have made war on the government
Can there now be any longer a question
as to our national duty? 1t must be a
weak minded sentimentality or mawkish
false philanthropys that can counsel any
other course than the one being followed.
The residents Of these islands, native and
European, must have just, liberal and
stable government This is the first and
indispensable requisite. The straight
road to this end must be travelled. Any
body getting across this road will have to
go away. Then, when the end comes,
will come peace, trade, commerce. agri
culture, plenty, happiness.
And the "Isles shall wall for His law"
No, God is not Knocked, nor will He be.
Mole eyed cynics with their taunts will go
to their place, and this great nation shall
lift up its standards of liberty with its
Stl I i