New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
ORR FLAG IN CUBA.


That Is the order OF the day In Cuba. AT noon
the Spanish flag comes down. Once II proudly
claimed the right to wave In token OF sover'
eighty over the whole Western Hemisphere. AZ
noon to-day It will disappear as an emblem OF
sovereignty from the last rood Of land III me
whole hemisphere. AZ the same moment 1t VIII
he replaced for the time in its last holding by the
Stnrs and Stripes the flag OF n Nation whose very
existence was undrpn Of wDen Spain's claim
to the whole New World was made. lIstori-
cay II Is IN event OF surprising Interest. Prac-
tically. in its immediate bearing upon the wei
fare Of the race, II is Of vast moment. For its
contamination the day Is we'll chosen. II Is the
Christian Sabbath. which was made for man.
II is the first day Of the new year sacred 10
good wishes for the future and TO the making OF
good resolves. There can be few works for man
more bcnenccnt than the replacing of tyranny
with freedom. few wishes for n people better
than that they may rise fully into the stature OF
liberty few resolutions better than that we Will
10y every effort within our power prove our
selves worthy of the great trust to-day assumed
For the raising of our flag at Havana to-day
is the sign and acknowledgment that we have
assumed such trust
possessed
But blessed are those among nations who dare
to be strong for the rest
There has not been day since Yorktown when
that happiness was not ours; not day when
this Nation has not been free and so strong maj
no other vent;Ired seriously to think of trying TO
dispossess IT, Nor Is there the shadow OF fear
to-day of any attempt at such dispossessloh'
Our freedom. our sovereignty, our whole 1uture
destiny are humanity speaking, In our own
hands and in them alone. But now the time has
come az II comes to every great nation. Tor us
To decide whether or not we shall dare TO he
strong for the rest or for some others. and thus
gain the blessing higher than mere selfsh nap
pincss Against such consideration the rcad!
sheer arises 1t will not be well TO heed H.
CORRESPONDENT. not snecrng but remonstrant.
writes: when the American people come to
understand that neither Cuba nor the fhllp-
"pnes can be Of any real use to us they VIII let
"co of the membranes with no hesitation.
Not So There Is n higher law than use. lhere
is such n thing as national duty, as much rs III
dividual duty. A nation as well as man ma!
be its brothers keeper And II 1t comes 10 ask
ing what is the nseT' there can be no more DIT
fer and scathing demand than in asking what
is the use and what is the profit OF all our Tree
dom and strength and high civilization II fellow
States living at our doors are to sufier all the
woes of slavery and weakness and Darbarlsm
and we are not TO speak word or pun ior'h
hand to help them.
orr flag in Cuba to-day means that this Ma
ton darcs to be strong for another. II has been
thus strong before. 1t did more for others IMAM
for itself when it did what all the Powers of
Europe could not or dared not do. when ii
smoked ont the pirate wasp-nesfs on me bar-
harry Coast 1t did n deed for the whole race
when il opened Japan to civilized Intercourse
II WAS strong for others when II spread me
shield of the Monroe Doctrine over the young
republlcs of the South 1t was strong not FOR
IFS own selfish use when II drove plnchDecK
Bonnpartsm out of Mexico, and when II re-
ouircd Justice and reason to prevail above mere
force on the Venezuelan frontier In all these
tbinos There was no self seeking for single
rood of ground And the same Is now trne IN
Cuba The solemn pledge made in the act of in
PREVENTION still holds good. The Nation raises
It's flag above the ancient Spanish capithi ho' rs
proprietor but as trustee. And there Is no cant
nor mere pretence in saying that time OF even
prenter satisfaction than to-day Will be when
that flag can with safety and Judgment be
taken down. It's mission done. and be replaced
by the flag Of native people that Is not only
free hut Ia In its freedom and independence TOO
strong to be disp0ssessed Until that time this
Nation must he strong for Cuba and the nag
that today is raised above the palace and for
tresscs OF Havana Is ample guarantee or the
sufficiency of It's strength.