The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-14

ing propensities are easily aroused, and
our delight In triumph and victory IL apt
60 obscure. for time, all sense of justice
and fairness. N not Of humanity. We
overlook causes in our cagerness Tor
effects. do we ever stop 70 ask whether
the Spanish war was justiilables Wheth-
er the blowing up Of the Maine was
sufficient cause for war II II could have
been proved that the Spanish government
had nothing whatever to do with this
disaster? 1t was the Spanish govern
ment we had to do with. not with the
action Of few crazed fanatics. IL was
more a question of indemnity. than Of re-
taliation and bloodsheh believe that II
IL the opinion OF the great majority OF the
Intelligent citizens of the United States,
today, that the evacuation of Cuba could
have been obtained without resort 70
war. That war could have been honor
ably avoided. stain was Mt our mercy.
ana knew 10 then, rs well rs she knows II
now. Her knowledge Of our strength was
shown at once, in her policy of lodging
and hiding instead OF meeting our war
ships on the open sen Always acting on
the defensive, never the aggressor Srain
did not want to tight Is 70 reasonable
TO suppose. then, that the blowing up of
the Maine was instigated by the Spanish
government 90 provoke war; There was
no evidence forthcoming, or, mt least
given to the public, that such was the
case. There Is great evidence to show
that Spain would have yielded 10 the de-
mands of the United States government
without wa ami without hloodshei.
The war was begun. Which nation WAS
the real a9gressors Any mi stice or 80
vression, on the part of the ndministfa
ton, was thinly yelled under the plea Of
humanity. Humanity IL world-wiie
principle OF world ide people. Does
humanity m N tnafffv'sn IA In q
death by disease. and Wholesale siaugh-
ter, as n meanss Humanity" should
cover the prosperity and well-heing OF the
Cubans, Filipinos. and ali peoples. One
hundred thousand reconcentrados have
died of starvation, during the war and
since, who could have been saved, and.
probably, lived to enjoy freedom which
could have been granted them without
war. Its demands oDoe answered in Cuba
this monster humanity" demands still
more Of spain under the plea of purchase.
5 ii US your possessions. or we will take
them. Worse than this, having bougdt
them we are compelled to take them, or
ton mean to spend so, 600. 900 for what 1t
does net want, and does not intend to
keep
Whatever may be the terms of treaty
which Spain will be obliged to ratify, the
end will be, finally, II not Immediately
attained, tne permanent hDneXotlun Ol
the Philippines. Our army and navy
officers want this, fighting Is their bust
ness, and standing army. costing the
government (taxpayers) sl00. 900, 600 u
year, opens brilliant possibilities In the
way OF service and promotion. Our
army and navy contractors want II. 1t
means millions to them. Our great capi
taIists want II and after all they are
greater than politics, government or poor
humanity. Capital Is unscrupulous and
grasping with money going begging at
two and n half per cent What a Held the
Philippines offer for investment, business
enterprise, and the inordinate, unsatisfy
ing greed of the gold kings? What won
derlul possibilities for the production Of
sugar, cotton, tobacco, coffee, ETC., etc,
for the development of iron mines and
coal mines of every conceivable character
and variety, only waiting for the touch OF
a golden wand to release their treasures.
Is It to BIZ wondered at that there is an
underlying thought not to say suspicion.
that the real Incentive to the conquest OF
the Philippines Is one OF material gain;
not to the people of the United States,
but to that small, but omnipotent part of
her humanity" who, under the name of
trust ard monopoly, ignore both the
D. ople and the lawS
]. S. WHITE
Naples, Ma, Feb. 10, 1899