The times., 1899-02-15
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY Is, 1899
Remember the Hnine.

This is the anniversary of one of tn
memorable events in American history.
Although the actual declaration of wa
with Spain did not occur until two month
afterward, the historian of the future vii
recognize the fact that il was the destruc
tion OF the Maine which really brougb
Cn the Spanish American war. For a
least one generation the antagonism be-
tween this country and Spain had beer
gathering. Intensified by many acts oi
injustice and insolence on the part of the
European power, American hostility
toward Spain was finally brought to a
climax by the unexpected, unprecedented,
and wholly unproyoked destruction of the
hattleship Maine, by treachery, in the
depths of night. From the time when the
news of this tragedy flashed over the wires
there was but one opinion among the
American people as to the author of the
calamity. and those who had hesitated
10 declare for war while as yet We had nc
immediate personal grievance against
Spain, became convinced that war was the
only honorable way open 10 the American
nation.
The Spanish American conflict, however,
is far from being in its ultimate effect
merely a struggle between two nations.
It is the result of the clash between pro-
gressiye and humane government and me-
dieval methods The way in which Span
ish colonies have been governed has long
been a source of Indignation and uneasi-
ness TO the people of this country. At
strong movement to step into the arena
and help Cuba, the nearest, most impor-
tant and most restless of these. to obtain
her freedom; but that movement failed of
success. 1t was not until the year 1898
that this feeling gathered sufficient mo-
mentum to make war with Spain serious
probability. and the blowing up of the
Maine added the last argument necessary
10 overcome the scruples of the tfmid.
The result OF the war is that Spain has
been denuded OF all her colonial possess
sions which are at all important All
that now remain to her are the Canary,
Balearic, and Caroline Islands. For the
first two groups We have no use, nor has
any other nation at present; and they will
be likely TO remain in the keeping OF
Spain. The Carolines Will almost inev-
itably go to the first bidder. Spain has
no longer any possessions in the two
Americas or in the West Indies. The
vast territory which brought such rich
treasures into her Golfers three hundred
years ago is gone. The islands which
have drained her of her men in later years,
yielding a revenue which cost far more
than 1t would have cost to develop her
internal resources-these are also gone
They have been swept away from her in
less than half d year by events which
seem almost like the direct strokes Of
destiny. Spain has paid heavy interest
for the destruction Of that American bat
tleship.
Upon looking back over the events of
the last year, however, they seem TO fol-
low each other so naturally and with such
close relation that one cannot help seeing
that this conflict was inevitable: that if
it had not come now. it must have come
soon, and that the Maine affair was not
the prime cause but only the moving in
cident in train of causes Whenever
great world forces are set in motion. and
century. there is always some one event
which concentrates and crystallizes emo
lion and gives q watchword 10 one side
or the other. In the late war this event
gave our armies the battle cry Remember
The Aaine," Though not the original. it
was the immediate cause of the war; and
that is why this day February Is. is des-
lined to rank among the most important
OF our national anniversaries.
Although Spain as a power has disap-
peared from this hemisphere, the baIeful |
influence OF her rule has not vanished
and it Will continue 10 exist for some |
generations to come. II is idle TO ex- |
pect that people oppressed in every con- |
celyable way for nearly four hundred years |
can in ten yeals or twenty shake of the |
habits and vices engendered by that on
preston The traces OF Spanish influence |
viii not be removed from Cuba, or Porto |
Rico. or the Philippines in one generation |
or IN two II will take firm. Just, and |
wise government to eradicate those traces.
When the people come TO understand that |
Bur rule does not mean double dealing
M crushing taxes, and suppression of in
diViduai enterprise. and that II does mean
protection of individual rights. material
prosperity, and the checking of disease
ana famine, the best of them will be ready
10 help on the cause of good government.
In the control of our colonial possessjons