The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-05
OUR FLAG IN CUBA.
When 1t Will BE Lowered, No Man Can
Confidently Predict.
Washington Post


The stars and stripes float over the palace
and the MORO at Havana. After years of
irritation, of growing luminosity aggravated
by organized falsehoOd and malice, OF
political intrigue, of hystercal excitement,
OF mistaken altruism and sOrdid calculation,
the tragedy preCpitated last April has found
its denOuement in the destruction of Spain )
power IN the Western hemisphere. The red
and yellow ensign OF Spain which once
waved over an empire greater than all the
RuSSiaS and richer than the widest dream
of aVarice has been lowered never TO be
raised again on this side of either ocean,
and in its place now flies the flag of the
United StateS-the emblem of personal, re-
ligious and political liberty, the banner of a
progressive and enlightened civilization.
1t is the symbol of both power and respon-
sibility-of a power which we ourselves can
hardly measure at this time-of a respOn-
sibility of which we have as yet only felt
the warning breath. Every star upon it
represents to the Cuban people an assurance
and a pledge, every stripe barrier and d
bulWark. We have become the trustee of
Cuba's rescue and rehabilitation. We are the
custodian of her welfare and her honor. In
lowering the Spanish flag we have sworn
with all ChristendOm for witness, that in
justice and oppression shall be bdnished
from the island; that law and order shall
supplant violence and strife that barbarism
shall be eradicated and the arts of peace
established on a sure and lasting basis In
raising our own flag we have pledged our
solemn faith to the strict and genuine full
tillment of that oath. The day of sentiment
and impulse has passed. The regime of pas
sion, sympathy, swift impulse, and unthink-
ing ferVOr is no more. These are as dead
and as utterly beyond recall as the insti-
tutions we have just eXtinguiShed, and they
have no place henceforWard in the equation
of our destinies. We have guard to Keep.
duty to discharge, a sacred promise to re-
deem
When will the United States flag be low
cred in Cuba and the ensign of IA civilized,
enlightened, sound, wholesome and high
minded republic be raised instead? At the
end Of how many days, weeks, months,
years, lusters or decades shall we have done
our work. completed our stewardship and be
ready for The final accounting? We are
throwing up our hats just now and glOrify
ing the removal of the Spanish incubus from
Cuba; but how soon can we with honor and
fidelity proclaim the satisfaction of our own
responsibility and call in our bond? We
have seen thus far only the surface of the
Cuban situatOn-haVe seen enough, though,
to asusre us that all our theories of a year
ago were utterly mistaken and fallacious.
We have heard thus far only from the noisy
privilege, but we have heard enough to salts
fy us that they are as incapable of main
tanning civilized institutions many idle
and capriciOuS children. There may be below
this Wretched and Gisheartening surface
clear depths of manhood, character, intelli-
gence and DatriO tiSm-We believe, we think
we know there are-but the depths are yet
to be sounded, and their treasures are still
beyond our reach. We have to-day only
touched the edge of the territory in which
resides our labor and responsibility.
The United States flag will float over
many problems, solutions, vicisstudes,
find a loyal issue from the task have
assumed