New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-05
TINDTCATION.

The war with Spain revealed many things
and proved many things. most OF them 10 the
satisfaction and credit OF the United states.
Conspicuous among them. and theoretically,
perhaps chief of all, is the fact that the united
States was fully justifable in It's act or inter
yention in Spanish affairs. That was believed
in advance by the most judclous and best'in-
formed observers. 1t became daily more evident
70 oll throughout the war. And now. with the
return Of peace and the disclosure to the worid
Of the actual state OF affairs in the lands lately
subiect TO Spain. It Is demonstrated to the fuil
satisfaction Of all who are not perversely pima.
The condition OF Cuba Is seen to be even
worse than it was represented 10 be. and 10 De
the direct result Of Spanish misgovernmeht'
The enormous debt which. even in the peace
negotiations, Spain sought to saddle upon the
island the lack OF ordinary public works. the
practical seauestration Of the revenues OF the
island for alien uses are concrete evidences VI
such miscoyernment as must be lntolerable 70
any people not hopclessly enslaved 1hey were
ample provocaton to revolt. Yet II IL elua''!
clear that the revolt would not nave peeh sue
cessful without external aid. There wouid nave
been simply m interminnble guerilla WARFARE
with all the bnrbarites on both sides. the raw
ages and the dcsoation that maze the len
Years War unmatched since the days or my
In that fact alone Is adequate vindcation OF THIS
Nations policy. But that Is not all. since the
cessation of hostties there have been mahi-
tested on both sides n rancor and trucuiehce
between Cubans and Spaniards In CUBA mat
show clearly the mpossbility OF establishing
ANYTHING like tranquility in the Island WIN
out tho Intervention and temporary authority
Of a neutral Power strong enough TO compel
both factions TO observe law and order. The
vast good which has already been effected IN
local administration Mt Santiago de Cuba ana
elsewhere. and the grateful zest with when
the people welcome the new order or tnhgs'
also Justify in the most practical manner the
doing OF what has been done.
The case of the Philippines Is little different
bocause AS we have shown, they were not the
couso NJ the war. and we took possession or
them ne n more incident OF the campaign FOR
intervention IN Cuba. The vindication OF our
course ,bcre is. however no less marked The
dissensions among the native leaders. their Ill
treatment Of prisoners, their brigandish de-
monds for raDsoms and their fantastic I'M
practcability in attempts at self-governmen'
all noint Enthusiastically to the necessity OF re-
n,acinc the destroyed sovereignty OF Spain with
some other capable authority such as. TOT per
foct,v obvious reason, the United States alone
can exert In both cases the vindication or
this Nations policy is perfected by the logic
Of events In Cuba we have done ana are doliie
what humanity demanded should be done. and
T., tho phi,ippines we are undertaking task
which without our seeking was imposed upon
MS. and which honor and justice forbnde us 10
sh,rk That Is the record. and 1t VIII not he
lnpeached.