The times., 1899-08-27
Another History of the war.

has aroused interest in the course Of its ap-
pearance as 8 serial in leading magazine
il is written while the events Of the war
are yet fresh in the minds of the people,
and is fun Of the atmosphere of its time.
1t has also an advantage over its predeees-
sors in being a careful and scholarly work,
on which time enough has been spent to
make It what a history ought to be. Sen
ator Lodge has not rushed into print with
a determination TO be first in the field.
The preface states concisely and accu-
rateiy what the object of this history is,
and the sources from which it is taken.
Senator Lodge says:
The war Of the United States with Spain was
very brieL Its results were many, startling, and
CT worldwide meaning. Hence its importance,
TIE history OF this war, IN the broadest ana
trueSt Of the word cannot be written ior
many years, because until years have passed IL
viii be impossible 70 get all the necessary ma
1erial. 10 secure the perspective and proper
tion which distance alone can give
u IS not too soon, however, 10 write the brief
chronicle Of the time, TO give, in connected
and coherent narration, history which, Ike
Brownings poem, shall tell How IT strikes
contemporary"
This story Of the war of the United States
with Spain is based on the official reports OF
the military and nUal operations everything
accessible having beGA carefully examined. lhe
official reports have been supplemented by an
examination, 50 far as possible, OF all the ac-
counts OF eyewitnesses which had either inter
es1 OF authority and which have appeared IN
such abundance. The political portions Of the
story and the account Of events in Washington
have been written from a somewhat close per
sonSl knowledge OF all that happened ct the cap
ital during the war period
There is one thing about the Spanish
American war which nobody seems 10 have
noticed II IS the only American war in
which at it's inception, the capital of the
country has been the storm centre. The
eyes OF the whole nation were for weeks
directed toward Washington. and the des-
tiny of the nation hung on what Congress
and the President saw fit TO do In the
Revolutionary war, for time al least, Bos-
ton was the lightning-rod OF public excite
ment In the war of 1872 Washington.
though the capital, was a comparatively
insignificant town. In the civil war ex-
citement ran fully as high in Boston, New
York, Richmond, as in Washington But
tn the war of 1898 everything practically
depended on the White House. Things were
happening there and at the Capitol, and al
the different legations, which the whole
country knew 10 be momentous in their
significance. Those who were in Washing
in the spring of 1898 will remember at least
two or three evenings on which one could
not walk UP Pennsylvania Avenue without
the atmosphere. It follows therefore, that
the opportunities of Senator Lodge for
gathering material for his history we're
exceptionally good.
The inner history of this war would, IL
written in a candid and impartial spirit,
be extremely interesting. The war was the
result Of a struggle between mighty forcesa
and the racial and national quarrel OF the
United States with Spain was only part
Of it. The historian who would write
complete history OF this brief but impor-
tant conflict must recognize these facts
and give them due prominence. II remains
70 be seen whether Senator Lodge has
done this.
The first chapter deals briefly and
concisely with the past history OF
Spain. In Il Senator Lodge takes o
somewhat original view of the his
tory Of Cuba, one which has not been
brought out by any previous writer on
the war. He says that the reason why
Cuba did not sooner free herself from the
dominion of Spain, as did the other inner
Latin colonies, was that the United
States used ali her influence against any
thing OF the kind, not wishing 10 have
state containing so many free negroes near
her own borders. He says fatty:
Those who are curious IN the doctrine OF com
pensstiors can find here & fresh example LIN
coin at the second inaugural, declared once for
ali that our awful civil war Was the price we
paid for the sin Of slavery; and the war OF ls5s
xss the price paid al last, es such debts always
are paid by nations, for having kept Cuba IN
bondage At the dictates OF our own slave power.
With the exception OF this opinion, the
chapter contains nothing novel. 1t is sim
ply q recapitulation OF the events In Cuba
and in the United States. which led grad
uaiIy up 10 q declaration of hostilities- In
the second chapter. The Coming of War
l. - "A -nwnf~a-
tion OF the scenes which took place at the
Capitol during the few days before the
declaration OF war, and of the excitement
which prevailed In Washington. II is
clear brief well-written record OF the
facts and the forces which contended in
the White House and at the Capitol, for
peace and for war, are virtually let alone
Senator Lodge contents himself with say
ing that there was strong peace party,
and q strong war party, and they fought
for supremacy. Perhaps that is all that
a historian could be expected TO say on
the subject but the analytical observer
might see something more. In this chapter
the writer has hardly done jzstice 10 his
opportunities.
After this. Senator Lodge makes leap
half around the world, and gives the his
tory Of Manila. He then describes the bat
tie which Dewey Won on that memorable
May morning In 1898, and the scene has
rarely been so well described. with so lit
tie waste Of words. II is just the sort
Of description which one might expect from
its author-yiyid. yet without grandilo-
ouence; fun Of picturesque phrases, yet
without straining after effect. particu-
lar1y interesting page Of this chapter is
that IN which a careful comparison is
made between the achievements OF Dewey
at Manila and OF Nelson at Aboukir. Ii is
in part as follows:
OF the splendor Of Nelson's performance and
of the victory which be won there can be no
question. Let Us try Dewey by that high stand
ard
The Bay Of Aboukir IS an almost open road
stead AL that was Necessary was TO keep clear
OF the shoals which make out from Aboukir Point
and Island, and then if the wind were fair. as
Nelson's was, 70 bear down on the hostile feet.
The French feet anchored at Aboukir, and
- were the Spaniards az Manila. with the addi-
ti0nal protection Of Z boom al Cayite. The dis
tance 70 be trageFsed by Nelson from the open
scz 70 the French feet WAS triiiing. He had
channels 70 come through, entrance forts 10
pas, mines 20 fear Dewey had 10 pass
through vide channel, with powerful forts,
armed with modern guns on either side In or
sixteen miles before be came opposite Cavite.
while. from the best information received he
expected mines 20 be all about him. and two
actually exploded in his near neighborlood Mel
soE,s feet vas numerically the ssme as that
of h1s opponent, but all the English fighting ships
were seventy -iouFe, while the French had three
heavier l20-ton gun and two OF So each
The Spanish ships. compared 10 the
American. were older and Of inferior types, but
they fought from an anchorage speed and
engines did not count and they were armed
with modern guns, which is by far the most
Important Qualification Nelson al Abol-
lar was slightly. inferior 20 his antagonist In
weight of metal and number Of guns, and had
ship IS powerful as L0rieat On the Cther