Washington sentinel., 1900-08-18
Gbe EvoluGon
Of a policy Of
Gnfamp.
WTitteH I0r the
Sentinel BY
Prof M
FreHRRhHySSa.

In the elections oiISe6, the platforms
Of both the Republican and Democratic
parties contained strong planks de-
nOuncng the Government methods OF
Spain IN the neighboring island OF Cuba.
William Mckinley, OF Ohio, was
elected President. In his annual message
to Congress he vaguely limited at possl-
bic interference by the United States
Matters did not improve and Congress
became impatient. Then the Executive,
always strongly weak or weakly strong,
by an act OF stupidity, sent the battleship
Maine to the haIbor OF Havana, where
is mOoring was located at the spot
where it would be most helpless under
the guns of Moro Castle.
On the right OF February IS, 1898, at
9:4o O'Clock the Maine was blown up.
and 266 officers and men killed. War
was the result, although responsibility
for the explosion was never located, The
resolution Of Congress declared that the
people OF Cuba "are and OF right ought
to be free and independent" disclaimed
any intention to exercise sovereignty or
control over said island, and asserted It's
determination when peace was accom-
plisheI to leave the government and
control OF the island to its people. The
President proclaimed to the world that
forcible annexation could not be thought
OF, that according to our code oi morals
that would be criminal aggression.
So far all eyes had been fixed on Cuba.
But suddenly the attention was changed.
The needle OF the compass Of history
swerved to the other side OF the earth,
where it is still steadily fixed. On May
I the Spanish feet in the harbor OF
Manila was completely destroyed by the
American navy On July following an
other Spanish fleet was destroyed while
attempting to escape from the harbor Of
Santiago. and once more the superiority
ofthe American navy was demonstrated.
But il our victory on sea was magnih-
cent the management Of our land forces
was sadly dePlorable. The reason is
plain The one was under the control
of naval board; the other under the
direction of a coteue OF politicians The
reason for this is plain too. No naval
hero had ever been elected President Of
the United States, The Presidency had
come to be considered the legitimate
reward OF a successful general. On this
account, and on this account alone. the
Commanding General OF the Army, one
of the great captains OF the age. who had
wears before prepared plans for this
struggle, was kept in the background
Gen. Shafter, who happened to be from
the same State as the Secretary OF War.
and weighed 800 pounds, was in COM
mand at Santiago. When an assault was
attempted, the Spauiards displayed an
obstinate resistance. Our troops,
exposed to the rainy and unhealthy trop-
ical season, began to succumb to disease.
Grave nxiety prevailed at the White
House. At this juncture Nelson A Miles
was sent tor and ordered to Cuba. Put
the III advised fight of the Spanish navy
and the destruction OF their feet led TO
the capitulation OF their land forces.
Miles was sent to Porto Rico, Two
strange things there occurred. The
place Of his intended landing was given
out at the War Department. with she
result that an overwhelming body Of
Spaniards we're there to meet him; and
the promised transports to land him
we're nowhere in sight. Miles had the
foregight and caution TO land at an
entirely different place. The conquest
OF Porto Rico soou followed. OF the
land forces shall cite but one criticism,
but that from so nonpartisan and reliable
a source that more is unnecessary. Says
the Scientific AJSeyreaH:
THE people OF this country have
acquired a reputation for re remarkable
patience aud long suffering II
was hard for our citizens to surrender
the very flower OF our young men from
their homes TO be despatched on a fatal
campaign IN one OF the most pestilential
climates Of the world All they
asked, the least that they expected, was
that the men who had volunteers d SO
freely should receive at the hands o
the country every possible safeguard
and support that Is known to moderr
science
AS a matter Of fact they have seen ou