The Irish standard., 1900-01-13
Time is Ripe for the Statesmen
to Solve the Problem.
A NATIvISTIC KNOwNOTHING VIRUS
Gives a Check for Fifty Dollars
to the LaWton Fund.

. Bishop Ryan, OF Alton, ILL.,, replies to-
the criticism OF local Mckinley organ,
and says in part:
You have let great deal OF eloquence
run to waste, inasmuch as there were
no reconcentradoes in the Philippines,
as there are no snakes in Ireland. From
the Beers, however, and the Philippines
you bounded with an unusually lively
spring OF logic into Cuba and Spain at
large. Be it so.
Weyler and his system had passed out
OF Cuba under universal condemnation,
AS to denunciation, the chorus OF the
brethren on Cuba was full, with no
room for weak voice like mine. Be-
sides it is question whether there was
not rather too much noise than too lit
tie. That venerable Republican OF SO
ripe experience, John Sherman, has,
since leaving the cabinet, repeatedly de-
clared that the war with Spain was en-
tirely needless; that every due provision
for Cuba's liberty and pacifcation had
been fully arranged and agreed upon
and treaty at point Of signature.
Let it be conceded. however, tia,
after the blowing tip OF the Maine. from
whatever cause, war was scarcely avoid
able. At the mouth of congress and the
executive the war was entered upon
with the highest sentiments in the best
traditions OF the country. 1t was ably
conducted and up to the point of set
ting about the treaty blessed with Won
derful success. Through the utter mis-
management, waste and unpreparedness
of the corrupt officials OF a great peo-
ple-for the Spanish people are still the
great people of old, the decay is at the
top, not at the botton-we came out
unexpectedly well, in brief interval and
at comparatively little cost
Here was a magnificent opportunity
for stateman-to withdraw from the
Philippines and, keeping Subig Bay and
few coaling stations, as Dewey
thought then, and undoubtedly in his
heart thinks still, leave their independ-
ence to the Filipinos under a brief pro-
tectorate. Thus he would retain his
country in its lofty and secure position
in the old Monroe and natural and
proper sphere, with friendship for all
nations and ENHANCEMENT with none.
Then, following on the line of Blaine, a
leader of statesmanly instincts and
breadth of view, Our republic could but
tress itself on this continent by cultivat-
ing intimate relations and profitable in
tercourse with the republics to the south
OF lis down to Cape Horn. That Phil
istine spirit, running in it's hard and
narrow groove, generation after gener-
alton, which Matthew Arnold struggled
so stoutly to put down in England, has
hitherto stood in the way.
But the time is ripe for wise states
men to set it aside and, in true Ameri-
can spirit and after Lincoln's fashion,
look everywhere in every land down be-
meath the surface and crust OF things to
the heart OF the people, the great body,
always sound and TRUE in the main or
society could not endure, much less adj
vance. The treasure, the tears of the
innocent, the blood, the awful crimes
we would have spared by this; and the
moral force and influence upon the
world gathered!
But the commercial and manufactur-
ing interests of the great city ports,
basely timid before and in the early part
of the war, were now in. success greedy;
shifty England wanted an ally or show
of one for the nonce; and the voice Of
the tempters was heard, with lamentable
result.
Lincoln, the death1ess Lincoln, voiced
the spirit and added strength to the
grand impelling force of his party when
he said that the Republic could not en-
dure half slave and half free; and, rest
ing on the hearts and the strong arms
Of the people, the plain people, the great
body, carried forward the labor of saw
ing the Union and at Gettysburg
crowned his work with the everlasting
statement, that that ground was not
hallowed by the great presence or their
words, but by the men, who lay buried
and had died there, that government
OF the people, by the people, for the
people, might not perish from the earth
Lincoln made the Land all free. Now
contrast the equally f,igh-placed servant