The age-herald., 1901-05-19

It is showing to the world that as, nearly a century ago, Jefferson and the old Re- publican party were able to deal with the ex-Spanish- French colony of Louist- ana, and there introduce self-government so is the Republican party of today able to accomplish the infinitely more diffi- cult work of planning and maintaining popular forms and institutions in the far Asiatic seas. England has had India more than one hundred years. Under American rule, in les than two years. the Filippinos have been conceded larger share in their own government than the inhabitants of the vast Indian empire have received from the British crown and parliament in a century.
 Cuba.
 The Cuban problem Is still to be solved. that is, the ultimate relationship in which the island shall stand to us and we to it. This question cannot be decided by the administration alone. On our part the arbitrament rests with two of the CO., ordinate departments of the government. The Legislative and Executive. Between them and Cuba an agreement must be reached. On this point the administra- ton Is now simply obeying the law as formulated by Congress. It could not more and it cannot do less, without sub jecting itself to the just criticism of the anti-imperialists. But apart form this question the administration is accomplish ing great work in Cuba which cannot fail to rebound to it's glory when the rec ord is fairly presented to the world. First of all, we are In military occupation of the island Unlike all other Occupations of that character by any country in any age, the rule that the administration has established Is one of kindness, gentleness and benehcence. The Cubans, under it, are learning their first lessons in self-gov- ernment they are being taught the wide difference between liberty and license NOever before has the island known what is was to have honest government to enjoy equal rights for all During hun dreds of years the few have been rioting on the plunder of the many Every hour of military rule serves to prepare the Cu- bans for the independence that will be theirs when they have demonstrated their ability to maintain 1t, and given the guar antee that 1t will not be used to involve us in complications which every dictate of prudence compels us to avert. No ad- ministration has been called upon to deal with problems of this character and thus far the manner in which they have been met proves that statesmanship is not with us, however it may be elsewhere, one or the lost arts
 Great as this industrial revolution has been it is not improbable that 1t will have as Its companion picture political one equally remarkable and equally fraught with benefcent consequences in our na- tional life. Under President Mckinley s first administration the North and the South marched for the first time since the civil war under the old flag, the sons of both eager to carry it forward to yic- tory. At last the old warning sections were united in bonds never again to be severed. Cuba and Porto Rico, the Philippines and China served to seal anew the compact of an imperishable union. Not only that, they hold out the hope that before the dawn of another Presidential contest the line of political sectionahsm will have been thoroughly erased. The trend of events is all that way. A white Republi- can party in the South is inevitable in the near future. The movement may be retarded but 1t must come. To the bene- fits that have come to the South from thH tariff policy of William Mckinley will that monumental political event in our party history be due.