Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14

~ crowd 1.-THE Martial Spirit" for Q
worthwhile chance at June reading.
straight and positive effect steps
out from this study of the Spanish-AmeFican
War. Such immediate reaction becomes con-
Victicn that, in the interest Of future peace for
this country, a similar overhauling Of our other
wars might be the most efIectualy permanent
measure toward q civilization which, surely
when it arrives will not count warfare among
its methods of further advance.
Definitely demonstrated here, the Spanish
American War was an unnecessary war. Futile
in purpose unprepared in men and means, I'M
professional in conduct, indeteFminate In con-
clusion, disastrous from every national point
OF view An abSurdity had it not been high
crime Possibly the study OF our other wars,
In such general competency Is has directed
this one would disclose equally valid arguments
against having undertaken them. Perhaps not.
But eminently, worth the trial.
In effect, quite secondary to the main issue,
but deeply important, nevertheless, The Martial
Spirit" is study in adolescence, in national
immaturity At the time OF the war with
Spain this country was clearly adoleScent. And
is yet. wherefore, the high value OF studies
In the military life Of the United States.
America is young-and free. The human youth
is a confusion of feelings and demands Of whose
source he has no conception, Of whose ends he
has no picture. Swift in action, for the sake
of the action itself. Ardent, therefore, for
Infiammable, physical overready for a retort
in any direction. Sentimental and likely to be
emotionally religious. Such the individual
young thing Such the young Nation reared
under wide preachments of liberty" "democ-
racy" freedom for the wide world" For au-
tocracies such development does not exist. For
country founded upon liberty, like this one,
yes.
The United States, young and therefore sem
timental, is also at heart religious. Looking
backward, it becomes patent that religion has
waged more wars than any other human pre-
possession and more bitter wars. Count them
and weigh them. So. here. The Cubans were
IN revolt against an unspeakable oppression. At
once the knight-errant heart Of America grew
hot for succor. And at the moment in our
White House was a man Of deep Christianity,
who, mindful Of old lessons, saw . God Of
wrath against injustice, calling for deliverers
to this broken tribe Of His people Reluctantly,
this kindly President under the urgency Of
military and political pressure, yielded to that
which seemed TO him q cause for every noble
nation to espcuse And So the Spantsh-AmeT1-
can War.
The first chapter Of this book, 1.-THE Setting
Of the Stage" Is q concise summary Of the
United States from every sort Of national char
from the end of the Civil War to 1898, the i'm
mediate period of particular concern and orderly
disclosure. You may find somewhere-pve
not been able to-outside this book and this
first chapter a seizure OF the time and the
country itself, in its situation and aims, in Its
growth toward unity by the admission Of new
States, in its spread Of industry and the keen
problems growing out Of such rapid rise and
combinations, in its solution of the Indian
prohlem-ndeed, in any and all of the sharp
concerns of that 30-year fever Of national inter-
nal change and expansion. You may find .
summary equal to this in substance, in fact,
in drama, and in sense Of some impending
future, different from the past and the present.
You may. But you will not.
Let us get along. young and robust land,
this United States. Rich in resources Rich
in industry and its usufruct. Full OF the spirit
of adventure. And not dragon to slay. Not
q great wrong to right. Army and Navy, rusty
with idlensSs. Politicians keen for issues. that
register in votes and party politics. Then SUI
fering Cuba called from the Caribbean. The
war was on. And by way Of Mr.. Mills We
come into orderly contact with the comic
opera performance. No need to say more than
to a budget of odd terms, half forgotten, the
story gives sequence and color and a fair APP
praisal which, at the best, reflects incompetency
in operation equal to its emptiness of purpose.
"San Juan HILL" "the Shafter fasco' and
handful of other rags of remembrance freShen
in our minds again But, as a whole, and in
proper perspective, here for the first time Is
a truly considerable and readable story of our
war with Spain.
Yet, "a contemplate little war;" it has
% often been named, in its effects it was Of a
significance to the United States that no other
national event has produced. For 1t was by
way of that conflict that this country stepped
out into the world of nations. To this signifl-
canoe Mr.. Willis pays full tribute of study and
appraisal. That is the great matter to which
he gives a weight of professional skill and
aptitude from the standpoint Of the historian
who is interested in the essential sources and