| Show THE NEXT GREAT BEAT 0 QUESTION the tariff question was long a leading theme of thought and argument in the halls of congress and in the columns of the american press pres but a few years ago its importance was overshadowed alm dowed by the magnitude which the stiver question attained but before either of these great issues is finally disposed of there promises to arise another that will rival either of them in the vital consequences connected with it and in the radical difference of view f that mat will be engendered among the american people in relation to it shall the war with spain be permitted to result in the setting aside by the united stated of its traditional policy of non acquisition of extra continental territory or shall this government annex hawaii retain the philippines and keep any other spanish possession that may fall into its hands this promises premises to be the next issue on which the voters of this nation will align 1 themselves if the old policy is to be adhered to we can neither annex hawaii keep the philippines nor retain possession of any spanish territory tout but the friends of the old policy insist that it la Is a safeguard against war with foreign nations and that it will pre pm our beo becoming nning entangled in the that beset all of t the more inore important ones on the other hand the friends of ex tra continental acquisition ask what Is in to jemne of toe the possessions anat have fallen or are about to fall cadd our hands they urge that to give them back to spain would be the height of absurdity in the light of national policy and of cruelty to their inhabitants in the light of humanity some of them at least are incapable of self government and no other nation has any claim upon them logically the conclusion is that we must keep that which the fortunes of war give to us in the case of cuba the national honor is pledged not to annex her against the wishes of the cubans but should a plebiscite be taken showing their wish to become american subjects no pledge yet made by this government would be violated by the annexation of the island the cases of cuba the philippines hawaii porto rico and probably the caroline islands are pressing upon the american government for decision de elsion and the latter ought to be reached before the wax war ends so that the administration will be able to state on what terms it will make peace there are americans who hold strenuously to the old continental policy but there are others who think this country has haa a great mission among mankind to ald aid in the extension of human liberty and that an overruling providence is forcing it forward in the execution of its destiny the truth of the matter will no doubt be unfolded by the developments of the next few years of the worlds history |
