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THE : HESPERIAN
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In accordance with a petition from the stu
dents, Professors Fling and Caldwell addressed
the faculty and students Tuesday morning in
chapel on the Cuban question. The chapel
was crowded, the speeches received with en
thusiasm. Prof. Fling spoke first. Ue considered the
subject in its world-wide significance, review
ing past history and considering the probable
future. Ho opened his remarks by saying
that he did not wish to add to the patriotic
enthusiasm of the students; that the present
moment iB a time for prayer rather than ap
plause. He said that we have been standing
on the banks of the Rubicon. Yesterday the
die was cast. We have passed over. "War is
a terrible thing. If we have war, now, we
should fight, not with the spirit of the savage
but with the pity of the executioner. It is
not that we have been invaded, or are at
tempting to acquire territory, but congress
has taken the stop after mature deliberation
and for the sake of humanity. A war so
waged is uniquo in the history of the world.
It is the clash of two ideas. Spain standing
for the old idea, monarchy by divine right,
while the United States is for the divine right
of the people to rule. It marks the opening
of a new era. It is the third great step of our
government. The first was the revolution,
the second was the rebellion.
Spain is the wreck of a once powerful mon
archy. Cuba is the small remnant of a
colonial empire. Columbus, when ho discov
ered it little dreamed that it would bo the
cause of disaster to Spain herself.
The condition of Cuba has been enough to
arouse the sympathy of any nation. The
island is at our very gates. For threo years
thcao horrors "have been going on, and now we
are called upon in the name of humanity to
interfere.
There are two policies for us to follow. The
one is to maintain the present situation to
refuse to expand and to say to others "You
cannot expand either" and the othor is to
join with the othor states in expanding across
the sea. Even if wo accomplish the first it
means complications. Wo must either lot
tho colonies and states look out for themselves
or interfere in their behalf. The outcome of
it will be a new unit. It will bo America
against Europe and the people of England are
beginning to realize this fact.
Tho outcome of this war is clear. It means
a duel between the United States and Spain
which may be long or short. Spain has seven
teen millions of inhabitants and is bankrupt.
The United States has seventy millions with
no end of resources. The critical time will
come after the war. In order to protect the
island we may have to interfere again and
again and eventually annex. Tt is not a ques
tion of Cuba but of our entire foreign policy.
Prof. Caldwell then spoke on the Cuban
question and some of tho questions involved.
He considered it from the United States stand
point largely. He began by saying "Europe
has spoken. Et is now time for America to be
heard." (It took some time for all to see the
"Little Prof's." joke. ) lie continued that
the solemnity 01 the occasion demanded that
such words should bo spoken, and such only
thac something greater in the world may be
attained, in tho whole history between the
United States and Spain since 17S3 distrust
has existed. There were differences in feeling
when Louisiana was purchased again when
when Florida was added. Then came tho
Monroe doctrine. From 1S23 1800 the
United States was eager to own Cuba. In
1819 wo offered 8125,000,000 for it. In
1803-4 negotiations were again resumed but
Spain refused to consider an offer.
Now it has come to be a racial contest of
Teuton and Celt, of the United States against
Spain. This feeling has been intonsfied and
brought to a focus by tho destruction of tho
Maine until now tho American people are
ready to say as one man that Spain has played
her part. Two hundred thousand lives have
been lost by starvation and war. What is our
duty? Something is imposed upon us. The
day Iuib passed for recognizing there belliger
ency. Wo might wish to give them lifo-in-dopondonco,
but the time for that is past. It
must now bo tho recognition of the independ
ence of a people not of a republic. Some of
tho effects of this stop of congress will bo 'to
strengthen the constitution and the power (if
the president at tho expense of tho othor 'de
partments, and to build up and develop a
standing army and navj . War should only bo
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