a private citizen, one who desired the retention of
the territory acquired by the American Government solely because he
wished that the people of the United States should not underestimate the
value of their grand opportunities for national enrichment.

"War with Spain," said Mr. Green, in the beginning of his interview in
the Sun, "was declared by the authorized authorities, whether wisely or
otherwise, it is not now of much profit to discuss. It has been
prosecuted with vigor and brought to a successful issue with a dispatch
unprecedented in conflicts of equal magnitude. What shall be done with
its results? What, in this age of enlightenment and progress, shall we
do with the territories and with their peoples and property that the
fate of war has placed under our control and guardianship?"

Mr. Green concludes his interview as follows:

"As occasion offered heretofore the American people have insisted upon
acquiring and holding territory when the interests of the country
required it. Looking at all the precedents, at the present situation, at
the signs and needs of the times, there is but little room to doubt that
the permanent retention of all territory acquired from Spain will, in
the interest of humanity and duty, be demanded with equal firmness. We
shall go on in the same course of expansion which we have pursued from
our earliest history as an independent nation. We have 'hoisted the
mainsail' of the ship of state and started her about the world. While
heeding Washington's warnings and the popular interpretation of the
Monroe doctrine to keep the people of other nations from getting a
foothold on this continent, we shall not pervert their spirit by
stubbornly refusing to improve an opportunity to extend and increase our
power and our commerce. Every extension of our territory hitherto made
has been resisted by a spirit the same in essence as that which now
timidly opposes our improving the wonderful opportunities put in our
hands by the happy fortune of war; but such opposition has failed of its
purpose invariably hitherto, and it will fail now with the American
people. The sacrifices of the war will not have been in vain and the
victories won by the valor of our navy and army will not fail of their
legitimate and well-earned points."

We are a practical people. There can be no doubt about that, but still
we are occasionally moved by sentiment, as when we undertook to free
Cuba from oppression, but at the bot