Empires, History and Patriotism.

A quote I read recently sparked off this blog:

"Patriotism is believing you live in the best country in the world - because you were born there."

We visited Philadelphia on the way up to the North Eastern States to see the fall. And of course there was another museum to visit - this time on maritime matters. And there was a refreshing change in the way that it presented an even-handed view of history. Even-handedness generally means there is more to mull over…

The one in front is a reconstruction, the one behind is the real thing.

There's a battleship outside on the water, the oldest steel hulled battleship in America still afloat, the USS Olympia, commissioned on February 5, 1895. It was involved in one of the decisive battles of the nineteenth century, one that would change the course of American history.

America first flexes its muscles on the high seas.

Probably most of you won't know the details, and most probably don't want to either.

I didn't.

But then I started reading, and it all sounded so familiar...

At that time, America was a fast growing country with big ambitions. A quote on the wall of the museum sums it up succinctly:

"We shall establish trading posts throughout the world as distributing points for American products. We shall cover the oceans with our merchant marine… Our institutions will follow our flag on the wings of commerce."

Albert J. Beveridge.
Indiana Senator and Expansionist, 1898.

Nearby, there was a section in the museum explaining the war against the Spanish in 1898. (I know it doesn't sound that interesting, but bear with me.)

Spain still considered Cuba as a part of Spain, and the Cubans wanted independence. America, understandably, didn't like colonials, so sided with the Cubans. Conveniently, the year previously - and again I quote from the museum:

April 7, 1897.

"Theodore Roosevelt, the new  Assistant Secretary of the Navy, has big plans to expand foreign trade and markets for American goods. They include a war with Spain over Cuba, a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific, and the annexation of Hawaii and other islands to create American ports around the world for refuelling and protecting American fleets.

Roosevelt: A Man With a Big Plan.

During the Cuban crisis, Rooselvelt has his eye on Spanish possessions in the Pacific; single-handedly he gets a fearless naval officer named George Dewey appointed Commander of the Asiatic Squadron. And when the war over Cuba is about to begin, Roosevelt sends a telegram to Commodore Dewey telling him to get ready to attack the Spanish at Manila and take over the Philippines."

 

The Battleship Maine as it started.

The USS Maine was a battleship moored in Havana harbour at the time. When it unexpectedly blew up, the US immediately blamed the Spanish, and war was declared.

The Maine as it ended up. This means war!

The Spanish were roundly defeated, and peace talks begin in Paris dividing up the spoils.

The Spanish don't look happy.

 Now do bear with me, because there is a point to all this history.

December 10, 1898.

"Spanish troops are ordered to leave Cuba, which is on a slow path to independence overseen by the United States. America gains control of Guam and Puerto Rico and pays Spain $20 million for the Phillippines. With this treaty, America becomes the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere and gains safe harbors for trade with Asia. Tension builds in the Philippines between the Americans and Filipinos who want their independence...

Filipinos standing up for their rights.

...After the peace talks, the Filipinos continue to fight for their independence, but now they face the Americans. A bloody American-Filipino War breaks out which lasts for several years."

There are estimates that as many as 126,000 American soldiers, or 3/4 of the U.S. army, were shipped to the Philippines, and at least 600,000 Filipinos died during the war.

It has been referred to as the 'first' Vietnam war; horrendous atrocities were committed on both sides.

(Unpleasant pictures showing that water boarding's an old art...)

Honest men of the Olympia, fighting for their country.

A letter was written by one of Olympia's crew during this war describing his feelings and thoughts about the war. The letter begins with these words:

 

"My friend O'Reilly says 'there's such a thing as principle in this war' and there is...

 

...Most of the boys want to get out of it because we know this war is not right and that these people are fighting for independence just as we did in 1776."

In 1902, America promised to prepare Filipinos for independence, which occured in 1946 - over forty years later. And there's the irony; the whole affair was supposed to be about freeing Cuba from Spanish rule. But I suppose by the end of it all Joe Public had forgotten how it started.

Remember the Maine, and the awful explosion that set off the whole chain of events?

Let's get the public worked up over this...

 "After it was all over, a detailed investigation decided the explosion was probably an accident."

Truth at the beginning may not turn out to be truth at the end.

 So when war is imminent, and the rhetoric is ramped up, it's wise to remember history.