2nd question: The main characters all feel happy for their jobs, but Jonas is more worried. They were chosen for them because they were being watched, then jobs were selected on how they act and what would be fitting. If I were assigned a job that i did not like, I wouldn't be so happy, but eventually i would get used to it. I would like a variety of jobs, throughout my life.
The passage was said during 1898 and during that time readers could relate that to what was going on then which was when the U.S declared war on Spain.