The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-16
Proper Lines OF
National Growth

II any reader OF Inc TRIBUNE lulleu "
read the speech by Hon. Charles Emory
Smith at Detroit last Tuesday, we ad-
wise him to hunt up Wednesdays paper
and afford himself an intellectual treat.
A more exhilarating enunciation OF Amer
lean policy has not been made since the
best days of James G.. Blaine nor could
Mr. Blaine, gifted as he was in the en-
ployment of the English language, have
put the same thoughts into finer rhetoric.
Well may the Troy, n. Y, Times say: IF
the Detroit convention had done nothing
more it would have justified its assemb-
ling in the opportunity given for the de-
livery of that splendid address"
Mr.. Smiths address, adds the Times, was
a platform in itself. 1t takes luminous
mind to thus develop from the movements
of the speech and writing of the day the
genuine principles of Republicanism. to
identify them by the heredity of their
lineage and to so group them that every
reader will instinctivey confess: Here
are the past. present and future of the
Republican party. This is the title of it's
history, the reason of its existence, the
surety of its continuance" In clearness
of thought and in fullness and decision of
language 1t would be hard to point to
anything finer among the summaries of
partisan doctrine. Especially timely was
the tracing of the blood coursings in the
life of the party in whose veins have
flowed the currents of American growth.
First it was 1.-The naturalization of free
dom" Next it was "the industrial up
building of the regenerated Union" Now,
says Mr.. Smith, the mission is ito com
plete the industrial independence and
power of the American republic, and to
extend the sceptre of its commercial do
minion and of it's peaceful and paramount
influence over the American continent"
The most prophetic portion of the ad-
dress, however, in impressiveness and the
novelty of its force, was that which re-
lated to the position of the United States
as the guiding patron for the American
continent. Mr.. Smith recognizes that Re-
publicansm owes to humanity the duty
of perpetuation. He says: 1.-THE time is
ripening for the development of a broad,
true continental policy-not aggressive,
not military, not grasping, but peaceful,
commercial and beneficent The genius
of Republicansm demands that 1t shall
stand in the forefront of opportunity, and
1t will fall short of its present mission II
it's penetrating vision does not prefigure
the high destiny of the republic and If its
patriotic spirit does not move forward to-
ward its realization" This is not rash
and sudden invitation to unforeseen eX-
pertinent. 1.-The statesmen of the earlier
era, even in the infancy of the republic,
were constantly laboring to extend its in
ilton, Franklin, Jefferson-all looked for
an unfolding of destiny of growth for
the United States. The small souls that
are protesting against territorial ag-
grandizement" had ancestors who did the
same thing when Louisiana was pur-
chased. Where are those croakers now?
Mr.. Smith answers: "Bured and forgot
ten in the same merciful oblivion which
| fifty years hence will throw it's generous
mantle over their lineal progeny who now
| oppose the acquisition of Hawaii! These
critics who would undertake to stop the
| march of the inevitable are wiser In their
own conceit than all the long line of illus
| trlous statesmen from Clay, Calhoun,
| Everett, Marcy and Seward to Blaine and
| Harrison. Fifty years ago saga
| cious American craftsmanship contem-
plated the annexation of Hawaii, and it
has never since been out of the purview
| of American policy except during the
| brief and unhappy honeymoon of Cleve-
land and Liliuokalani."
| Another lesson Is learned from English
methods, and that is to have the as
cendancy of the stars and stripes over
| the Nicaragua canal unquestioned and
unchallenged." 1.-THE Nicaragua canal
must be distnctively an American meas
ure, built with American capital and
| under undisputed American control"
| This is not the policy of jingoism. 1t is
simply giving the best government on
earth a chance, 1t is doing unto Others
as we have done unto ourselves 1t is
recognizing and obeying our obligations
| to humanity and particularly to those
whom we elbow on the American conti-
nent. Let Mr. Smith in his statesman
like way define It: This continental
policy Is one of peace, commerce and
moral influence, 1t is not a policy OF
| truculent aggression or territorial rapac-
| i,y or political or military aggrandze-
| ment. IL aims at the recognized ascend
ency of this republic in the American sys'
tom, at the expansion of its commercial
dominion and at the advancement of it'
| Wholesome example and influence foi
peace, fraternity and reciprocity through
OUT the continent. 1t does moi
mean the ambitious or arbitrary seizure
of all territory which may be within oul
grasp, but II does mean the acceptance
| OF such accessons as naturally consti
tute outlying or integral parts of oul
political system and as plainly lie alonl
the pathway of our destiny. 1t recog
nizes that Independent of all presen
! questions Of sympathy for struggling