Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-14
PURPOSE OF THE LEAGUE
Charles Emory Smith Outlines Its Objects at
Detroit.
Young and Powerful Ally of the Re
publican Party-In Harmony
With Party's Policy.

continental policy
Mr.. Smith said in part: The Republican
League represents the youth and hope. the
vitality and aspirations of the republican
tarty 1t is the flower of the great poiiti-
cal force which. as a creative and con-
structive organization will rank in history
with the party of Chatham and the young
er Pitt. and with the party of Washington
Hamilton and Marshall. 1t lives not IN
memory. but in purpose and in progress
Glorious is the past, its eyes are turned
to what should be a yet more glorious 1u-
ture. In the rapid evolution of history it
rests not on the trophies even of majestic
career. but advances to new duties and de-
mands and seeks the laurels- OF 1resh
achievement.
The opportunity of republican statecraft
lies along the lines of domestic security
and continental development. The first
mission of the republican party was the
naturalization of freedom. In that spien-
did moral struggle it embodied the national
conscience and crystallized the highest I'M
pulses OF liberty-loving people. Its sec
ond mission the industrial uDbuilding
of the regenerated Union. Its mission now
is to complete the industrial independence
and power of the American republic. and
to eXteId the scepter of its commercial
dominion and of its peaceful and para
mount influence over the American conti-
nent
What the League Stands For.
In obedience to that command the repuh-
lican party stands for American protection
and for honest money. Its return to power
has been promptly signalized by the restor
alton of protective tariff which estab-
fishes a bulwark of defense for American
labor and manufactures. With this revival
OF true American policy the clouds of de-
preston which followed its fatuous over
throw four years ago are vanishing, and
when the essential conditions shall be fully
restored the sun of prosperity will again
ha1 S.4fTI loo nIre.r lam N Ii
can supremacy equally assures honest
oney- What is honest money? 1t is mon
ey as good as gold everywhere. Its key is
the absolute, unvarying integrity of the
standard.
Let it he granted that these are the fore
most obligations of the hour but they are
not ALL Let it be granted that full securi-
" and confidence throughout our borders
are the first consideration. but they do not
measure our whole duty. The time is ripen-
ing for the development of broad. true
continental policy-not aggressive, not mil
itary, nor grasping, but peaceful. CONNER
cial and beneficent. The genius of republic
CaniSm demands that it shall stand in the
forefront of opportunity, and it will fall
short of its present mission if its pene-
trating vision does not prefigure the high
destiny of the republic and if its patriotic
spirit does not move forward toward its
realization The republican party has ere
ated the greatest industrial empire in the
world. But where shall be its outlets?
What shall be its field of commercial con-
quest mas II reached It's limit and is the
map OF progress TO be rolled up and put
away on the dusty shelves of blind and
inert self-sufficiency?
LaborS of Early Statesmen,
The statesmen of the earlier era even in
the infancy of the republic, were constantly
laborins to extend its influence in the west
ern hemisphere. What would have been
the grandeur of their dreams in the males
ty and amplitude of its present power,
Alexander Hamilton even before the Con-
stitution was ratified. urged that the United
States should aim at ascendant in the
system of American affairs" BENJAMIN
Franklin advocated the cession of Canada
as one of the conditions of peace and in
sisted that IL was essential to future safety
Thomas Jefferson had been the intense
partisan of France and the bitter enemy
of England: but " hen NaEole~ n Secured the
retrocession of Louisiana from Spain and
threatened the creation of a permanent
menace on our border and in control of the
Mississippi jefferson was ready to forget
Eis angiophoba and make an alliance of
the two chief maritime powers against this
greater ana more immediate French peril
III was the bolc attitude of jefferson that
IN part led Napoleon to abandon his Iouis
i;iId schene, and permit our acquisition of
thdt territory. which now forms so spIen
did segment of the republic When Ief-
1erson completed tnat purchase there were
cIoakers and pullbacks who condemned it,
W mere are they row? Buried and frrpof
ten in the same merciful oblivion watch
hfty years hence will throw its generous
mantle over their lineal progeny who nov,
oppose the acquisition of Hawaii,
Plea for Nicaragunn Canal
In the development of our continental
policy there is a still more important meas
ure- We are not like England dependent
on the sea. Our land power and home ca
pabilities are unrivaled. But nature de-
signed us to- he great on the ocean as on
g. haNra =
coast line, more than that of all Europe
We have 1888 miles on the Atlantic side
and. not counting Alaska. 1857 miles on
the Pacific side. Less than a hundred
miles of canal through Nicaragua would
give us practically a continuous coast line
from QuCGdy Head on the Atlantic to Pu-
set souhd on the Pacific. and would unite
the TWO great sections of the republic in
an unbroken waterway. The marvel of
American affuence and apathy Is the long
neglect OF this great project. which would
marry the oceans and assure. American
commercial dominance the continent
Had England been in place she would
nave dug the canal long years ago: and
more imam that. she never would have per-
mitted any question of complete British SUI
premacy over IT. Other nations might have
been allowed to send their commerce
through its waters In time OF peace, as
they do through the Suez canal; but when
an emergency of national safety and de-
tense came the ascendancy of the Union
Jack would have left doubt of the mas.
Ter power lneFe are some. things in the
policy OF England which commands the
admiration of every manly spirit and
among them the fidelity and courage
with which she follows and protects Eng
Hshmen wherever they may be- and the
genius and persistence with which she DUR
sues her unfalterfng course of commercial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT .,..-r
Gayton-Bulwer Treaty.
just so 1 would have the ascendancy of
the stars and stripes over the Nicaragua
canal unquestoned and unchallenged Does
the old Clayton-Bulwer treaty stand in the
way? Then let 1t be denounced. as it has
In fact already been denounced. and let no.
tice be served that by the practical reuu-
diation of both parties. by the English dis
regard OF its provisions and by the COM
plete change of conditions 1: is .abrogated
This continental policy recognizes that
Independent of all present questions of
sympathy for struggling patriots or of hui
manity In n savage warfare at our own
doors. the fate Of Cuba points Inevitably
to ultimate security and tranquility under
the flag Of the Union. And IL is not terri
fed at the problems which follow such ac-
QUESTIONS. for IL is not tied to hide-bound
theories OF procedure. and believes that
enlightened craftsmanship adapts itself to
new occasions and new conditions