The San Francisco call., 1898-06-22

PRINCETON, N. J.. June 21.-Grover | Cleveland delivered the annual Found CTS day address of the commencement exercises of the Lawrenceville School here to-day. His address was entitled Good Citizenship" and in the course l of his remarks he said:
 "The American people are tempted every day and every hour to abandon | their accustomed ways and enter upon | a course of new and strange adven- ture Never before in our history have we been beset with temptations so dan gerous as those which now whisper in our ears alluring words of conquest and expansion, and point out to us fields bright in glory. I only recently saw very useful book entitled Don't It contained a statement of numerous things which should not be done. I am inclined to adopt the plan of this book to the extent of cautioning you against the imperfect ideas of civic duties and warn you against certain dangers which threaten the soundness and safety of true American citizenship, and which, especially at this particular time, seem to lie in wait for us on every side.
 You will probably be led by your re- 1 factions and studies to the conclusion | that our Government was formed for | the express purpose of creating, i in a new world, a new nation, 1 the foundation of which should be mans self government, whose safety and prosperity should be secure 1 to it's absolute freedom from old-world complications and in its renunciation of l all schemes of foreign conquest, and whose mission should be the subjuga- ton of civilization and industrial oc- cupation of the vast domain in which 1 it has taken root. If you believe these things, do not permit any accusation of ultra and progressive conservatism to | trouble you.
 If, then, the suggestion is made that l the time has come for our nation to abandon it's landmarks and to follow | the lights of monarchical hazards, and 1 that we should attempt to employ the simple machinery of our population and 1 domestic government to serve the | schemes of imperialism, your challenge of the proposition is entirely in order. If you are satisfied that foreign con- quest and unnatural extension or an- nexation are dangerous perversions of our national mission, and if it shall seem to you in the light of reason and history that such positions bring in their train a peoples demoralization and a decay of popular content, more surely destructive to the republic than armies with banners, you will not necessarily be wrong.
 With our first century's tremendous growth and advancement before our eyes as proof of the strength and eff ciency of constant Americanism, you will find in the beginning of our second century proof of the abundance of our present domain in millions of acres of Government territory still unoccupied. In view of these things, and consider ing our achievements in the past and our promise for the future, recalling what we have done and what we have been and what yet remains for us to do under the guidance of the rules and motives which have thus far governed our national life, you surely are en- titled to demand the best of reasons for change in our policy and conduct and to expect a conclusive explanation of the conditions which make our acquisi- llOI Ol DtW etlld dlStcilil tCIlIloly SlIIltT justifiable, prudent or necessary
 Perhaps you should be satisfied with the excuse that such acquisition is necessary by way of warlike prepara- tion or precaution. This, however, will immediately suggest to you that we have found heretofore constant source of congratulation in the fact that the contemplation of war and it's contingent cies is not and should not be familiar to our ordinary national life, that it has also been our boast that large standing military establishment and warlike preparations are not among the needs of the people whose victories are those of peace and whose immunity from armed conflict is found in their freedom from foreign relationships that give birth to war; and though it has been abundantly demonstrated that the courage and splendid fighting qualities of our countrymen will never fail in time of need, it is still a grave question whether the cheapening of our estimate of the value of peace, by dwelling upon war and warlike preparations, is calcu- lated to improve the quality of our national character.
 ''These considerations naturally lead
 
 me to counsel you against the danger of allowing the bright dress and gay trappings which war puts on to divert your attention from the ugly features that belong to 1t. as seen in the light of true American citizenship. The danger of such diversion may arise from rest less enthusiasm, which Is by no means unattractive; or from our admiration for deeds of valor, which is a national characteristic; or from the fascination of dangerous adventure, never found without bravery; or from the love of glory of successful battle which is al- most an impulse of humanity; or from a tendency to combativeness, which, if not altogether lovely and amiable, is regarded by genuine Americans with benevolent tolerance.
 Tt is difficult to deal with the uues- ton of war at this time and avoid mis- conception and misrepresentation But we are considering American citizen ship and endeavoring to find it's best and most elevating characteristics and how they can be most effectively cul- tivated and securely preserved. From