Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-04

the North in carrying the flag of their
common country and planting it upon
the battiaments of absoluteism and
monarchy and giving as a gracious
gift the boon OF civil and religious
liberty to q people who never until
the 4th day of July, 1898, saw an
American flag OF heard of the decla-
ration of independence.
Says an eminent author In DISGUISE
ing this subject: "With this principle
of federalism unimpaired, there IS
no reason any longer why any further
increase of territory or of population
should over-tax the resources of the
American system of government
The American people, however, will
feel perfectly c that no incor-
poration of territory into the union
will be made by the treaty making
power that does not have in contem-
plation the fundamental principle of
a capacity for local government as a
condition precedent to a society with
the states of the union.
The trade of the world, and especially |
upon the high seas, is now dominated
by England and the center of COM
mercial relations is not upon the con- |
tinent of America, but within the Brit
ish Isles, and there is no reason that
the establishing of q great navy and
the development of q great merchant
marine by the United States but the
center of commerce will be brought
within our own confines and controlled
by the American people.
We are q great manufacturing as
well as a great agricultural community,
and we are In need of markets for our
factories and the products of our soil,
and in order to encompass them we
will have 90 reach out for the commerce
| Of the world.
In this conflict with Spain the Amer
lean people have ascended to a height
which gives them a better view of
their own country and it's relations to
the world and increases largely the
circle of their horizon.
Nor is it selfishness in the people of
the United States in desiring to occupy
this eminence In the worlds affairs.
There are two kinds of selfishness-I
one, the old medieval type nov DOM
mating Spain, which holds that what
ever gain may accrue to one must be
accompanied by a corresponding loss
or injury to another; and the other Ia
that enlightened selfisnness which
holds that parties participating in
legitimate intercourse In trade or
otherwise are mutually benefited.
The time is at hand for the abandon
ment of the restrictive policies of the
fathers, for the abandonment of trade
restrictions of the United States and
for Miss Columbia to make her debut
in the society of the nations of the
world.
The Americans not only possess the
capacity of self government, but they
have the faculty of imparting it to
others. Why not, 30 long as consist
emit with her own welfare, may it not
be her duty to extend it to others? Is
the example of the Good Samaritan
for men only in their personal rela-
tions Or may it not have been intended
for nations as we'll? The proposition
is not to extend rule, but to enlarge
freedom.
When I contemplate the greatness
of our country and the grandness of
its opportunity I am reminded Of an
incident which took place some years
ago with some gentlemen who had met
for the purpose OF celebrating Amer
lean independence. Some of them
proposed toasts to the country, and
the fret speaker, having nothing in
mind but it's bigness, said: "Here's
to the United States, bounded on the
north by British America, on the south
by the Gulf of Mexico, or the east by
the Atlantic and on the west by the
Pacific ocean," The next speaker
said this was far too limited a view of
the subject; we must take into con-
sideration the glorious future which is
prescribed by the manifest destiny of
the Anglo-Saxon race. He said:
"Here's to the United States, bounded
on the north by the North Pole, on the
south by the South Pole, on the east
by the rising and on the west by
the setting sum-" Emphatic ap-
plause greeted this aspiring prophecy.
The third and last speaker, a man
from the West, knowing something Of
the wonderful resources of this coun-
try and it's unlimited possibilities, and
having in mind the peace-making and
MISUNDERSTANDING qualities of the
Anglo Saxon, and, looking forward to
the victory of the industrial over the
military type of civilization when
armies will be Idisbanded and swords
turned into plough-shares, said: SIT
we are going to leave the historic past
and present and take our manifest
destiny into the account, why restrict
ourselves within the narrow limits
assigned by u fellow countryman
who has just sat DOWN. I give you
! the United States, bounded on the
north by the Aurora Borealis, on the
south by the Procession OF the Equi-
noxes, on the east by the Primeval
Chaos and on the west by the Day Of
Judgment"
!. 1 offer this anecdote as illustrating
the condition of the American mind
at this time a to the future of oul
country.
HON. JOHN M. BARKER's ADDRESS IN
BRIEF.
n Among other things, Hon. j. NJ,
. Barker, OF Mexico, said:
81 am not a politician and therefore
I shall talk mostly of the present, tina,
which you and I are thinking about
i, the war with Spain and our future
not as Republicans, Democrats Oh
, Populists, but as Americans.
ssThe Spanish have never been ouI