The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-24
America in One Year Has Become The
Greatest Of Nations.
HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY THE SUPREME
To be Foremost in All Work to Redeem
the World from Mediaeval Meth
ods, and Is Well Perform
ing the Part.

Buffalo, N. Y, December 23.-The Inde-
pendent club had as its guest this evening
the Hon. Chauncey M Depew. The -fea-
ture of the banquet rooms decorations was
lne handsome INTERVENING of the stars and
stripes and the union jack.
A letter of regret from ex-senator D. b.
Hill was read, in which he referred to the
guest of the evening as "our mutual
friend, soon to be United States senator
from the Empire State" Mr.. Hills letter
was received with hearty applause, as was
Mr.. Depew, who was introduced moment
later Mr.. Depew took for his theme,
1888" He said in part:
1--WE face this Chrstmastide questions
as vital to our country as many in the
past, that have been met and successfully
answered. The federation of Washington
In 1898 has developed into the United
States of 1898, with that inherent power
which is always attached to national So
ciety. of acquiring territory by conquest
or cession. No national lawyer will doubt
this power. l do not think any body OF
constitutional lawyers will doubt that
among the reserved powers of society
winch belong to us as nation is the right
to administer the affairs of territories ac-
quired by conquest or by cession, under
such form of government as congress and
the president may prescribe. But to great
numbers OF wise and good people to govern
any of the possessions of the United States
except as the people should govern them
selves seems Illogical and contrary to the
doctrine of independence and the constitu-
ton of the United setats.
A War for Humanity
providence in the wise purposes which 1t
has s3f nations, makes the precedents and
cond tions from which alone the logic of
those conditions can be argued. We make
war against a foreign power and for the
first time in the history of the world sole
ly for humanity. The world cannot under
stand and the world stands by to sneer and
scoff. To maintain order in Cuba until her
people shall be able to maintain stable
government of liberty and law is humanity.
To incorporate Porto Rico in our domain, re-
lieve it's citizens from oppression and give
them good government is humanity. To
permit the bloody hand of Spain to again
grasp the throats of ten millions of Fill
pinos, or to pass them over to the tender
mercies of European governments would
be inhuman and eowardly; it would be re-
fusing the mission which providence has
distinctly forced upon us.
1--WE must judge of the future of these
possessions not by the oppression which
they have suffered, but by the liberty which
they will enjoy. General Wood, governing
the province of Santiago, gives object
In, A lou
tunity The most unsettled province in
Cuba resumes all the arts of peace, as its
people understand that they are to be pro-
tected in their persons and property and
that as fast as they demonstrate capacity
for self-government they will be advanced
to position in the civil and military serv-
ice.
VIII be Easily Governed
1--WE have the opinion of Dewey, one of
the greatest men whom this war has de-
velopel, and of General Merritt, a wise OBJ
server, that when the inhabitants of the
Philippine Islands appreciate what Ameri-
can protection and law mean, they will be-
come one of the most obedient law-abiding
and productive populations in the world.
1.-THE vast trade of Cuba, which heretofore
went to Spain and to Europe. will now
come to us and be enormously increased by
Americans who will flock there with capital
and energy. The development of the island
viii nseessariy be by leaps and bounds, be-
cause it deserves by it's location. its climate
and the richness of it's soil its mineral pos
sessions and its forests it's title of the Gem
of the Antilles
s'The $34, 900 600 of exports from Porto Rico,
of which all but $4,000 600 have gone to Spain,
will now come to us enhanced many fold
by American enterprise and immigration.
sThe Philippines to the United States like
Java. to Holland, under the inspiring infu,
ences of American opportunity. of American
schools and American hope will be an i'm
mense market and large source of revenue
over and above the cost of administration
for the United States
Will Not be Withdrawn
''Our government firmly planted, will not
only enter the open door of the Orient for
the products of our fields and our factories,
but when the great boot of Uncle Sam is
put in the crack of the door which con-
tinental nations would close, there will be
no musket jammed upon that boot to com
pei its withdrawal.
1.-THE year 1898 has biven to the American
people an exaltation of patriotic fury and
fervor to relieve the suffer'ngs of an op-
pressed and neighboring people. The mar
velous victories of our navy and army con-
densing into hundred days the struggle of
a hundred years for the overthrow of the
colonial tyranny of Spain, have spiritualiznd
us with that fire of brain and blood which
came to the Greeks after Marathon. to the
English after Agincourt to Americans after
the battle of Santiago. In 1898 we have be-
comes citizens of the world. We have be-
come the foremost people. The boy at
school has been wont for half century to
-. ta nth xuo,,dar a nd hat breath DAN