The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-22
DANGER OF IMPERIALISM
GROVER CLEvELAND's AD-
DRESS TO STUDENTS
Thoughtful Statesman-War u
Terrible Expedient, Though
Value of Peace-Young Men
Warned.

Cleveland delivered the annual Found
er's day address of the commencement
exercises of the Lawrenceville school
here today His address was entitled
Good Citizenship" and in the course
of his remarks he said:
| THE American people are tempted every
| day and every hour to abandon their ac-
customed way and enter upon a course OF
new and strange adventure. Never before in
our history have we been beset with tempta-
tons SO dangerous as those which now VIII s.
| per in our ears alluring words of conquest
bright in the glory OF war. | once saw a
| very useful book entitled Don't 1t con-
tanned statement OF numerous things viii h
| should not be done. l am inclined to adopt
| the pan Of this book to the extent Of eau
tioning you against the imperfect ideas CT
gcivlc duty and warn ycu against certain dan
| OF true American citizenship and which, es-
pecially at this particular time, seem to l 9
IN wait for US on every side
DANGERS OF IMPERIALISM
Continuing he said: You will probably
De led by your reflect ons and studies to the
CONCLUSION that our government forme d
for the express purpo,e of crea ing in new
world new nation, The foundation of which
s should be mans self-government who
absolute freedom from old world compl :
cations and in It's denunciation of schemes
Of foreign conquest and whose object should
De the subjection to civilization aid Industry
OF the vast domain in which it has taken
root. II you believe in these thing; do net
permit any question of ultra conservatism to
trouble you II then the suggestion is made
that the time has come for our nation to
abandon its old landmarks and to follow the
lleh.s OF monarchial hazards and that we
snould attempt to apply the simple ma
| tS'Aery or our popular and domestic govern
ment to serve the schemes OF imperialism
your enallenge OF the proposition is entirely
conquest and unnatural extension or annex
atlon are dangerous pervers ions of our ma
T. o. Ia missions, and If it shall seem to you
IN the Hght of reason ard history that sich
per'ersions bring in their train a PEOPLES
aelnoraIizat1on and decay of popular en-
J nnhI I'm more surely destructive to the re-
not necessarily be wrong
VALUE OF PEACE.
With our first century's tremendous
CROWN and advancement before your evas
DIS PROOF OF the strength and consistency q
Aherlcanlsm, you Will find in the beginning
Vi our second Century proof of the abund-
ance OF our domain in millions of acres of
government territory still unoccupied In
s sieM or enese things and considering our
inc future, recalling what we have done aud
WHAT we nave been and what vet remains
lor us to 90 under the guidance of rules and
motives which have thus far governed orr
national life you surely are entitled ~ a.
mahd the best of reasons for CHI NOE in
our policy and action and expect sufficient
reason OF the conditions which make our ac
1us.1h Oh new and els ant territory ether
Justinaoie, prudent or necessary. Pc. haps
you should be satisfied with the excuse thet
such acquisition is necessary by Wav of war
l aLfa preparation or precaution. This, how
ever Will Immediately suggest to YOU that
we have found heretofore a constant sonr-e
OF congfatuiation that the contemp, alton of
war ara It's contingencies, as is not and should
not De FAMILIAR to our ordinary national NE.
stahulng military establishment and war]iSe
precautions are not among the needs of the
Eeople whose victories are those OF ne7ce ans
W Miiose immunity from armed conflict is found
~ tnelr freedom from the foreign relation shin
that give birth to war and through if has
peen abundantly demonstrated that the corr
age and splendid fighting qualities of orr
:, ~ ., VIII never fail in time of need,
IL IS SUI! grave question whether the cheaD-
enlng OF our estimate of the value of ne,c.
ny dwelling upon war and warlike prerara-
tlons is calculated to improve the quality of
our national character.
These considerations naturally lead me tn
counsel you against allowing the bright dress
and gay trappings which war puts on to dis
tract your attention from true American c.ti-
zehshlp. The result of such diversion NAV
result from our admiration of deeds of yalor
winch is a national characteristic or from
fne Iascnaon OF dangerous adventure
19uno without bravery, or from the love OF
glory and successful battle, which is almost
an impulse of humanity or from tendency
70 TO-, comDatlveness, which. not altogether low
aple anc amlable, is regarded by genuine
Americans with delight and benevolence. I
is difficult to discuss the war at this time
ana ana avoid Misrepresentation and misconcep-
ton, But we are considering Am rican citl-
zenship and endeavoring to find its best and
most elevating characteristics, and how thsy
can De most effectively, cultivated and adj
vanced- From this standpoint war is a thing
which we should shun and avoid as antag-
onlstic to the objects of cur national exist
enee, as threatening demoralizlt on to our
national character and as obstructive to our
national destiny. If you believe this YOU
should stand bravely for your belief. even
though shower of stupid calls may fill the
air. II, on account of this belief YOU are
called 'mlksops' and towards wanting
peace at any price, you will find yourselves
In splendid companionship.
WAR TERRIBLE THING.
TIE great American general of this coun-
try, after leading great armies to victory.
and after serving two terms as president,
said l never went into battle willingly or
with enthusiasm. l was always glad when
battle was over. l never want to see or
armies
When he wrote, Let us have peace he
gave to his countrymen of this g:nerat on
the most inspiring example of gentleness and
true American citizenship. When Sherman
marched to the sea- and had his STARE of
triumphs. he gave his description of it by
saying, War is hell
After Sheridan's dashing ride had been
sung and read about, he said: The more
L have seen OF war, the more l have &c spised
It, We are told that the brave1and gallant
Admiral Dewey, whose recent daring achieve
ments and successes in have added new
gories and luster to his country's name and
aroused the enthu siasm of every American.
while waiting in foreign port for the com
mand that sent him to the scene q his VIC
tory, wrote these words to his sister: But
after all war is a terrible thing and soms
way out of the dilemma NAV he found witho ~
resorting to It.
While thus suggesting to- you the forbid
ding traits Of war, should be guilty of an
attempt to mislead If I fail to promptly re-
mind you that there are conditions which not
only justify war, but make resort to it a
duty. No nation, however peacefully inclined
demonstrate that it will in no circumstances
engage In war. Bad it is, and deploraoIe
as Its incidents are, no government can re-
fuse war at the risk of imperilling It's inter
ests and sacrificing the rights and interests
1t holds in trust for its people, for humanity
and for civilization. OF course we cannot
be entirely exempt from the conditions which
may force nation into any more than
an individual can be exempt from the incl
dents that may force the most peaceful man
to personal encounter.
HOW TO AVOID WAR.
I'm view of such an unacceptable liability,
to be brought face to face with the cues ion
of war and in view Of wars real nature and
Its demoralizing effect upon national lie
and character We cannot fail to be mos.
seriously impressed by the reflection that we
have expressly authorized those to whom we
have entrusted our public affairs to Diet rhine
for US the momentoHs mission of peace or
and that If the determination be fer
war, our ready and unquestion acluiescence
becomes patriotism and the support OF our
countrys intention becomes good citizenship.
How. then, shall the people protect them
selves against the folly of departure from
their national purposes and against the
80