The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-28
WAR AND IT'S LESSONS
SENATOR DAVIS DISCUSSES BRIT
AIMS FRIENDLY OvERTURES.
Speech at the Laying of the Corner
&ystone of Minnesota's New Capt.
colour Great Victories.

ST PAUL, July 2.--With great ceremony
in the presence of an immense concourse
of people this afternoon Hon. Alexander
Ramsey territorial Governor. only survivor
of the famous Union war governors, ex-
secretary of war, and ex-United States
Senator, laid the cornerstone of Mime
sota's new Capitol building in this city
This two-millon- dollar-building was de-
signed by Cass Gilbert, of ST.. Paul, an
architect well known all over the country,
and is being constructed of granite from
St. Cloud, with Georgia marble for super
structure and trimmings. Archbishop Ire
land prayed. The principal Grafton was de-
livered by United States Senator Cushman
K Davis, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations, and the bened1ction
was pronounceds by the venerable Bishop
Whipple, of the Episcopal Church. In the
course of his address Senator Davis said:
1T was not until very recently that Great
Britain and the United States looked each
other in the face with any sign of recogni-
tiol of their political relationship. 1t Is
-pell for them for civilization, for national
irtts pendence and for personal freedom that
they have begun to do So The isolation of
England from the other states of Europe is
manifest Her isolation from the United
States has always existed and principally
as the result of petty differences as to boun-
daries. fisheries, sterile treaties and small
conflicting policies in other respects. The
United States has been isolated by a special
policy and by its geographical position.
This coalescence of nationalities has
been accompanied by vast territorial ac-
QUESTION by the European states by when
the continent of Africa has been partitioned
among them. The general direction of this
movement in Africa is toward the Orient
1t is not necessary to elaborate upon the in
terests of the United States in the present
and prospective situation. The maritime,
commercial and political genius of the
American people will not permit their gov
eminent to be indifferent to them. 1t Will
not suffer the United States to be made
1emains and cnmprehends the commercial
and all other subjects. What ACTON py tne
United States do its peace ana s are ,p ret
sdvanfa geous results of these new interna-
tionaI relations and adjustment?
PREGNANT WITH WARS.
1.-THE situation in the Chinese Orient is
pregnant with wars, and wars in these days
of fleets built of steel and driven by steam
are different from those of the times OF
wooden bulls and sails. There is not a
habitable spot on the earth's surface too
remote OF SecluuGQ VI lOO SlAOhS ~ NC ca
empt from the attackc of rapacious and
INSCRIPTIONS military and naval powers.
All of history is false, or this is true. that
such wars are inevitable. The arena has
been enormously extended. The recent ag
gressions by the powers of Europe upon
China. were acts of war. 1t is not long
since, the war between Japan and emma
ended by depTiving the latter power of her
fleet, by compelling her TO pay an enormous
indemnity and Professionally to cede por-
ton OF neT ter1torg OF Ine q WHICH
Japan was In her turn deprived by the
duress of Russia and Germany. only TO see
Russia substantially acquire the same ter
ritory and Germany make a compensatory
seizure near by.
Next to China. the Pacific possessions of
the United States are the most inviting OBJ
jects of attack Under existing conditions
their defense would be difficult Had Spain
triumphed at Manila as decisively as did
the United States, her navy could have
seized Honolulu and have operated from
there upon the entire coast Of the United
overpoweTng European force in the Asiatic
waters could do the same thing; so could
THE situation is plainly one of alterna-
tives. The United States must become an
efficient element in the Asiatic situation or
It must entirely abstain from any partici-
patton in 1t, return to its own shores and
cover the smallest possible share of its
commercial advantages and prepare for its
own defense against the same aggreSSionS
which have reduced China to her present
condition. 1t may be objected that all this
Is without precedent. So il is but all great
human evolutions must precede precedents
In order to create them.
THE present war has restored confidence
to those who fearedAthat the spirit of our
people and their patriotism had been ener-
waited by long and prosperous peace.
1T is now manifest that the United States
will be at the conclusion of this war great
and actual naval and military power. Many
thousands OF her citizens will be trained TO
modern warfare on land and sea. The mill
tary spirit has inspired the people. They
have been raised to a higher plane of pa
triotism. The additions to our fleet have
been very considerable and that fleet
will never be less. The appropriations for
its increase. already liberal. will continue