New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-07
A CREED OF SELFIsHNESs.
THE UNITED STATES AND The DUTIES OF
THE PRESENT SITUATION.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: One column in your issue of to-day Is
sufficient Of itself to furnish food for serious re-
Election. refer 10 that which contains extracts
from Mr.. Hoars speech and Mr.. Carnegies let
ter In the sentiments as expressed in these
two communications there can be traced the
formula Of a creed Of National sehshness.
To gorern these conquered islands; to infuse
into these released peoples enlightened ideas Of
justice, freedom, responsibility. patriotism; TO
teach them the trIe value Of law and order; 70
add to their material prosperity, opening up TO
them the avenues OF commerce and trade; 70
raise them by means Of education and direct
contact with an advanced civilization TO q
higher moral outlook is the work to be under
taken by the United States II she accepts the re
sponsibilities Of the war which she undertook
for purposes Of humanity" Can she refuse to
accep. the responsibility account Of the cost
Mr. Hoar saws he us not dazzleJ by the ex
ample Of England" Then his sight should be
the clearer TO enable him 10 perceive the true
proportions Of the work England has done under
similar circumstances No better object-lesson
could well be given than is presented in the con
dition of Egypt to-day compared with that
which existed when the guns Of the British
fleet were turned upon Alexandria
Shall not such result moral and material
outweigh thousand times even the losses Of
the many noble lives freely given as the price OF
such blessincss If he who makes two blades
Of grass TO grow where only one grew before be
one If the greatest benefactors Of mankind
how has the world been enriched by the efforts
which have transformed desert into fertile
fields There is great deal said and written
about the difficulties which the Constitution
%
knows infinitely more about that than do. but
nineteenth century laws are not those Of the
Medes and Persians. If a constitution be found
70 hammer a nation in the fulflment of a lofty
entarrrise or a manifest obligation. then surely
II is M longer adequate for the exigencies OF
nations development and calls for such amend
nent as the need Of a great free people shall
voice
AS to the glorious record the light that
has broken" which furnish Mr.. Carnegie with
such keynote Of jubilation. should think the
less said about them the better. Soldiers VINO
volunteer DO 1t presumably, in order to serve
their country. but they must have an extraordl-
nary idea Of the Just elements OF military SER
vice when they hold meetings with INCREASES
and wherefores and hereby resolved" and with
out officers, for the purpose Of defining What
duties they wish to perform and what not Is
garrison duty less a duty than meeting the
enemy IN open fight? Is the soldier who STANDS
guard while civil forces bring order out Of chaos
freedom out Of slavery and health from weak
ness and decay, less soldier than he who al
the point of the bayonet drives out the enemy
from his stronghold? Can Mr.. Carnegie, any
more than l. say which better serves the cause
OF humanity?
Il is not wise TO minimize the difficulties sur
roun ling the question Of colonial expansion for
this country The Administration called upon 70
solve such problem has need, indeed. OF all its
wisdom 1t must look back with thoughtful eye
through the worlds colonial history and forward
wi h keenest insight into the labyrinth OF po-
ltiCal compiled ton. But what nation ever grew
great who built unto herself lordly treasure
house" to dwell therein Shall a nation whose
history brief in years, IL long in achieve
ments in progress and civilization in conquests
Of mind over material forces, in extent Of po-
ntical growth and develOpment-shall such a
ration draw back overawed by the magnitude
of the task or dismayed by the cost OF its own
greatness?
II Mr. Carnegie loves truly the Republic Of his
adoption let him change his pfean OF praise for
volunteers who recoil from the fulhlment OF a
duty which is WearsOme. his jubant satisfac-
tion in the thought that II the President calls
Tor volunteers to put down insurgents he will
not get them" TO a prayer that when that Rel jb-
lie is graphing with mOmentous issues every
SON Of hers shall be ready TO lay at her feet an
ungtinted and unquestoning loyalty, devotion
and heart whole service. A NJ. -.
N,.,v- Work Nov. 3 1888