The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-07
RmeriCa's Mission
for Civilization

From the New York Sun.
CD HE Hon. George T. Edmunds, for
merly and so long a senator OF
the United states from Vermont
III delivered an essay at Philadcl-
phia, on the Fourth, in which he
expressed strong misgivings regarding
the extension of our national domain
which will be the inevitable consequence
OF this war. II is needless to go over his
arguments carefully, for they are sub
stantially the same as those whose
dreary repetition during the Hawaiian
debate and since the triumph OF Dewey at
Manila has wearlcd the public so sadly.
They are, in brief. the old talk about the
natural unfitness of tropical peoples for
republican government. the terrible dan
ger TO our home institutions which would
be involved In the possession OF dis
tinct" territory, and the III opinion of
us which the world would have II a war
begun by us for the declared purpose of
freeing the Cuhans should be utilized to
secure territorial "aggrandizement."
90
In the first place, II Is a weak nation,
as 1t is a weak individual, that Is veered
from the pursuit of any course which
is desirable and requisite because of fear
of the opinion of somebody else. That
argument, accordingly, can be dismissed
at once as unworthy of discussion by
strong and self-reliant people. Actually,
moreover, we shall stand the better In
foreign opinion the more we govern our
conduct by common sense. and the less
we allow II to be influenced by merely
sentimental considerations such as those
upon which Mr.. Edmunds dwelt. The
purpose for which q war is waged and
the consequences actually proceeding
from 1t are usually at variance.
o
The climate of the islands we shall
frnt Gt,of ft, 10 ,nt -n fa
from that of our own gulf coast as to
cause any radical distinction in the char
acter of those regions uniting them in
trinsically for our form of government.
The application of that is not limited
by the thermometer. Under modern SAN
itation, as the best scientific opinion
holds, and as experience is proving in
actual results. the old danger to health
in the tropics has been eliminated. AS to
these islands being inhabited by alien
races, all races are represented in our
citizenship already. America is cosmo-
politan in its population, and it's func-
tion, performed so successfully hitherto,
has been to assimilate all through the
influence of our political institutions and
political methods.
Concerning the alleged danger of the
requirement of distinct" territory, has
not that argument been disposed of very
enectually by our experience during this
century? How about the Louisiana pur-
chase Florida, Texas. the conquests of
the Mexican war, and the purchase Of
Alaska? They were all "distinct" terri
| tory. in the sense that they were in
habited largely or solely by distinct
| races, were under different institutions,
and were far more remote in time from
our seat of national government than
are now the remotest possessions of
| To
pense for our sacrifices in this war. Mod
| ern science has neutralized time and dis
| tance, so that they are no longer ele-
ments in the political problem. Hawaii
will be brought into instant communica-
tion by cable with Washington, which
| Will be as near practically as New
| orleans or Galveston. Nor will Manila
be more remote as such communication
| with 1t Is established The West Indian
| Islands, of course, are at our very bor-
ders, even geographically; they belong
| naturally to, this continent
| Nor is there anything in the inference
| or Mr.. Edmunds that our territorial
| ACKNOWLEDGMENT as a consequence OF
this war will involve "a gross violation OF
| our principles of self-government Our
| territory has been quadrupled in area
| since we won our independence, by con.
| quest or purchase, and our further eX.
pansion will not be more contrary to our
| principles than was that aggrandizement
or earlier days. We have carried free.
dcm, self-government, education, ad.
Vancement in civilization, prosperity and
| happiness wherever we have gone in the
past, and they will go with us in this
| further expansion, and as a necessary
concomitant of it. We do not take away
liberty as we carry onward the flag: We
| confer liberty and all the highest bless
| lngS of civilization. Wo do not c,,h;,,
gate: we enfranchise. We shall carry tc
the West Indies the Philippines and the
Ladrones and the Carolines. it may be
the blessings of free and equal and stabl,
| government. Pest-ridden regions will h,
made healthful; natural resources will
be utilized fully for the first time; cruelty
VIII give place to Christian humanity
ana civilization will succeed barba ris m
All the inhabitants of those Islands
the whole world of civilization. will
proht by this national ACKNOWLEDGMENT
| of America.