The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
VIGOROUS FOREIGN POLICY.
Rev. j. Cumming Smith Speaks for
One.


The following is an extract from the SER
mon Of Rev. J. Cumming Smith, of Taber-
nacle Church. delivered yesterday. His text
was from Romans, XIV, 1:
1.-THE hour is ripe for well-weighed pro-
gressivism,' he said. 1.-THE argument that
we have prospered under a traditional
business policy and should
therefore never coutgrow-s or, enlarge it is
suicidal suggestion BY parity of reason
the fat babe that throve on milk should
never leave that diet, or the shrewd trader
who made money in a small store should
never aspire to manage an emporium. A
policy which shuts an empire in upon itself
means eventually decadent power and an
ebbing national life. Growth means an
open affiIiaton with others and a reciproci-
ty of interests. We are grateful for the
brilliant successes scored by our army and
fleet. Our enthusiasm cannot blind the eye
of craftsmanship to the necessary obliga-
tons which emerge from cur victories We
embarked upon the war disclaiming any de-
sire to annex Cuba. We must allow no
easy evasion of that dsavowal to stain
our laurels. Our Nation must tower for
honorable attitudes But equally must our
Nation repudate the charge of shooting
down the bear. but leaving the carcass to
rot on another mans farm. To drive out
Spain from Cuba is but half the problem.
To shatter manacless without instilling
principles which alone can guard against
internal tyrannies worse than Spain, to
claim a cheap glory for setting slaves free
While leaving them dwarfs, is the most
scandalous course conceivable. We are no
zealots for augmenting our domain, already
spacious and opulent with resources. But
we argue that to set free any race made
weak by long miSrule and then tax them
with the framing OF a new firm government
IS like rescuing poor wretch who has long
starve on. the beach. 1t is like putting
up a reformatory and then asking the
riotous inmates to manage the institution.
Gallant as are the insurgents, in motive
at least. are they fit for the high art of
government? Enticng as Cuba Is for cap
ital, is any investment secure under a de-
original promise to other powers when we
resolve to hold Cuba till Cuba is fit to hold
her own. Our fallen but unforgotten
braves make this demand imperative. A
new party may rise out of this crisis and
reorganize some traditions already too
moldy. We Americans. are apt to stand
too much before the mirror. We forget
too often that history has never favored
one race taking the lead alone and thus
choking the chance of rivalry. 1t is our
duty to recognize splendid competitors
across two seas and nurse large spirit
that looks TO alliances for extending the
best ideas. The front yard should always
are best only because they live out the
best ideas They ought therefore to league
and bend the worst races to the best yokes.
OF course this will involve us in some in
conveniences. but anything worth anything
costs something worth something. And
we owe to all those ideas which alone have
brought US to the front to sow the secrets
of our superiority in other soils. 7 believe
that our farslghted American wisdom will
go outdoors more and champion vigorous
foreign policy, even if it should mean ship
wreck of some of our parties"