The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-07
DANGER FROM THE BEAR
AMERICA AND ENGLAND MUST STAND
AGAINST RUSSIA.
william Dudley FOuIke Speaks of
Coming Contest Between Sax
ON and SIav.

William Dudley Foulke, of Richmond, yes
terday spoke to a large audience at the
Progress Club on the subject Of Our For
eign Policy" Said he:
Times change and we change with them.
If eight months ago the proposition had
been made for the United States to acquire
dominion over the territory we already oc-
cupy, it would have met general dsapproval.
But the progress of events has changed
greatly our point of view Hawaii is now
a part of the American Republic. Porto
Rico and the smaller islands of the Spanish
Antilles are virtually annexed. One OF the
Ladrones has been bargained for. Our pro-
tectorate over Cuba is definitely settled. The
policy of isolation recommended by WASH
ington has already been abandoned and 1t
is from this point that we must begin our
discussion. In regard to Cuba no one pro-
poses to annex it except upon demand of
the inhabitants, but the people of Cuba are
sure to demand it; the Spaniards will seek
it as the best security against Cuban re-
prisals; the owners of property will seek it
as the best protection for their property; all
who desire peace and prosperity are sure
to betake themselves to our strong arm as
the only refuge from anarchy and ceaseless
disorders.
1.-THE question of the hour, however, is, do
we approve of the American demand for the
Philippines? We cannot go back now and
discuss the rightfulness of the war. 1t had
to be waged against all Spanish possessions
wherever found and our possession of Porto
Rico, the Ladrones and the Philippines is
justified by international usage. We have
the right to retain them if we see fit to do
so. 1t is said we promised when the war be-
hal wa mt
tory by conquest from Spain. The resolu-
ton Of Congress declared that it was not
our intention to annex Cuba, and although
Porto Rico, the LadroneS and the Philip
pines were not embraced in the resolution,
it is insisted that they were within its spr-
it; that we intended to declare that our
purpose was not the acquisition OF terri
tory and we would not take from Spain any
of her possessions. Such is not the usual
rule for the construction of language like
that of the resolution of Congress. The fact
that Cuba alone was mentioned would indl-
cate that the other possessions of Spain
were to follow the usual fortunes of war.
But the question is not what we have a
right to do, but what it is our duty to do.
To whom do we owe the duty? Not to the
Spanish government which merely held the
people and land in a trust which was con-
stantly violated but toward the inhabitants
of the possessions, the victims of tyranny
and corruption. We have now, by the acct
dent of war. taken possession of these ISL
andS and the right and wrong of the ques-
ton is not toward the former sovereign,
but toward the people, who are now sub
ject to our control The moral quality OF
our act in keeping or renouncing these ISL
andS is to be judged, not by what the world
! will think of us, but by our actual motives
| and the results which will follow our action.
doubt sovereignty
| England or the United States would be bet
! ter than any other, as they are the only
oughly understood. England and the United
| States are two warm friends, ana England
is the one country of the old world which Is
| capable of recognizing our motives for the
| struggle. Now is the golden moment to see
| that those ties become permanent. Inc
continent of Europe has no sympathy with
the aspirations of America. The final SUI
| premacy Of our form of government, ana or
| liberty itself, is seriously menaced by the
| growth of another great power which
stands for retrogression, ignorance, 9rbi-
trary authority, superstition and the In
nuences whlcn MAKE mahHu 5Se
| America, England and Russia. All nave I'M
| limited facilities for growth and inherent
capacity for colonization. Russia possesses
| to-day nearly one-sixth of the land of the
entire world, is constantly growing ny con-
quest and colonization, and is Larger than
| any other country that exists to-day, or has
| ever existed In it are some eighty different
races, and history shows us that compound
races of this description are the strongest
| and best. What would be the consequence
of Russian supremacy? The history of the
nation is @ gloomy one, and the growth OF
| Russia has been the growth of all that we
| detest. On the one side stands autocracy,
| ignorance and slavery, and on the other a
free press, self4government, individualism
| and the blessings of the highest form OF in
| dustrial civilization. In the coming contest
! between the Slav and the Saxon for su-
premacy America and England must stand
side by side. In their unity there is nothing
| to fear for the future of mankind, but d.
] vided the whole world may well fall a prey
to schemes Of imperial domain. Now is the
! golden opportunity; now while the American
people realize that they have in the people
| of England not only their closest kindred,
but their truest friends. Now is the time to
bind permanently the ties which unite us to
the mother country Now is the time to
extend our influence throughout the East by
the possession of the Philippines. Now is
the time to be true to our mission for the
propagation of liberty throughout the
| world Let us knit so closely our union
with the other great leader. of modern civil
| iZation that no past prejudices nor resent
ments and no intrigues of imperial courts
shall ever divide the bond which joins to-
| gether the destinies of these two great
| aDOStleS of freedom to mankind