Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-15

every crisis in the past, we shall deal
weth this new emergency in the true
American spirit. 1t makes us respop.
sible for Cuba 1t gives us Porte
Rico. 1t plants our outpost on the
farther side OF the globe. Whatever
we hold, whether it be more or less,
will be held not for territorial aggran-
dizement. but solely in acceptance oil
responsibilities which Providence has
laid upon us. Men lightly talk Of
imperialism Our Imperialism is
not territorial lust, but benignant
trade expansion and civilizing inhu-
ence, and our flag is at Manila, not in
any spirit Of spoliatiou, not in either
the greed or the glory of conquest, but
let it be reverently said, under the
controlling force of Providential
guidance, at the ripe hour in the de
velopment and requirements OF our
national growth.
EXPANSION OF COMMERCE.
''For the condolences are clear and
unmistakable. This war came just at
the time when we needed broader
commercial scope and new outlets. 1t
came JUST at the time when all the
great powers are engaging in a keen,
vigilant and aggressive rivalry OF
trade opportunity and extension. 1t
came Just at the time when the an
Gent and colossal empire of China,
with a quarter of the worlds popula-
ton, is opening her doors. 1t came
just at the time when we were turning
our longing eyes across the Pacific for
a share of the trade and when we
needed a base of commercial enter
prize in the Orient. And the thunder
of our cannon at Manila, under the
sudden uplifting of veil which no
vision could have penetrated, gave us
in day the prestige, the position,
and the opportunity which years OF
ordinary history and endeavor would
never have brought.
"Our need today, like that Of hun
dred years ago, is for commercial out
let's, and it is for the descendants oil
our fathers to rise to our occasion and
duty as our fathers rose to theirs.
Trade follows the flag. Around the
waters of the Orient dwell more than
a quarter of the human race. Among
these ancient peoples there is agita-
ton and awakening. The old walls
of isolation and seclusion will be brok-
en- down, and in throwing off the
thraldom of ancient prescription and
primitive life there will be the invita-
ton and the inroad of civilizing in
struments and influences. We shall
enter into no struggle of imperial di-
vision, but why should we not share
the opening traffic of that vast region?
Why should not our mills use our
own cotton, now sent abroad, and
multiply our spindles in clothing
China? Why should we not furnish
her electric power and materials?
Why should we not join in laying the
rails OF the new lines Of communica-
ton that are to set her sluggish life
in notion Why should we not find
in the requirements of vast people
arousing from their ages of torpor one
of the openings that are needed for
our surplus manufactures?
PACIFIC IN OUR SPHERE.
"The Pacific is rightfully within
our commercial sphere. We hold one
shore and are nearest the other. Eu-
rope must cross two oceans to the
Orient and we but one. Why should
we not peacefully avail ourselves of
the commercial advantages within
our grasp? We have, besides, learn
ed the value and the needs of a navy.