The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-23
AGAINST EXPANSION.
PRESIDENT Gilman, of Johns Hop.
htns, Opposes IA Colonial Policy.

Hins, opposes IA Colonial Policy.
PRINCETON, N. J., Oct. 22.-Prince-
ton university celebrated it's 1920 ami
versary today with appropriate cere-
monies. An imposing academy pro-
cession in which appeared ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland A. Taylor
Fayne, William Milligan Sloane and
oIher men of national reputation pass
ed from the library to Alexander hall.
Where the exercises were held The
ceremonies were very simple, and after
a brief review OF the events which af-
tord the occasion and a reference to
the proposed graduates school, Presi-
dent Patton introduced as the guest
of honor, President Gilman, of Johns
hopkins university. He addressed the
assembly on the theme: Books and
Politics. in part as follows:
am not an imperalist, an expan-
slonlst. nor jingo. 1 belong to a class
OF citizens who dread revolution. trust
experience and are established by in
nertance, training and reflection in the
oellef that the freedom OF this country
Ircm foreign entanglements has Sc
cured 1t peace and plenty and is the
oasis of it's hope and faith [ feel now
as | felt in June, that it is safer to
walk in the footsteps of the fathers
than to enter upon the unblazoned
paths of the forest, which lead we
know not where.
Nevertheless, is it not apparent that
the events of 1898, following in quick
succession, like the bombs from the
tCrret of battleship, have changed
the outlook? If public opinion, mani
TEST by the newspapers, expressed by
speeches., pamphlets and resolutions
and presently to be formulated by con-
gress, demands that our acquisitions
remain our possession. the Americans
nave reached the most serious Difficult
ty In government that has arisen since
tne constitution of the United States
was adOpted-recOnStructi perhaps,
excepted, though of this 1 am not
sure. Such state of affairs was not
fCretold by optimistic or pessimistic
prophecy. The political results as dis
tlngulshed from the military and ma
val have been adverse TO the wishes,
arguments and anticipations of con-
serVatlVe men. But here we are, in
circumstances unforeseen when the
constitution was adopted. when the
farewell address was written or when
the Monroe doctrine was announced
or even in May, 1893, at the declara-
tlon OF war with Spain.
w hateVer we may think of the an
neXat1on Of Hawaii or the value of
Porto Rico or of the wisdom of the re-
Cent war, or of it's necessity, or of the
terms or the protocol or of the perplex-.
tiles in which this country is involved.
mere we are, face to face with new
problems, new responsibilities new op-
portunitieS. They are not ghosts and
specterS, which will vanish as we ap-
proach them; they are giants, tough
and grim, armed with clubs and full
OF deceft-With which we shall have
many rude encounter before we pre-
vail. Here we are:
The question is how best to use the
advantages of our position for the good
Of mankind. The Chinese policy is to
remain shut UP within a wall, repeI
all assault and refrain from interfer-
ence with the affairs of other people.
Snail the Americans, abandoning the
opportunities that have been placed in
their hands, maintain a similar seclu-
sion and be cOntented with coaling sta
tons, or shall they tablish themselves
as ciViliZing force in the Pacific? The
free and enlarged exchange Of the
products Of one cline or one state for
those OF another is among the highest
achievements of civilization. Commerce
has been the making of ENGLAND as
truly as 1T was the making of Phoe-
nicia. International trade is the bust
ness of the United States by which our
own welfare and the welfare Of all peo-
pie with whom we have to deal is pro-
NOTED. Let commerce be stopped, and
all the mechanism of modern society ia
brought to silence.
History warns us that in our new
career we may anticipate perplexities.
| embarrassments, blunders, a neglect of
the principles Of efficient civil service,
the rivalries Of churches, the wasteful
and perhaps fraudulent expenditure of
vast sums Of money and attempts to
engraft the system of spoils on the
unsophisticated and unwary 1 dread
the conflict. Nevertheless, believe
that the American people, through their
errors, perplexities and sins will rise to
/ the situation before them and will sue
coed in carrying to distant lands the
benefits Of liberty, order and law; and