The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-06
SMITH On EXPANSION
Address of the Postmaster
General at Omaha
TO THE PENNSYLVANIANS
Makes 1t a Question of Com
merCiaI Necessities.

!
auditorium General Charles P. Mander-
son welcomed the visitors and was re-
sponded to by John w. Woodside of
Pennsylvania, chairman of the state COM
mission He introduced Postmaster Cen
eral Charles Emory Smith, who spoke as
follows:
eve have moved during the past six
months IN the swift current OF stupendous
events which recast the maps and spanned
| the wide horizon. We have just emerged
triumphant from short but crucial and
momentuous war, which has carried for
ward history and unveiled destiny. The
/ halo it has shed on American arms and the
/ glory with which it has exalted the Amer
/ lean name Ill US with just pride and ex-
! ultatOn. Reluctantly accepted by the
president only under the supreme man
| date of humanity and justice, once under
/ taken the unerring surenesss of its aim.
the unfaltering vigor of our direction and
! the unbroken swoOp of its success stand
unmatched on the pages of war. The re-
nown Of the American navy, always brill
liant and never equaIled, man for man and
gun for gun, was sustained and enhanced
in every clash Of the struggle. An army
of a quarter Of a million men was sum-
I moned from the ranks of citizenship. or
ganized, equipped and made ready for ac-
ton. Every soldier who fought was trans
ported beyond the deep. The whole scene
Of the war was on foreign soil and in
tropical cline, under burning skies and
and drenching torrents, with the blight of
fever and the danger of pestilence. In the
face Of such difficulties what a swift and
wonderful triumph
With our monumental victory we face a
new epoch in the history OF the republic.
We come to a broader outlook, whose deep
import it is well for US to consider. The
world knows our ampler reach and our
larger destiny and we feel It. No true
American can be insensible to the increas-
ed respect for our country and to the high
er conception of its mission which the
marvellous revelations Of this war have
inspired in all lands. The enbattled farm
ers al Lexington fired the shot round the
world; and not less distinctly and slgnlf1-
cantly did the opening shot of this war
under the glittering consultations of the
Orient resOund in every capital of the globe
and awaken a new understanding OF Am
eriCa's onward movement. It is recognized
that uhe United States advances to its
place as one of the great world powers,
and whatever may be our wise policy,
whatever may be the measure of our just
restraint or our legitimate ambition, no
American can fail to feel an honorable
pride in the new distinction and the new
consideration, never before approached,
which American herOism and American
craftsmanship have brought to our repub-
lie.
The worlds acknowledged tribute is he
measure of its estimate Of the potency Ct
our new position Onr use of that posi-
ton viii be the measure Of our wisdom
and rulership. Equal to every crisis in he
past, we shall deal with this new en:er-
gency in the true American spirit It makes
US responsible for Cuba. It gives US Porto
Rico 1t plants our outpost on the far
Their side Of the globe. Whatever we hold,
whether it he more or less, will he held
not for territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but
solely in acceptance of responsibilities
which Providence has laid upon US
Men lightly talk of imperialism" Our
Imperialism is not territorial lust hut be-
nignant trade expansion and cfvilzng in
fluence. and our flag is at Manila, not IN
any spirit of spoilation. not in either tie
gretd or the glory OF conquest, but, let it
be reverenuv said under the controlling
force of a Providential guidance. at the
ripe hour in the development of require
ments Of our national growth.
1T is treated in many quarters simply
as question OF territorial expansion. but
that is a secondary and incidental consid-
GRAFTON. The great and overshadowing
question is one Of commercial openings
The heart Of the issue Is not mere terri
tory but trade necessities and facilities.
Beyond and behind and beneath this de-
parture lies the broad problem Of Ameri-
cas- destiny in the commerce and civili-
cation Of the world.
IF we are TO fulfill that destiny we must
have commercial expansion. and It Is a
profoundly significant fact which shows
guiding hand that ovcrrules the will of
man. that this war should have came lust
as this great necessity begins TO be real
lied. The opportunity matchts the need.
The elevation of the nited States to a new
rank among the nations. the universal ac-
ceptance of its obligation to stretch forth
its c.vilizing hand where the fate Of war
has carried IT. the fortunate possession OF
an established emporium in the very the
atre % the worlds seeking. have brought
the occasion and the duty together. Is il
not for enlightened American statesman
ship. watchful Of American interests. TO
use the opportunity. not in territorial avar-
ice but for commercial extension and civil
izing influence IN the Orient with the base
ana the bulwark that are needed for its
support?
Shall We be worthy Of this high miSsion9
I have fun faith in my. countrymen. I be-
lieye in the spirit and capacity Of the AM
erican people. This war and its tremen-
dous questions have given Us a new eIe-
! walton and Nightly and purpose. How it
has dwarfed ana diminished our domestic
differences and our petty contentious,
How it has kindlei the patriotic fires and
/ quiCkened she true nationa, instinct, How
I i; has lifted us % q higher plane OF public
( consciousness and 10 a broader view Of
f national greatness, II the large work b.
+ fore Us OF governing and developing our
( new possessions. q amelioratin- and af-
/ vancinS the condition Of the new peoples
who have been brought under the protec-
/ ting folds Of our flag. and Of achieving the
/ fuilneSs Of the new possibilities within our
gras7. there Is call fo- all that IS best in
our American courage and craftsmanship
! and character.
There is call for thoughtful oouscien-
tious and patriotic devotion or the part
! OF the peop.e. IN dealing with these srea,
J