The Saint Paul globe., 1898-10-23
AGAINST EXPANSION.
President Gilman, of Johns Hop
kfns, Opposes a Colonial Policy.

hins, opposes a Colonial Policy.
PRINCETON, N. j., Oct 22.-Prince-
ton university celebrated it's 152d ami
versary today with appropriate cere-
monies. An imposing academy pro-
cession in which appeared ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland A. Taylor
Payne. William Milligan Sloane and
other men of national reputation pass
ed from the library to Alexander hail.
Where the exercises were held The
ceremonies were very simple, and after
bflef review of the events which af-
Iofd the occasion and a reference to
Ihe proposed graduates school, Presi-
dent Patton introduced as the guest
or honor, President Gilman, of Johns
HOPKINS university. He addressed the
assembly on the theme: Books and
Politics in part as follows
am not an imperialist, an expan-
slonlst. nor a jingo. 1 belong to a class
OF citizens who dread revolution. trust
experience and are established by in
herl6ance, training and reflection in the
Dellef that the freedom of this country
from foreign entanglements has Sc
cureo 1t peace and plenty and is the
OASIS OF its hope and faith. feel now
as l felt in June, that it is safer to
walk walk In the footsteps of the fathers
IMAM 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
fest by the newspapers, expressed bv
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
the constitution of the United States
was adopted-reconstruc perhaps,
excepted, though of this 1 am not
sure. Such a state of affairs was not
fCretold by optimistic or pessimistic
prophecy The political results as dis
tinguished from the military and ma
val have been adverse TO the wishes,
arguments and anticipations of con-
servative 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, $685. at the declara-
tion of war with Spain.
"Whatever we may think of the an
neXatiOn of Hawaii or the value OF
Porto HSico or of the wisdom of the re-
cent war, or Of it's necessity, or of the
terms of 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 deceit-With which we shall have
many rude encounter before we pre-
vail. " Here we are:
The question is how best to use the
q n u = s<NfD
OF mankind. The Chinese policy is to
remain shut up within a wall, repel
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 secIu-
sion and be contented with coaling sta
ttons, or shall they ablish 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 it was the making of Phoe-
nlcla. International trade is the busi-
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 SpOiIS on the
unsophisticated and unwary. I dread
the conflict. Nevertheless, I believe
that the American people, through their
errors perplexities and sins will rise to
the situation before them and will sue
ceed in carrying to distant lands the
benefits of liberty, order and law; and