The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09

who passed his time in sounding public
opinion and guessing at its future orienta-
ton. Il abhor war;, he wrote. Il would
not give one single human life for any por-
ton OF the continent which remains to be
annexed; but ] cannot get rid of the convic-
ton that popular passion for territorial ag-
grandizement is irresistible. Prudence JUS
tlce and, even timidity may restrain it for a
time. but its force will be augmented by
compression.
Half a century passed before the explo-
sion occurred. We have just witnessed the
first forced liquidation. Whose turn next?
Let us suppose that this preliminary OPP
Grafton should be ended Then, willingly or
forcihiy. according to the known formula.
America must belong to Americans. The
fill its mission. That mission consists of
stretching out it's civilization toward the
west across the Pacific toward Asia By
chance or by secret law of nature the
great invasons of history always moved
from the east to the west. The immense
American nation will follow the eternal
route of humanity; it will advance toward
the setting sum- like the barbarianS of old,
the Mongolians, the Arabs and the Turks.
II Will advance as pest IT can, , put 1t VIII
lis destined to roll in irresistible waves to
the icebound barriers of the north. and to
meet Oriental civilization on the shores of
the Pacific"
WILL REACH ASIA.
The American will reach Asia. Seward
foretold that he would meet the Chinese
and Kamucks upon the coasts of the yellow
continent He spoke like a prophet of what
the American advance guard would meet.
Looking toward the northwest" he said,
II see the Russian busily engaged; he works
with energy building bridges, towns and
Notifications on the borders of this CONT
nent to be the outposts of st. Petersburg.
And | say, Go ahead; continue; build your
outposts all along the coast; they will be-
come the outpostS of my country, the mon
uments of civilization of the United States
in the northwest
The American incoming tide is bound to
roll into Asia. 1t will neither stop nor turn
it will advance intiexibly until it reaches
the civilization of the west Russia appar
emily being counted among the Oriental en-
pires.
Everybody knows that mysticism and
practical common sense often dwell to-
gether in harmony lllustriouS and. striking
of the saints. Seward only furnishes an
other example. That statesman, so prac-
tical and so unrestrained, spoke mysticaly
of the roe of the United States in the life
of humanity. One speech that he made in
Washington before the Senate In 1852 or
thereabouts, is extremely curious. The
question was upon American commerce in
the Pacific. Seward addressed the Senate
as follows: THE discovery of this CONT
nent and Of those islands and the organiza-
ton upon their soil of societies and govern
ments have been great and important
events. After all. they are merely prelimi-
narieS, a preparation by secondary Incl
dents. in comparison with the sublime re-
suit which is about to be contaminated
the junction of the two civilizations upon
the coast and in the islands of the Pacific.
There certainly never happened upon this
earth any purely human event which is
comparable to that in grandeur and in i'm
portance. 1t will be followed by the level
ing of social conditions and by the re-estab-
lisnment of the urity of the human family.
We now see clearly why it did not come
about sooner and why it is coming now"
AS a matter Of fact it is very clear
America must take time to grid her loins
and to take up her club; in other words,
to be ready to impose her mission by force
when persuasion will not be sufficient The
events in the Philippines are the prologue
of the grand march toward the west.
And when the Americans shall have re-
joined Europe in some portion of Asia and
closed the ring of white civilization around
the globe, will they stop or can they stop?
That is the secret of the future. Its solu-
ton will depend upon what they will find
before then-a Europe torn and divided or
as it has been said, the United States of
Europe. AT all events, they will have the
right to be proud, because they will have
carried out their destiny