The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-12

standing our wholesome reverence for
the fathers of the republic, that a
constitution and national policy adopt
ed by thirteen half-COnsulidated,
weak, rescued colonies glad to be- able
to Call their life their own. could not
be expected to hamper the greatest
nation i'm the world. And our cOnsti-
tuition has always contemplated its
own amendment and enlargement.
our constitution is a marvel and it is
marvel in nothing 50 much as i'm the
facility of its rigid lines to yield con-
tinuously to growth and expansion.
ENGLAND As AN EMPIRE.
We have no colonial policy. and
therefore have no colonial system; but
there is no reason why we should not
have both. England has nearly every
democratic privilege and nearly every
democratic ideal ard instinct that we
nave: anG yet sn, has the greatest
and best colonial system ever known.
it was bad enough. however, before
I England became truly democratic. 1t
became perfect only as England's
democracy grew. Athens, long ago.
was the home of democracy at the
time when she was the great mother
of widespread colonies. 1t is pro-
found error therefore to think demo-
cratic governments and democratic
peoples are unfit for colonial empire
for the greatest colonial successes are
the successes Of Gemocracies. And it
is 4 profound error to think a colo
nial government must be Il tyranny.
That was SPANS theory-and her
fatal error. IT is not England's the
ory. It certainly would not he ours.
Unquestonably the effect of an Amer
lean colonial system would be to put
a stop to the old-time. tyrannous, sell
fish, eXaCtinr theories and practices Of
colonial government.
And now let me point out what seems
TO me to be a measure of the Inevitable
expansion of our nation. The eXpan-
sion we are all thinking about-if we
consider the whole SUBJECTS not sim
ply territorial expansion of course, but
| International expansion too. We are
| confronted not alone by increase Of ter
| ritory but by an increased participa-
ton in international politics. We are
offered an increased share in the de-
| termination of what shall be the domi-
| nant forces of the world; and of what
shall be the worlds civilization.
WE CANNOT GO BACK.
Whatever the final decision Of the
nation, through the peoples deliberate
| voice and sober second thought, may
| be as to Hawaii, Porto Rico and the
| Philippines-and nothing respecting
| them can as yet be called inevitable
| this, | think, is inevitable: That we
| can never go back to our fanoied isola %
tion, We once for all have stepped out
| into the world. Isolation means. for
| instance, that we are not our brothers
| keeper; that our affair Is To make the
! most of ourselves. 1t means that so
! long as we look after our own civlliza-
| ton we have no responsibility for the
| general civilization of the world, and
| that IL is our progress only, and not
| the progress OF mankind that must stir
! the spirit Of an American,
Now we have done the very thing
! which upsets this essential theory of
/ isolation. We have taken up Cuha's
| quarrel. We have become our broth
/ er's keeper. Many will always think
| the war with Spain was unnecessary,
because they believe the end could
! have been obtained through diplomacy.