The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-20
UNITED STATES
AND PHILIPPINES.
President Wilson Fears the Results of
Dewey's Victory at Manila,
DREADED EASTERN QUESTION.
He Had Rather Follow Teachings OF
Washington than Those Of Jingoes
ofTo-day-Let Us Avoid Heavy
Public Debts and Taxation.

visitors at the weekly meeting OF the
University body this morning was an
evidence Of the pleasure with which they
welcomed President Wilson back after an
absence OF two weeks at Yale University,
where he has delivered course OF lee
lures on "The History Of Representative
Government" In referring TO his recent
absence Mr. Wilson said that since he had
been President OF Washington and Lee he
had had occasion TO visit the three great
Universities Of the East-Harvard.
Princeton and Yale. Impressed with their
immense superiority in numbers, income
and equipment, he had remarked to a
gentleman at Yale, that I'VE in the South,
in our poverty are fighting with the old
wooden ships and the old iron guns. while
you have the modern battle-ships. and
the latest ornaments, but the old ships
and the old guns trained great sailors and
gave the world great captains"
Large schools with enormous revenues
have many advantages, but personal con-
tact and personal influence Of a great
teacher. or a man OF high moral charac-
ter which Is possible only in smaller
schools. is often an influence more last
ing and more inspiring than any that
comes from great numbers and great
equipment alone. The education In our
great law schools to-day far surpasses in
range anything attainable under past
methods. yet there Is fear that the legal
profession may lose something of its past
influence by a growing commercialism.
While the law students who had gone
out from the law offices Of great lawyers,
from the schools Of Judge Brocken-
brough, Judge Tucker or Chancellor
Wythe. did not have the fullness Of
learning Of the young men to-day, the
impress Of the personality Of their teach
ers went with them and made them feel
that the highest duty was 10 keep spot
less the honor of the profession. and that
personal profit was secondary. He refer
red 10 the small numbers at the colleges
comprising the Universities Of oxford and
Cambridge and the great leaders which
those colleges had given 10 England.
AS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
Continuing his remarks. Mr.. Wilson, in
accordance with his usual custom of ex-
planning 20 the students important cur
rent events, called attention TO the uneN-
pected developments in the war with
Spain which had resulted in changing the
seat OF war from the West Indies 10 the
Philippine Islands. The great victory at
Manila which has aroused the pride Of
every American, has brought us face 10
face with questions which a few weeks
ago no man in the country had dreamed
Of, and has raised FOR the United States
that spectre which for more than half a
century has lowered above the states OF
Europe-the Eastern question.
For many years the question which has
perplexed the great Powers Of Europe
has been what 10 do with Turkey Long
ago the Turk would have been expelled
from Europe could the Powers have
agreed upon any division OF his country.
and more than once Wa have seen wars
resulting from this perplexing question.
But the Eastern question OF to-day does
not centre around TlAkey; It has become
a question OF China ard the islands OF the
Pacific. II IS a question raised by the
war between China and Japan when Rus
STA stepped I'm and forced Japan 20 yield
the fruits OF her victory. II is a question
raised by European Powers I'm attempt
ing a division Of China, and we to-day by
our victory at Manila have found our
selves suddenly precipitated into the very
vortex Of this Eastern question. A part
Of our press and people are already adj
vocating with natural pride that we hold
the Philippine Islands: that we cut loose
from WashingtOn's farewell address and
our policy in the past: that we be no
longer a free American people bounded by
an ocean on the east and on the west and
devoting our time and energies 10 the
maintenance Of liberty I'm our own coun-
try, but that we embark upon a career
OF conquest and demand for ourselves
n place among the Powers competing for
worldwide possessions.
Heretofore Il has made no difference
with US when the powers OF Europe were
dividing the countries OF Africa. or what
nation acquired the territory Of Turkey,
or seaports on the coast Of China, but
now we are told that we have managed
our affairs at home so well, have settled
the tariff, the currency question, our
election methods and boss system, and
other internal troubles, so successfully
and completely that we can branch out
on a career OF conquest and compete with
other nations in the acquisition of ter
rltory IN other continents.
A WARNING TO US.
What has this policy brought 10 others?
At the time OF the consolidation OF the
German Empire thirty years ago the
six great powers Of Europe maintained
armies active and reserve aggregating
about 100000 men. while in 1898 these
same powers maintain armies. active and
reserve. aggregating about 1900, 900 men
In 1868 their annual Expenditures upon
their armies amounted to about $3.50, 0O0
coo while I'm 1898. as poor as some of them
are. their expenditures upon their armies
amount TO nearly $1,000 OO0. 900. England
has not built up a great army. but her
expenditures upon her navy have been
as large as those of the other powers
upon their armies. In order to maintain
these armies and navies 10 be prepar-
ed for war in distant regions as well as
at home, for complications arising out
OF these Eastern and other questions.
the powers OF Europe have gone on con-
stantly increasing their debts and taxa
ton.
Ii is upon n like career, involving the
maintenance OF great armies and navies.
the burden Of heavy taxation, with con-
slant peril of war from questions aris-
ing in other parts OF the globe or be-
tween other nations. that some OF our
people kindled by the victory Il. Manila
would have the United States immediate
ly embark.
I recently quoted Cromwell as saying
that "a man never goes so far as when
ne does not know where he Is going"
We may never be able TO resume the ex-
act position that we held a few months
ago. but II IL well for us TO understand
the meaning OF the course to which mis-
taken patriotism and ambition may
tempt us. Il believe" said Mr.. Wilson,
that the honorable career for the
limited States is that marked out for us
by the fathers Of the republic. had
rather follow the teachings OF Washing