The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-15

washington Post.)

Ex-Congressman Stewart. of YER
mont, Is one OF a considerable number
OF New England statesmen. both ac-
tive and retired. who are solennly and
awfully a~pprehensiSe OF perils to tho
republic Il the policy OF national ex-
pansion is rot forthwith abandoned
We do not understand Mr.. Stewart as
agreeing with n venerable George g.
Boutwell,. OF Massachusetts. that wa
should Immediately e~vacuate Porto
Rico and other Islands surrendered to
the United States by the terms of the
proCotol. In fact. we him Mr.. Bout-
we'll stands alone on that proposition,
unless ~ can lay lain to the SYM
pathy and support ~ Professor Nor
ton. To stand up before the American
nation today and demand the ~rcstcr-
alton OF Spanish sovereignty in tb'~
hemisphere requires a kind and ,
gree OF courage that would be admira-
bic II il were displayed in a good
cause. Exhibited in such a cause a.
Mr.. Boutwell, champions Il exacts pity
rather than anger. FOR when a great
people are practically united In a wise.
patriotic, and humane purpose they
can AFFORD To be charltahly tolerant ~
the solitary dissenter.
II is TO the Orient 10 tn. phiB,-
pines. that Mr.. Stewards emit is
drawn, and the prospect ~ those is
lands coming into the possession and
under the control OF the United States
saddens his soul Our true mission
as a nation he says. lis one ~ peace
our missionary efforts are bet. and
VIII rARr ~ rGA
past, most effective by u dcmonstra-
ton 10 the peoples elsewherc OF "a wise.
peaceful, and benehCent administration
OF a great, free government. based
upon the free choice OF it's people. with
out the exercise OF external force aS
expressed in the burden of "A great
standing army and a great navy"
This nation loves peace and does not
propose To depart from a pacific policy
toward all nations. But the wars that
we have waged have been immense
factors in the worlds progress. The
eight years war that set up this re-
public as a beacon light 81 liberty nc
complished more for mankind than
could have been achieved by cnutu-
ries Of peace under such a government
as that against which oar ancestors
rebelled. Each and all OF the wars in
which this nation has been engaged
have been. In their near ana remote
iNChiA@' Hl~blll'N anu ElfAl btitlAftlnfl@
TO humanity. And though th,y have
added immense areas To our national
domain, they have not put upon our
shoulders the burden of a great
standing army and n great navy" The
more we have seen OF war. the greater
has been our love Of peace. We have
rejoiced at the good results that have
come to our arms, but have steadily
strlven to promote the pacific adjust
ment OF all international disputes sus-
ceptible of such settlement.
As 10 our future policy, IL will not
differ in principle from our past. We
propose at all times and under all
circumstances 10 mind our own bust
ness, giving no p~roVoCatiun for hos
tilty. 1t may be that. FOR a short tiuN
we shall need an army Of 100. 600 ~
garrison Cuba, Porto Rico. and tho
Philippines. But when peace shall h,y.
fully come and our authority been ,~-
tablished. there is no doubt that ma
tive soldiers will take the places 80
most of the Americans in our new pos
sessions. But a force OF Joe. 600 Is not
"a great standing army" Judged by
the standards Of other powers. for a
nation Of 50. 600. 600, and the cost Of the
maintenance Of such a force Will not
all come out Of the pockets ~ the
American people.
If Mr.. eva and the ultra-consor-
natives generally are counting on pop
ular approval OF their course. they
are making a mistake. The legislature
or Mr.. Stewards state answers him 10y
resolving that we ought 70 hold all the
Philippines. \ treaty OF peace that
provided for our withdrawal from The
Orient would be a bitter disapUoint-
ment.
As TO "a great navy that Is one IT
the things W" are sure to haVc-.one
OF the objects desired by the pcopi, y
needed as a peace pres"rvor.
1t will not be SO powerful a navy as
Great Britain maintains. but If con-
gress should fail to make our Hn,te
equal in strength TO those If tho Ger
man empire, il wOuld bo guilty OF
criminally neglecting a manifest and
imperative duty.
Meanwhile we can go right on de-
monstrating To the peoples Of IN"
world the blessings Of "A wise. peace
ful, and bencficent administration If
a great free goVernment"-thus ful-
filling our true mission"