The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-10-21
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY.


The money that would be spent in
cOnquering and garrisoning the Philip
pines and crushing out the desire OF
the natives for seli-government would,
II expended In improving the internal
waterways OF this country. increase our
home trade 100 per cent reasons the
Pittsburg Dispatch (Rep). "A years
cost OF maintaining an army on the
other side OF the world, II expended in
irrigating the arid lands OF the West.
would add millions OF acres to our pro-
ductiye territory. a single million
honestly spent at home would yield
the people of the United States more
real benefit than a score OF millions
spent in military conquest in the East"
No doubt 1t would. There are many
millions of acres of land in the new
States that remain unproductive
Through lack OF great irrigation sys-
TENS.
The State of Wyoming for instance.
Is In condition of arrested develop
ment because its water supply is not
utilized. The agricultural resources
lof California are largely idle because
the vast supply of water gathered
yearly from the extensive water sheds
is not utilized for want of capital.
In sparsely settled region. peopled
mainly by pioneers, capital is very
limited. In the course of years, capt.
tai may accumulate or be brought in
to the region, II returns on it are be-
lieved to be sure. But the opening up
of the American deserts by irrigation
works, paid for by the general govern
ment, would make homesteads for
many millions of people and relieve
much actual suffering. II the several
hundred millions, expended in the
Spanish war, had been expended in
making these vast areas habitable
great good would have been done.
But schemes of this kind are not
practicable. National thought does
not run out on such lines.
Within two years, events have plac-
ed the proposition before the Ameri-
can people. will you confine all of
Your power, backed by wealth. energy
land intelligence and great numbers to
the development of your own moral
condition, or will you recognize a ma
tional duty of establishing law and Or
der and intelligent rule among other
people, who are so weak and ignorant
that they cannot help themselves"
The first century of American life
has been unconsciously spent in
raising and organizing a powerful ma
tional unity. In "A world where ply |
steal force, the bayonet and the battle |
ship, are the supreme law in interna- |
tional matters, the American people |
could not undertake to ameliorate the |
condition of mankind until they pos
sessed physical superiority. They now
possess II. and at once come under the |
obligation to aid suffering mankind.
The advice of Washington regarding
neutrality in foreign matters. was
surely wise in his day and genera
ton, but is unwise and supremacy sell
fish now. A powerful nation violates
the moral law when it remains neu-
trail in the presence of national wick
edness and suffering just as a rich and |
powerful man violates the moral law,
If he allows his next door neighbor
to beat or torture wife and children.
1t is this proposition that now I'M
derlies and will determine the national
policy towards the Philippines.
In spite of strong opposition
against the policy of expansion, it can
be seen that even the strongest oppo-
nents of that policy are gradually ac-
cepting the belief that the expansion
of good government is the only en-
llghtened polly.
And because the leaders of the Re-
publican party realized this. that
party dominates today in the States.
1t recognizes the duty OF the nation to
do something more than build up the
western territory. While large body
Of the people favor expansion for the
money that may be in 1t, another large
body favors 1t for the real philan-
thropy that is in ii.