The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-06-23

the seizure, mere or less violent, of
several important ports of China fer
the undoubted purpose of controlling
and monopolizing the trade there, to
the exclusion of other nations The
last breaking into the Flowery King
dom was case of fat burglary. No
wonder these same powers, after all
the pains they have taken, contemplate
with CONSERVATION and undisguised
jealousy the event which has trans
plred at Manila, in which an American
officer of the name Of Dewey played a
part. Can it be possible that the de-
tested Yankee is going to put his hand
in the game and spoil the plan of ex-
Guiding him from sharing in the bene-
hts of the Asiatic trade, as the same
powers have already probably done in
Africa, England excepted, Who to her
everlasting credit be it said, is always
in favor Of open and unrestricted trade?
| If to assure and protect our trade with
China a foothold on that side of the
world is necessary, then we must have
| it, cost what it will
Forced Into War with Spain.
Eve are at the present time engaged
| in war with Spain. It is not a war
! of our making. 1t has been brewing
for three-quarters of a century. We
| have been forced into it in order to
abate an intolerable nuisance in our
neighborhood and to prevent worse
consequences. We have been forced
into it by the conduct of Spain herself,
and she must pay the cost. The Phil
ippine islands are likely to be one of
the sources of our indemnity if We
choose to keep them. When Spain
energies from this war it will probably
be as impossible for her to retain SOW
ereignty over the Philippines as it
would be to retain sway over Cuba.
I he jealousies existing between Eu-
ropean powers seem to preclude the
idea of their passing under the flag of
either of them without exciting a con-
fict, even if we were disposed topsell
them. The United States, therefore,
will most likely have the problem pre-
sented to it Of deciding whether it
should make a new departure in it's
foreign policy with reference to the
| acquiring of territory in Asiatic waters.
1t is not difficult to foresee that such
question will excite profound discus
sion in this country between those who
| believe that we should adhere to the
restricted policy marked out in the be-.
ginning Of the republic, and those who
believe that the time has arrived for
broader foreign relations which will
make us a more influential factor in
the control and division of the worlds
| commerce.
ANY one who has at all noted the
progress of events must perceive that
great changes have taken place in the
| character of our government since it's
foundation, little more than a century
ago. The civil war decided the dis
puted question as to whether our sys-
tenn was voluntary bond between
states to be determined at any mo-
ment that either of them thought prop
i er to withdraw from it, or whether it
was an indissoluble union which could
only be terminated by majority of
all of the people Of all of the states,
and we came out of that war a nation
spelled with a big N, as much SO as the
people of Great Britain, or of France,
under their systems. Since then the
trend of federal legislation, the decis-
ions of the highest judicial tribunal
in the land, the settlement Of delicate
and intricate questions arising with
other nations in consequence of the
expansion of our commerce, the re-
sponsibilities created, and even the
jealousies excited by our growing i'm
portance, all tend to the solidifying of
power in the central government for
the protection Of the rights and happi-
ness Of the American people,
There are many people, it is true,
! who regard with nervous apprehension