The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-08-01
United States to Become an
Element in the Asiatic
Situation.
MEANS MUCH TO TRADE
Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commit
tee Declares That This Govern
ment and England Are Tend
ing to Closer end Bet
ter Understanding.

St. Paul. MINI. July 27-With great GER
! emony, In the presence of an immense con-
| course Of people this afternoon, Hon AL
exander Ramsay, territorial governor only
survivor Of the famous union war govern
| ors ex-secretary of var and eH-o "lt9"
| c+o+as senator laid the corner stone OF
| Mnnesotas new capitol building IN inns
| CITY. This -mi,lion-dollar building IS
! hainp constructed of granite from st. Cloud
with Georgia marble for superstructufe
! and trimmings.
! The principal Grafton was delivered by
| United States Senator Cushman x. Davis
| chairman of the senate committee Oh 4"I-
! eign relations.
| In the course of his address he said;
'sIt was not until very recently that Great
, Britain and the United States looked each
| other in the face with any sign OF lecoShl-
| ton It IS wei for them for clVlII%atoh'
for national independence and for person
! al freedom that they have begun 10 go So
| The isolation of England from the other
! states of Europe is manifest. Her ISOLATION
| from the United States has always exist
| ed and principally the result Of petty
| differences as to boundaries, fisheries, stcr-
lie treaties and small. conflicting policies
in other respects. The United states has
been isolated by a special policy and by
its geographical position.
w g Sdl I De luuILlE1C4lt
This coalcscense Of naHonaltties has
been accomplished by a vast territorial ac-
QUESTION by the European states by which,
the continent OF Africa has been part-
toned among them. The general direction
of this movement in Africa is toward tho
orient. 1t is not necessary to elaborate
upon the interests of the United States
IN the present and prospective situation.
The maritime, commercial and political
genius Of the American people will not
permit their government to be Indifferent
to them. 1t win not suffer the United
States to be made the China Of the west.
The great question remains and compre-
hends commercial ana all other SUBJECTS
What action by tho United states do It's
peace and safety require 10 insure to 1t the
riGhtful and most advantageous results of
these new international relations and ad-
justmcnts? The situation In the Chinese
orient Is pregnant with wars, and wars
in these days Of fleets built of steel and
driven by steam ore different from those
Of the times of wooden walls and sails.
There IS not an habitable spot the
carths surface too remote or secluded or
too strong To be exempt from the attackS
OF rapaclous ana uQScrIpqtouS naval ana
military powers All Of history is false,
or this IS true, that such wars are newt
able. The arena mas been enormously eX-
| tended. The recent aggressious by tho
powers Of Europe upon China We're acts
Of war It is not long since the war be-
tween Japan and China ended by depriving
the latter power Of her feet, ana forcing
her to pay an enormous indemnity and
Professionally TO Cede to japan a portion
OF her territory Of the greatest military
and naval Importance, Of which Japan was
IN turn deprived BY the d4ress Of Russia
and Germany, only to see Russia substan-
tally acquire the same territory and Ger
many make a compensatory seizure nearby.
Our Pacific Possessions Inviting.
Next to China the Pacific possessions or
the United States are the most inviting OBJ
jects of attack Under existing conditions
their defense would be difficult Had Spain
triumphcd at Manila as dccisivcly as did
the United States her navy could have
stezed honolulu and have operated from
there upon the entire coast of the United
States, from Mexico to the Yukon. An
oyerpoWering European force in the Ash
attic waters could do the same thing. 50
could Japan.
''fhe situation is plainly one Of alterna-
tives. The United States must become an
efficient eleMcnt IN the Asiatic situation or
1t must entirely abstain from any parlici-
patton in it. return to It's own shores and
cover the smallest possible share of It's
commercial advantages. and prepare for
its own defense against the same aggrcs-
sions which have reduced China TO her
present condition. 1T may be objected that
til this is without precedent. SO it is but
all great human evoiuJions mist precede
precedents in order to create them
The present war has restored confidence
to those who feared that the spirit Of our
people ana their patriotism had been en-
eFEateG by long ana prosperous peace.
1T is now manifest that the United
States VIII be at the conclusion of this war
a great and actual naval ana military
will be trained to modern warfare ON land
and sea, The military spirit has inspired
The people. They have been raised to a
higher plane OF patriotism. The additions
to our fleet have been very considerable
and that fleet VIII never be less The aD-
preparations for its increase already ILL.,
eFal, VIII continue to be so. The astOuud-