Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-03
OLNEYS SPEECH.
Ex-Secretary Talks to Students
on United States Isolation.
ospOres That This Country Does Not
Assume the Fun Responsibilities
of Its Position.


| Cambridge, Mass, March 2-The sec
ond lecture in the series being given
during the present year at Harvard
University on "Civic duties and re-
forms. . was delivered in Sanders Thea
tire this evening by Richard Olney, ex-
| secretary Of state. His subject was
The International isolation of the
United States"
Long before the hour appointed for the
lecture Sanders Theatre was completely
filled. Mr.. Olney was introduced by
President Eliot, who alluded briefly to
his public career and eminent qualifica-
tions to speak on the subject of the eve
ming. Mr.. lOlney spoke IN part as fol-
lows:
The civic duties with which this
course deals are varied. l shall limit
myself to the national aspect of civic
duty, speaking from my own expert
ences in national affairs.
What l mean by international isoia-
ton is this: The United States is one of
the great nations of the world, yet it
does not accept all the responsibilities of
that position. Allied to this question is
that of the Monroe doctrine. The rule
of international isolation of the United
States was originally expressed in the
farewell address of Washington. 1t
could not have been more faithfully OBJ
served if II had been part OF the con-
stitution But we have extended it be-
yond it's original intent. Now what is It
that Washington enjoined US not to doF
1t was that we should not permanently
ally ourselves with any European pow
err nor enter into alliances on this side
What we are to avoid are the ordinary
vicissitudes of European politics. But
this not mean that the United States
must not protect it's citizens and COM
mercial life But suppose that Ameri-
can missionaries are injured; then, II
only by alliance we can get reparation,
we are bound to make that alliance.
Take, for example, the international
conference on Africa, held In Berlin
some time ago. The United States were
invited to send a representative, and
did So The then minister to Germany
was our representative, and was largely
responsible for the declaration of that
conference Yet his name could not be
signed to the document with the names
OF the other foreign representatives. The
whole theory of Washington's rule OF
isolation was that the country should
have time to grow, and. until 1t had
grown sufficiently, that we should not
Washington never intended that his rule
rule Of isolation should be maintained
when the country was in its maturity
The time is past when we should Mold
aIoof from the councils of the nations.
If we should relax the Washington
rule, we should not have to expose our
selves to needless hazards We should
still be governed by principles of inter-
national law. 1t is a misfortune to be
governed by a rule of action that has
outlived it's usefulness, to apply to our
set of conditions a rule that was meant
for an entirely different set of condi-
tions. But even Washington's rule of
isolation was LIMITED to politics. 1t did
not apply to commerce. Nevertheless,
the evils of the protective system were
largely due to the influence of that
rule
Political isolation may not be incon-
sistent with commercial freedom, where
a country is weak and small. But when
a country becomes a great power cover
ing vast continent, political isolation
is sure to be a serious impediment to
commercial Development. The two evils
go together.
The fact is that in all our protective
restriction legislation we are on the
wrong track This country should rec
ognize the changed conditions and ac-
cept its present situations with all it's
burdens and all its advantages The
mission of this country, while looking
after its own interests; is to further the
cause of civilization throughout the
world. There is no doubt with what
nations we should cooperate. England.
our most formidable rival, is our most
natural friend. There is such a thing
as patriotism for race as well as for
country.