The record-union., 1898-07-21

of the Nation in the Present War
was written by W. II. Mills for discus
sion by the Chit Chat Club, which
numbers among its members many of
the brightest men in San Francisco.
The paper excited much comment, and
the interest aroused by it spread be-
yond the walls of the club for whose
entertainment it had been intended. 1t
was in response to general demand
that it be given a wider publicity that
it is published in the Post:
In entering upon an important enter
prise the final purpose of the individ-
ual may have complete definition, be-
cause the purpose is formed and con-
trolled by an individual will. But ma
tional enterprise is the result of COM
promise between conflicting opinion,
antagonistic interests and the conten-
tion of elemental forces. The purpose
of a nation is always deeper and
broader than may be inferred from in
itial declaration, because it cannot con-
travene the revolutionary force which
gives law to its motives and direction
to it's development.
The leaders of the colonial rebellion
which resulted in the separation of the
British colonies in America from their
mother country declared that the armed
resistance they We're about to begin had
no other purpose than the redress of
grievances. But the grievances of
which they complained could find per-
feet redress only in the autonomy of
national life. The abuses were offen-
sive to the aspirations Of a liberty
loving people. The protest itself was
an evidence that vassalage to the moth
er country was offensive to the inherent
aspiration toward independence and au-
tonomy. However much disclaimed, the
real purpose of the colonial revolt was
the achievement of independence, be
cause that end alone could adequately
redress the grievances Of which our
forefatherS complained.
SAXON GENIUS FOR GOVERN
MENT.
The Saxon genius for government
which arises out of the Saxon love of
independence and liberty is the true
standard by which the original purpose
must be judged. The redress of griev-
ances which appeared to be the full
round Of initial purpose became merely
an incident of the real intention on
natural line of development. The pro-
fessed purpose, which, in the incipient
stages of the revolution was made to
appear paramount, became a subordi-
nate incident when the inherent forces
in national life had acquired their full
and natural momentum.
The secession of the slave States left
the Federal Government in the control
of the free sections of the country. The
resistance Of the Federal Government
to the doctrine of secession had for its
first purpose the preservation of the
Union and the maintenance Of it's ter
ritorial and political integrity. evolving
naturally and inevitably the purpose to
extinguish slavery, the one paramount
cause of the rebellion. In this, as in the
former instance, the initial and pro-
fessed purpose, which was paramount
became a subordinate incident TO the
extinguishment Of slavery and the es-
tablishment of free institutions
throughout the borders of the country
In these cases we have historical IL
Illustrations Of the fact that the real
purpose Of nation in any great under
taking can only be understood by OBJ
serving the political trend from the
original impetus in its momentum
through current events. A massive rock
is sent rolling down a declivity. 1t is
idle TO measure the few PAGES under
immediate observation and entertain
the hope that its momentum will be ar
rested short Of the point where gravity
is compensated, at the very extreme of
the inclined plane toward which ii was
given its original impetus.
JUSTIFYING THE WAR
The nation is engaged in war with
Spain To the superficial observation
the current war appears to be an in
novation upon our whole history. It's
declaration came to the thoughtless as
a surprise. 1t is interesting to note the
variety Of reasons which have been Of
fered to place 1t on justifiable grounds.
10 trace the fact OF war TO adequate
causes, and to give Interpretation to the
national purpose.
An eminent divine Of our city, dis
hnguished for careful, conservatism Of
opinion and for grace and elegance of
diction CDR. Stebbins), has sought TO
render the meaning of the war by de-
claring:
The question is. Shall an ancient dy-
nasty perpetuate it's expiring tyrannies
at our doors?"
A distinguished Jewish rabbi CDR.
Voorsanger) has said:
This is the expiation of history for
centuries Of cruelty and barbarism
Rracticed by an old world monarchy" I"
Another earnest and thoughtful min
lister has declared that:
by this war the responsibility Of ma
lions concerning the welfare Of the hu-
man family in every part OF the world
receives higher Interpretation, and the
pathway Of national duty takes a
higher plane"
Farther down the line of intellectual
and moral growth we encounter the
revengeful Interpretation OF "Remem-
Der the Maine" The governmental au-
thorities have offered for popular con-
temptation the suggestive association
of the destruction of the Maine by
printing a picture of the ill-fated bat
tleship upon the war revenue stamps.
This war did not gather on the ma
tional horizon in a day. Tt was not the
result Of events happening in the imme-
diate past. 1t has its place in the entire
historical trend Of the nation. 1t Is the
legitimate outgrowth Of national life
and development. Its cause may be
traced to vicissitudes in the life OF other
nations reacting upon our own. 1t is an
event in logical sequence Of events
which have occurred in all the history
of our country. 1t has given premoni-
tion of it's approach for more than a
century. Its approach has been guided
On constantly converging lines Of ma