The age-herald., 1898-07-28
GRAFTON BY
 SENATOR DAVIS Reviews the Present War and the Lessons It Has Taught. WELL FOR CIVILIZATION That United States and Enslagd HsN
 Come to Realize THEIR poLsSvS- RELATIONSHIP National : endence and Personal Frec. $ VIII be Benefited. OUR STRETCH OF WESTERN CoAsTLINE Invites Attack By Foreign Nations, and We
 s- Must Fortify Our Position By Possess ing Strongholds in the Pacific
 Larger Navy and Army.
OUR STRETCH OF WESTERN coAsTLINE

St. Taul, Minn, July 27.-With great cer- emony, in the presence of an immense con- course of people this afternoon, Hon. AL exander Ramsey, territorial governor. the | only survivor of the famous union war gov- ernos, ex-secetary of wa% and ex-United States senator, laid the cosper stone of Minnesota's new capitol building in this city. This two million dollar bclding is being constructed of granite from St. 'J'eud, | with Georgia marble for superstructure ana | trimmings. The principal oration was de- llyered by United States Senator Cushman tee on foreign relations.
 In the course of his address he said: Tt was not until very recently that Great Britain and the United States looked each other in the face with any sign of rec ognition of their political relationship It is well for them, for civilization, for na- tional independence and foI personal free- dom that they have begun to do so. The isolation of England from the other states of Europe is manifest. Her isolation from the United States has always existed, and principally as the result of petty differences as to boundaries, fisheries and small con f1icting policies in other respects. The United States has been isolated by a spe- ciai policy and by Its geographical position.
 Movement Toward China
 ''The coalescence of nationality has been accomplished by a vast territorial acqui- sition by the European states, by which the continent of Africa has been partition ed among them. The general direction of this movement in Africa is toward the Orient. It 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. It will not suffer the United States to be made the China of the west. The great question remains and compre- hends commercial and all other subjects What action by the United States does it's peace and safety require to Insure to 1t the rfghtful and most advantageous results of these new international relations and ad- justments? The situation in the Chinese Orient is pregnant with wars, and wars in these days of fleets built of steel and driv- en by steam are different from those of the times of wooden walls and sails There is not an habitable spot on the earth's sur face too remote or secluded cs too strong to be exempt from the attacks of rapacious and interruptions naval and military DOW CTS. All of history is false, or this true, that such wars are inevitable. The arena . has been extended. The recent agressions
 
 acts of war It is not long since the war between Japan and China ended by de- priving the latter power of her fleet; by compelling her to pay an enormous indem- nity and provisionally to cede to Japan portion of her territory of the greatest military and naval importance, of which Japan was in her turn deprived by the duress of Russia and Germany only to see Russia substantially acquire the same ter- ritory and Germany make compensatory seizure near by.
 Objects to Attack
 Next to China, the Pacific possessions of the United States are the most inviting objects of attack. Under existing condi- tions their defense would be difficult. Had Spain triumphed at Manila as decisively as did the United States her navy could have seized Honolulu and have operated from there upon the entire coast of the United States from Mexico to the Yukon. An overpowering European force in Asatic waters could do the same thing.
 'The situation is plainly one of alterna- tives. The United States must become an efficient element in the Asiatic situation or 1t must utterly abstain from any par ticipation in it, return to its own shores and cover the smallest possible share of its commercial advantages, and prepare for its own defense against the same aggres- sions which have reduced China to her present condition. It may be objected that all this is withoAt precedent. So 1t is, but all great human evolutions must precede precedents in order to create them
 'The present war has restored confidence to those who feared that the spirit of our people and their patriotism had been ener- vated by a long and prosperous peace.
 Ut is now manifest that the United States will be at the conclusion of this war great and actual naval and military power. Many thousands of citizens will be trained --~--~>--~><~~~>~~~~-~~~-~ ~-~-~-~------~-~-~~--~
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