The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-23
PRINCETON CELEBRATES
152D ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT
PRESBYTERIAN UNIVERSITY.
Address by President Gilman, of
Johns Hopkins, on the Problems
Precipitated by the War.

PRINCETON, n. j.. Oct. 22-Princeton
University celebrated its northumberland
fifty-second anniversary to-day with appro-
pirate ceremonies. An imposing academy
procession in which appeared ex-President
Grover Cleveland, A. Taylor Payne. William
Milligan Sloane and other men of national
reputation passed from the library TO Alex
ander Hall, where the exercises were held
The ceremonies We're very simple and after
a brief review of the events which afforded
the occasion and a reference to the pro-
posed graduate school, President Patton in
gOduCed the guest of honor President
Gilman, of Johns Hopkins University He
addressed the emblage on the theme
Books and Politics. saying. in part:
Il am not an imperialist. an expansionist
nor lingo. / belong to class of citizens
who dread revolution. trust experience and
are established by inheritance, training and
reflection in the belief that the freedom of
this country from foreign entangiaments
has secured its peace and plenty and is the
basis of its hope and faith. ] feel now, as
Ielt III June, that 1t Is safer 10 walk in
the footsteps of the fathers than 10 enter
upon the unblazoned paths of the forest.
which lead us we know not where
Nevertheless ii is now apparent that the
events of 1898, following in quick succession
IKE the bombs from a turret of a battle
IA.
opinion. manifest by the newspapers, ex-
pressed by speeches. pamphlets and resolu-
IONS, and presently to be formulated by
congress, demands that our acquisitions re-
main IN our possession, the Americans have
reached the most serious difficulty in gov
eminent that has arisen since the constittl-
tiOn OF the United States MAS adoDted-re-
construction. perhaps. excepted. though of
TINS | am not sure. Such a tate of affairs
was not foretold by optimistic or pessimistic
prophecy: The political results, as distin-
guiShed from the mi tary and naval have
been adverse 10 the wishes. arguments and
antclpatonS OF conservative men. But
mere we are in conditions unforeseen when
me CONSTITUTION was adopted. when the
Farewell address was written or when the
Monroe doctrine was announced. or even in
May lSlSvat the declaration of war with
Whatever we nay think of the annexa-
ton OF Hawaii, or the value of Porto Rico,
or the wisdom of the recent war or of its
necessity or of the terms of the protocol
or of the perplexities in which this coun-
try. is irvol yed here we are face to face
with new, problems cid responsibilities, new
opportunities They are no. ghosts and
specters which Will vanish as We approach
them; they are giants, tough and grim.
armed with clubs and full OF deceit-with
which we shall have many a rude encounter
before we prevail For this state of af-
fairs we are wholly unprepared.
If II is true. as a member of the Cabinet
has said. that war came like flash of light
hing out of a clear sky, and as the Presi-
dent afterwards affirmed, that the storm
broke so suddenly that 1t was here almost
the Nation is not ready for the new prob
lens Of civil government upon which it Is
entering. To reduce these problems to their
lowest terms: Nearby, Cuba freed from
the sovereignty of Spain, is ours for the mo-
ment by conquest, and yet ii is not ready
Tor setf-Sovernment, nor will 1t be for long
time TO come. Porto Rico and other Span
ish islands ours by the terms of the
protocol and are equally unpTepared for re-
ours by annexation; an island in the La
droneS is guaranteed to us by the protocol;
We are in possession of the harbor. bay and
city OF Manila, and. with Germany and
England, We are joint protectors of Samoa.
where PagO-Pago is already a naval rem
devious nor should we forget that if none
of these acquisitions had been made our
influence in the Pacific would still be very
great Our merchants missionaries, traV-
hound to traverse the ocean. American in
nuence Is sure to be felt in Australia and
eastern Asia, We once made call upon
japan, ard behold the results. From this
influence there is no escape.
ne question is how best to use the adj
NahlageS OF our position for the good Of
mankind. The Chinese policy is to remain
smut up within wall, repel all assault and
IeIran from interference with the affairs
Ct other people. Shall the Americans aban-
don the opportunities that have been placed
IN their hands, maintain similar seclusion
and b. contended with coaling stations. or
snail they establish themselves as civiiz-
ing force in the Pacific? The free and en-
lafSed products of one cline or one state,
for those OF another is among the highest
y
been the making of England as truly as it
was the making of Phoenicia. International
trade is the business of thu United States,
by which our own welfare and the welfare
Of all people with whom we have to deal
are promoted Let commerce be stopped
and all the mechanism Of modern society is
brought to silence.
History warns US that in our new career
We may anticipate perpiexities. enbarrass-
mentS, blunders, neglect of the principles
of efficient civil service, the rivalries of
churches. the wasteful and perhaps the
fraudulent expenditure of vast sums of
money and attempts to engraft the system
~ spols on the unsophisticated and UNI
wary. ] dread the conflict. Nevertheless /
believe that the American people, through
their errors. perplexities and sins. will rise
10 the situation before them and will sue
coed in carrying 10 distant lands the bene-
MS or liberty ORDER and law. and believe
tnat the young men of universities. to
whom the great storehouseS of experience
are opened. while they point out i'm the his
tory OF Alexander and Caesar and Charlie
magne and Napoleon the dangers of inn
perial magnitude. Will also show us how I'm
the twentieth century these dangers NAV
o. to great extent avoided and human r an