The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23

| and the vanquished Corslcan began MS
melancholy march to st. Helena. When
the red-coats of George III. routed the
| New Englanders at Lexington and
Bunker Hill there rose before the Brit
| ish sovereign visions of colonies taxed
without representation and drained CT
their wealth by foreign-mada laws, hut
destiny was not revealed until the sur
render of CORVALLIS completed the
work done at Independence hall and
ushered into existence a government
deriving its just powers from the con-
sent of the governed.
Another Crisis.
1--WE have reached another crisis. The
ancient doctrine of Imperialism, BAN
ished from our land more than CEN
fury ago, has recrossed the Atlantic
and challenged democracy to mortal
combat upon American soil. Whether
the Spanish war shall be known in his
tory as war for liberty or as a war of
conquest; whether the principles of self
government shall be strengthened or
abandoned; whether this nation shall
remain a homogeneous republic or be-
come a heterogeneous empire-these
questions must be answered by the
American people When they speak.
and not until then, will destiny be re-
vealed.
Destiny is not matter Of chance. it
is matter of choice: it is not thing to
be waited for. it is thing to be
achieved
mo one can see the end from the be-
ginning, but everyone can make his
course an hCnorab one from beginning
to end by adhering to the right under all
circumstances. Whether a man steals
much or little may depend upon his OPP
portunities, but whether he steals at all
depends upon his own volition.
so with our nation. If we embark
upon career of conquest, no one can
tell how many islands we may be able
to seize or how many races we may be
able to subjugate; neither can any one
estimate the cost. immediate and re-
mote, to the nations purse and to the
nations character, but whether we
shall enter upon such a career is ques
ton which the people have right to
decide for themselves.
unexpected events may retard or
advance the nations growth, but the
nations purpose determines it's destiny.
The Nations Purpose.
what is the nations purpose? That
purpose is set forth clearly and unmis-
takably in the first sentence of the con-
sttution:
We, the people of the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice. insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
to our posterity, do ordain and estab
lish this constitution for the United
States Of America.
1T will be seen that one of the main
purposes of the founders of our gov
eminent was to secure for themselves
and for posterity the blessings of liberty.
That purpose has been faithfully fol-
lowed up to this time. Our statesmen
have opposed each ether upon economic
questions, but they have agreed in de-
Tending government as the controll-
ing national idea. They have quarreled
among themselves over tariff and
finance, but they have been united in
their opposition to an changing al
lance with any European power.
under this policy our nation has
grown in numbers and in strength. In
der this policy its beneticent influence
has encircled the globe. Under this pol
icy the taxpayers have been spared the
burden and the menace of a large mill
tary establishment and the young men
have been taught the arts of peace
rather than the science of war On each
returning Fourth of July our people
have met to celebrate the signing of the
declaration OF independence; their
hearts have renewed their VOWS to free
institutions and their voices have
praised the forefathers whose wisdom
and courage and patriotism made it pos
sible for each succeeding generation to
repeat the words My country, tbs Of
thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee 1
sing
This sentiment was well nigh universal
until year ago. 1t was to this senti-
ment that the Cuban insurgents ap-
pealed: it was this sentiment that i'm
PEELED our people to enter into war with
Spain. Have the people so changed
within a few short months that they
are now willing to apologize for the
war Of the revolution and force upon
the Filipinos the same system of gov
eminent against which the colonists
protested with fire and sword?
The Hour of Temptation.
THE hour of temptation has come,
but temptations do not destroy. they
merely test the strength of individuals
and nations: they are stumbling blocks
or stepping stones: they lead 10 infamy
or fame, according to the use made of
them.
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen
served together in the continental army
and both were offered British gold.
Arnold yielded to the temptation and
made his name a synonym for treason;
Allen resisted and lives in the affec-
tons of his countrymen.
Our nation is tempted to depart
from its standard of morality and
adopt policy of criminal aggression
But, will it yield?
IF mistake not the sentiment of the
American people they will spurn the
bride of imperialism and, by resisting
temptation, win such victory as has
not been won since the battle of York
town. Let it be written of the United
States: Behold a republic that took up
arms to aid neighboring people, strug-
Cling to be free; a republic that in the
progress of the war, helped distant
races whose wrongs We're not in con-
temptation when hostilities began; a
republic that, when peace was restored,
turned a deaf ear to the clamorous voice
of greed and to those borne down by
the weight of foreign yoke, spoke the
welcome words, stand up, be free
Let this be the record made on his
tCry's page, and the silent example of
this republic true to it's principles in the
hour of trial will do more to extend