The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-03
HEARD BOTH SIDES.
Arguments for and Against Expansion
at c. Z. Meeting.

DIR. Clark and DIR. Lorrimer Take Oppo-
site Views and Secretary Long and
senator Hosr send Messages from
This Point OF View.
Boston, February a.-The 18th nnniver-
deavor society was celebrated in fremont
Temple this afternoon and evening by
nearly 5000 people. representing the
Christian Endeavor Union In Boston and
surrounding cities and towns.
Rev. Francis l. Clark. the founder of
the society. was the special guest. and he
made ringing address on the topic of
the evening" The Attitude of the Young
Christian Toward the Territorial Expan-
sion of the United States" which was al
so treated by a number Of other speakers
Mr.. Clark said: Expansion is an alta-
Gether appropriate note to be- struck ON
the 18th birthday of Christian Endeavor,
for expansion has been It's watchward.
and expansion has been its business
during every day of these eighteen years
OF its history. II our nation enters upon
an age of conquest, aud uses the wonder
full victories OF 1888 simply TO protect her
greed for territorial conquest and her lust
for commercial gain, she will deserve and
will receive the fate uf spain, at the
hands of just and righteous God. Our
mother country, Great Britain, is
shinging example In all the worlds his
tory of the advantage of just and gencr-
Gus treatment toward subject people and
backward races l do not say that we
should emulats England's example, and
acquire colonies in all parts of the world
a hat .hAN. Il.
cannot escape from our responsibilities or
scuttle away from our obligations. We
IN ust face the future.
These ten millions of people are in a
truer sense than ever before our neigh bors
and brothers. Shall we civilize them and
Christianize them? Shall we give them
good laws 80 that justice prevails within
their bordersg These are more important
gu sstions than even the ratification of the
treaty OF peace or the disposition OF the
islands TO which the treaty refers. 1t is
for the young people of America. to
answer these questions in some measure
IL is for us to Insist that our country shall
do what Christ would have us do. These
are glorious times In which to live. II We
seize our opportunity; II, as nation. We
do our duty; If we apply the golden rule
to the Cubans and the Filipinos, our
ohildren's children will look back upon
the expan sion of this Christ-like kind rs
the years Of our greatest glory.
DIR. Clark's address was greeted with
applause.
Rev. DIR. George G. Lorimer. pastor of
fremont Temple, made an anti-expsnsion
which also evoked much
He said:
REV. DR.. LORIMER'S ADDRESS.
Rev. George Lorimer spoke as folIows:
. f,,,-
perial expansion that ever dazzled the
Imagination was presented by Satan to
Christ when he offered him all the king
doms OF the world. And yet the Master
declined. To many people his rejection
of such an empire must seem unreason-
able, unpatriotic and unphilanthroPic.
The scene enacted on tho Mount Is find
ing a counterpart In these modern times.
Our country stands contemplating dis
tant possessions and the arch enemy
points to them and urges acquisition
on his term, and many are in doubt
whether he is an angel OF light or of
darkness. No one objects to the extern
son Of American influence, American
commerce or American institutions; no
one advocates restoring to Spain OF the
territory captured from her in open war
and no one that l know OF denies the
right of the United States to acquire ISL
ands or continents, ever provided the ma
tlOu does nOt NIOlhLt utT OWE COUSlltu-
tional provisions or the natural rights
of others. But there Is a large party In
our land. and one increasing daily that
believes these advantages to be worthless,
and indeed, impossible of realization II
the attempt TO secure them involves any
act Of homage to Spain.
A policy Of expansion that is not poll
cy of greed and dishonor, that does not
place us in the position of repudiating
our past that does not weaken the prin
oiples of constitution government in our
land aud that does not drag us into
and entaugling alliances. we
have no controversy with. But to every
of this kind of qualification and disgrace
every lover Of his country ought TO
say: "Get thee behind me- Satan"
There Is q religious side TO ID which
should specially appeal to this asse mbly;
" We were assured that the forceful pos
session OF the Philippines and the sser-
ton Of sovereignty at the expense OF
their liberty and honor would afford us
a larger opportunity for the preaching of
the Word. we have no option in the prem
ises; We dare not sanction outrage and op-
preston In this world for the sake of posi-
ply saving souls in the other.
Let us rememrer that religion has new.
or been adva sced by alliances with the
state and that her expansion can never be
facilitated by policy of national expan-
sion that Is no. Thoroughly in harmony
with what makes for freedom, honor and
virtue. However, others then, may be
mssled by much that Is being uttered
and published as highest wisdom, let us
rs Endeavorers not be deceived, Chris
tianity must expand, we are set for its
briumphs every where. but let us not for
. moment suppose that this can be se
cured by the slim and crooked arts OF
worldly politics