The San Francisco call., 1899-05-28

White has already sufficiently admitted Its
failure
The reasons for this outcome are as PLAIN as the re-
suit itself Since the publicsts OF Europe ceased to
write subiunctvey OF the United States, and the
sifs" and butts" OF De Tocquevlle were replaced by
the past tense and potential mood in which Professor
Brce has told OF what we have done and do, the
example Of the United States has worked certain
transformations in several European Governments.
Tree people guaranteed the right bear arms, in
creasinp to seventy millions with little army OF only
sooo men, presented an example that encouraged the
friends o free institutions everywhere. Heretofore
the United States have been cited proof that not
larger armies but larger liberties were needed by the
rtions OF the Old World for the defense OF their in
stitutions and their territory
Unfortunately the people of this republic have not
been permitted or have not fit to properly ap-
preciae the value of their policy to themselves or OF
their example to the rest OF the world From some
source sinister influence has gone abroad inocuat
ing them with a thirst for military glory, for power
for subjects to be ruled rather than for citizens to
rule themselves At present, by these causes our past
example is obscured; it is in eclipse We have per
rranentv more than doubled our standing army
with the immediate prospect OF quadrupling ii. We
are paving the usual high price OF glory in taxes
which there is no prospect of abating We are we'll
down the path the farther end OF which has been
reached bv the European nations We feared by
the weak and hated by the strong.
We might have been present in the Peace Con
ference in plain clothes, advising the nations to de
velop larger freedom for their people from the germ
cf parliamentary government which all OF them on
he Continent except Russia have taken from us
We might have pointed to the vast consumptve
power OF our lightly taxed people and OF their cor
relative power OF production, which sends a vast.
wealth gaining surplus into the markets OF the world
To the cry OF the older countries that markets st
be blown open with gunpowder and trade propae
by the sword we could have pointed to the peaceful,
conquests OF our commerce and the mighty meas
ure OF results we have achieved by peace by following
the arts OF construction and abjuring those OF de-
s;ruction.
But every American knows that we are not present
in that character able to point with pride to those
things Quite to the contrary. Our flag floats over
slaughter in far lands and the press and the CONNER
cal spirit raise the new cry that trade follows the
hag-not where it goes in peace, but where it goes
in war We send military delegates in company with
our diplomats to consult about peace. We new
terror let loose in the world, and the awful power
we have accumulated in a century and a quarter by
peaceful pursuits inspires exactly the feeling in
the world as did the trembling of the earth under the
hard heels OF the armies of Xerxes, Alexander,
Caesar, Gengs Khan and Napoleon.
1t is well to look facts in the face. We are no
longer propagandsts OF the principles of the Decara-
ton Of independence, but abroad in the world
standing the physical brutalities OF the Os-
tend manifesto. The temples OF the Prince of Peace
are closed and that Of Janus opened The declara-
ton OF Colonel DENLY, Commissioner to the Philip
pines that having the power to do so we propose by
aggression and conquest take by force wherever we
find it. whatever we think will be to material ad
vantage, is frank expression OF present atti-
tude to the rest OF the world. Our old policy has
demonstrated, in short century and quarter, brief
forenoon in the life OF nation, its wisdom in its re-
suits in the progress we have made The opposite
policy upon which have entered is novelty to US,
but its results may be studied in the imperial expert
nlents which have gone before
In the conference have nothing to offer in our
former character non-miltary republic We are
there just the other glory seeking nations are there
Before and before their vision rises the glorious
panorama OF Asiatic splendor. The aroma of the
bloom islands OF the tropical sea is in every nostr
Populations OF peaceful people, incapable OF defense,
numbering three quarters OF billion souls bend to
their tasks while their countries welter in sunshine
and invite conquest and spoation The weak every
where shade their eyes and the horizon in vain
for a friend. Justice has temple in which they can
have day in court against the strong In the con
ference we estopped from pleading their cause.
1t IS doubtful II even the cruees OF will he
checked by agreement. The worlds sky is full OF
hawks, and the dove OF peace lutters to the Jungle
for safety
Instead OF illustrating Christian civilization by re-
turning armies to the arts OF peace it is probable that
the twentieth century will dawn in widespread slaugh
ter or will witness the disarmament of the weak and
a movement in retrogresson that will retard the rise
OF man into greater freedom and its consequent han
piness. Americans will wish it were otherwise and
will depore the agency of the republic in the per-
petration OF wholesale bloodshed but they are help
less in the hands OF sinister influence which hopes 70
follow conquest whip in hand, secure the profits OF
involuntary labor in lands where white men can live
only masters and rulers of subjects.