The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-23

its friends. But today we have almost un-
breakable proofs. that are born within, we
are right
although we appear to be differing
very widely about the disposition of the
peoples whose destinies the fortune OF war
has placed in our hands, really the field of
controversy is much narrower than might
be inferred from the discussion. Quite re-
Gently two resolutions were before the
United States senate. One was adopted
and the other was rejected by the casting
vote OF the presiding officer Now the diff
ference between these two resolutions was
not very marked
Only Difference of Opinion
$50 far as they concurred 1t may be said
that the great treaty-making party was
unanimous in support of the principles
which they enunciated, and I think in that
respect 1t is fair to presume that the SEN
ate was representative of the whole Amer
lean people. Now, the difference between
them was substantially this, a difference
of opinion as to when and how self-govern-
ment should be given to the people of the
Philippine islands. Practically IL that be
true, If a test of the capacity for self-gov-
ernment could be agreed upon satisfactory
to all persons, the whole question would be
solved.
'@The solution of this question will not be
your solution or mine. not the solution OF
Will be the final outcome of the Judgment.
the hopes and the prayers OF the whole
American people. AS we came through the
civil war successful and triumphant, guild
ed by the light of justice and morality in
culcated by Washington, SO I believe when
this latest difficulty is surmounted, when
this last eastern question Is settled We
will be fund to have contributed another
monument to the civilization of the age,
to have written another glorious page in
our history consistent with all its glorious
predecessors And so our relations toward
these distant people must depend upon our
forbearance for their future welfare and
relations to foreign nations has resulted
in lifting us to an eminence which no other
country has ever yet reached.
Impartial Benevoience
"By impartial benevolence toward all,
special friendship for none, careful avoid
ance of any entangling relationships
which might commit us to the intrigues
and cabals and ambitions of European
courts, today we are head and shoulders
over the old world. We have the hope of
peace for against our protests it would be
difficult for any civilized nation to engage
in war. This eminence which we engen-
dered has been sometimes called isolation.
Well, admit it, but, far from deploring
1t, rejoice in it, for an eminence Is al
ways isolated. do not value 1t so highly
that / will not deny 1t to other countries
There are two ways by which you can
always alleviate the distance which sepa-
rates from your fellows One is by walk
ing toward them; the other Is by letting
them come toward you. II you happen to
be on a higher altitude he can climb to
you or you can descend to him. / hope
that this isolation on which we have been
placed for a hundred years will finally be
obliterated, but 1t must be by the nations
of Europe climbing to the level OF justice
and equity which we have always occupied
Praise Heaven, 1t may never come from our
descent into the gloomy pit OF ambit
violence. bloodshed and wrong. which
accompanied the progress of otha
tions.'