The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-01-21
THE AMERICA OF 1899.

In many important particulars the
America which the world sees at the
beginning of 1899 is widely different
from that which it saw at the opening
of 1898. The difference is moral as
well as physical. Not only do its
boundries stretch over many more
parallels and meridians, but its point
of view and the attitude held toward it
by the rest of the nations have been
essentially changed. Its flag floats
over territory several hundreds OF
miles further south and several thou
sands of miles farther west than any
point which 1t touched twelve months
ago. Races and peoples are part OF Its
population now whom nobody expect
ed, either in or out of the United
States, to become, at this or any other
time, part of the country's inhabit-
ants. The circle of the nations's IN
terests and activities has been immen-
sely broadened. By over 100000
square miles the country y's.area and by
over 100000 the country's inhabit-
ants have been increased since a year
ago.
The moral and social changes which
1898 brought to the United States how
ever, are in certain sense even more
important than the material trans
formation which it produced. The
country's ideals and activi6ies are no
longer confined to the region which
they formerly covered. Even as it
existed at the beginning of 1898 the
country's boundaries were large and
scope was furnished for its activities
which appeared to meet the ambition
of all its citizens. But by series OF
events which it Is unnecessary now to
enumerate, the nations whole Held OF
vision and aspiration was materially
and permanently broadened. With
this extension of the circle of its in
terests came swift and sweeping en-
largement in the scope OF its obliga-
tions which nobody could have antici-
pated when last year began.
Perhaps, after all, the changes which
the year just ended brought to the
United States may be equaled or ex-
ceeded by the transformations which
the year just opening may usher in.
The future is hidden from US now as
it was then. The chances are, indeed,
that changes will come quicker here
after than they did ordinarially in the
past. We fill a larger place on the
map than we eyer did before, and
touch the great nations of the outside
world more intimately and at greater
number of points. Forced into the
complications that Illustrate the nations
of the old world-that of controlling
territory remote from our borders
who knows what the outcome may be?
It may be the broadening OF the
American republic, or it may be the
beginning of ito downfall. At all
events the expansion of our territory
must of necessity change our systems,
for our laws and rules are applicable |
only to the government of home people
true patriotic people-who gave their |
consent to the system of government. |
But now we have another class 10 deal
with, especially in the Philippines, q
people who do not consent TO our |
as their governors. If we
must govern them at the mouth OF
now seems probable, we
task that has proven the
dowdfall of other nations in the past.
May it not prove the downfall of ours?
At all events, this nation is placed in |
The most trying time Of its history,
and while not desiring to appear as an
we cannot but feel concerned
IS to what the year 1899 may have in
store.