The record-union., 1899-10-18

given NlSOf Dy the lOIIleSl dSplIdlioH7
of men, been resisted, the American
Republic would not have arisen.
AS with the individual, so with ma
tions, the whole trend is for better con-
ditions, enlarged opportunity, greater
establishment and augmented patri-
mony.
The nations which stand still retro
gress. In every period of history ma
tions have been impelled by inherent
forces to acquire additional territory
for enlargement of the sphere Of action.
Happy those who have not made such
acquisition by the theft of mere con-
quest.
This impulse represents merely the
lifting of the aspirations of the indi-
vidual mind to the national plane. 1t
is fated in the realm of nations that
the strong absorb the weak. Happy
the latter who fall under the benef
cence of a State at once strong, just,
tolerant and free, rather than strong,
intolerant, tyrannical and the play
thing of princes.
Another undeniable truth is this that
the trend of civilization is toward the
aggregation of populations into fewer
national systems. Civilization is, in a
sense, inexorable and we may not defy
it's movements and go unscathed.
Every country has its remnant of
an aboriginal race. 1t is said that Of
the Philippine aborigine but $4,000
poor, british creatures remain, and
these are driven to the caves and the
mountain shelters in North Luzon.
How came this? The incursion of Ma
lays predatorially descending upon in
sular and remote peoples eliminated the
aboriginal Filipino. The Malay wrest-
ed the soil from it's original owner and
put him to the sword. It is the irony
of fate that this early conqueror Of
an inferior race, after having been long
beneath the heel of Spain, shall sub
NIT himself to one superior in every
beneficent art Of civilization.
AS the Aztec and Toltec went down
before the civilization of Spain, such
as it was; as the tomahawk and scalp
ing knife of the North American In
dian gave place to the ploughshare and
pruning hook, so must the inheritance
of the earth be given to the fittest and
strongest, not alone in arms but in the
inherent, all absorbing force Of civilized
aspirations.
Just as surely, if ever there comes
a people into competition with us, who
are possessed of higher civilized eff
cheney we will go down before them by
reason Of the same law that relegated
the spinning wheel to the garret and
displaced the sickle with the harvester.
The spinning jenny and the reaper
just as surely began the revolutioniz-
! ing Of national lines upon the political
geography of the world as did the pa
triots of the colonies in rising against
the refusal of England to do US justice
| Unseen forces in each case operated
/ to readjust relations and the boundar-
| les of nations, and these irresistible,
constant forces of nature have lost
none of their momentum in our day.
| We have seen evidences of these
truths in the failure of Spain to hold
single North or South American pos
session; they passed from her grasp
by reason of the law to which we have
referred. France attempted to impose
herself upon Mexico, and she would
| have absorbed that State but for the
assertion of the Monroe doctrine born
of a Briton, applied by an American.
the child of the natural law indicated.
/ The acquisitions we made in the case
| of Florida, the Louisiana Territory and
the Pacific realm, were inevitable, the
all pages Of history.
Intelligence and strength will die
tate terms of government for weakness
and ignorance. 1t is the natural or
righteous cause gave the fate of the
Philippines into our hands; intelligence
and the natural law that has fashioned
our course, will decree the government
the so-called Filipinos. themselves in
| truders without even pretense of ex-
cuse, and defending occupation only by
alleged prescriptive right, must submit
to the higher civilization that confront
ed them by reason of a beginning of
war justified of all men.
| Civilization could not equalize itself
| throughout the world were it not for
which we have referred. Without it
| barbarous and semi condi-
tions would grow worse and the high
est civilizations would pause. 1t is the
result of natural implant that man
should desire through enlightened sell
| fshness to visit other peoples with the
benefits of his knowledge. his concep-
tions of right and liberty, and his ideas
of governmental institutions.
That process always has been going
on; it VIII never cease. But this does
not imply that it is always to be pro-
NOTED by force OF arms. The greatest
conquests are those of peace.
The late war with Spain was a nat
ural conflict between medieval stag
nation and twentieth century civiliza-
ton It was we'll for Spain, for it will
awaken her to better things. One of
its natural results was the occupation