Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-03
Of Christian Endeavor Society
Celebrated at Boston.
Rev. Francis E. Clark, Rev. Geo. Lori
q msrs and Others on Expansion.


mont Temple, this afternoon and even
Ing. by nearly 5000 people. representa-
the Christian EndeavOr Union I'm Bos
ton and surrounding cities and towns
Rev. Francis f. Clark. the founder o
the society, was the special guest ant
he made a ringing address on the topi
of the evening, on 1.-The Attitude Of tn
Young Christian Toward the Territor
ial Expansion of the United States
which was also treated by number
of other speakers. Mr.. Clark said:
Expansion is an altogether appro
pirate note to be struck on the 1871
birthday of Christian Endeavor, for ex
pansiOn has been it's watchword. anc
expansion has been it's business during
every day of these IS years Of its his.
tory. The first society expanded from
the pastors parlor until it covered al.
most the whole world. Russia, the last
great country which barred out the
Christian EndeavOr, has, within the last
| few weeks. found a place for at leas,
one society. So it is appropriate on our
birthday to consider the question OF
ex cansion other that from a political
aspect.
III we do for the Cubans, the Porto
Ricans. the Filipinos. what Christ
| would have us do, we shall do the right
thing. and eternal glory and honor will
come to our Nation as a consequence.
The very reason why this problem is
now confronting us. the very reason
why these fair islands have fallen
from the nerveless grasp of Spain. is
that she has forgotten our Lords gold
MI. rttln Cha hoS awn1nitnd
jects races for her own benefit she has
taxed them and oppressed them. and
her, corrupt politicians have faltered at
the colonial crib.
t'If with this spirit and purpose our
nation enters upon an age of conquest.
and uses the wonderful victories of 1898
simply TO promote her greed for terri
torial conquest and her lust for com
merciaI gain she will deserve and will
receive the fate of Spain. at the hands
OF just and righteous God.
e'Our mother country, Great Britain.
is a, shining example in all the worlds
history of the advantage Of just and
generous treatment toward subject
people tand backward races. I do not
say that we should emulate England's
example. Nand acquire colonies in all
parts OF the world but l do say that
whatever is done, we cannot escape
from our responsibilities or scuttle
away from our obligations. We must
face the future.
These IL, 000. 900 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 and so see that
Justice prevails within their borders?
These are more important questions to
decide than even the ratification of the
treaty of peace, or the disposition Of
tue islands to which the treaty refers.
at is for the young people Of
America to answer these questions in
some, measure. 1t is for us to insist
that oar country shall do what Christ
would have us do. These are glorious
times inNwhich to live. If we seize our
opportunity: if, as a nation. we do our
duty; If we'apply the golden rule to the
Cubans and the Fflipinos. our childrens
children will look back upon the expan-
sion of this Cl'rist-like kind as the
years of our greatest glory"
DIR. Clark was received with applause
Rev. Geo. c. Lorimer. pastor Of Ire
mont Temple. made an anti-expansion
address which also evoked much en-
thusiasm. He said:
THE most magnificent panorama of
imperial expansion that ever dazzled
the Imagination was presented by Sa-
tan to Christ when he offered him all
the kingdoms of the world. And yet
the Master declined. To make peace.
his rejection of such an empire must
seem unreasonable, unpatriotic and un-
philanthropic. The scene enacted on
| the mount is finding counterpart in
! these modern times. Our country
| standing contemplating distant possess
| sions, and the arch enemy points to
them and urges acquisition on his
: terms and many are in doubt whether
he is an angel of light or of darkness.
mo one objects to the extention of
American influence. American COM
! merce or American institutions. no one
advocates restoring to Spain any of the
territory captured from her in open
war. and no one that know of denies
the right Of the United States to ac-
quire islands or continents. even. pro-
vided the nation does not violate he.
constitutional provisions or the nat
uTdI IiSHtS VI OllCTS. Ibut There Is II
large party in our land. and one in
creaslng daily. that believes these ad-
vantages to be worthless. and indeed
impossible of realization. if the at
tempt to secure them involves any act
Of homage to Spain.
"A policy of expansion that is not a
policy of greed or dishonor, that does
not place us in the position of republic
| ting our past. that does not weaken
| the principles Of constitutional govern
ment in our land and that does not
drag us into militarism and entangline
alliances we have no controversy with
But to every plan or programme that
| fails to steer clear of this kind Of stulti-
| fication and disgrace every lover Of his
country ought to say Get theee behind
me. Satan
There is a religious side to it which
should especially appeal to this assem-
bly,. II we were assured that the force
| full possession of the Philippines and
| the assertion of sovereignty at the ex-
| pense Of their lToerty and honor would
afford us larger opportunity for the
preaching of the word. we have no OPP
/ ton in the premises: we dare not sane
ton outrage and oppression in this
world for the sake of possibly saving
HOlllS in the at her