The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-13

to govern them as permanent Deepen
| denotes would be contrary to the prii-
| ciples of our government. What shall
be done if they prefer independence
to our rule? Shall we shoot them
down? England needed expansions
America does not. Our country is
large enough for many times our
population. The cost of holding the
Philippines can not be estimated. The
recent war with Spain has added
20.000,000 TO our annual pension roll.
IT the American people had resolutely
put the opportunity of conquest from
them their voice would have been
heard in the council of nations with
greater respect than ever before.
That would have kept national honor
unsullied and the nations pledge sac
red.
MIR. COSTEN FOR ANNEXATION.
Mr.. r. NJ. Costen closed the argu-
ment for the ALTERNATIVES as there
were no replies. He thought that one
of the most patent laws of national
growth is that room must be provided
for that growth. Policies that are
applicable in one generation are not
in the next. The shell is getting too
small and we must burst out or stfle.
The addition of the Philippines
can not seriously compicate our for
eign relations. The islands are of
great strategic Importance and will
enable the owner to flank any other
nation in the Orient Neither a ma
ton nor an individual can shirk a re-
spOnsibility. No nation eyer had
greater opportunity to at once add
to its wealth and to perform a solemn
duty.
MIR. BUM CLOSES.
Mr.. James II. Bum in closing the
debate. paid particular attention to
the argument that we shall by and b.
need the Philippines for our surplus
population. lie declared that the
Philippines are already much more
thickly populated than the United
States. the opportunities for making
money at home are also greater than
in the philippines. ''rhe pulpit says
they must be annexed to Christianize
them" said Mr.. Bum sarcastically.
How their souls wlli wander in the
dark of Erebus if they are not taught
TO pack conventions and stuff ballot
boxes! Christianize with hypodermic4
injections of Lead" The Philippines
should not be annexed because it is
not right. Spain had no right to sell
and we no right to buy. A colonial
government alone is possible for the
Filipinos and that is repugnant to the
spirit of our institutions. We would
fix upon the islanders the same form
of government we have repudatefl
for ourselves. To establish a govern
ment in these islands would be an
enormous expense and would seriously
endanger civil liberty. Let us spend
our energies in building up a wise
and peaceful nation at home.
THE CREATIONS.
After the debate the two Young
men who represented the society rs
orators spoke Mr.. O'Kelly Myers. on
the subject, Modern Education," did
not take a rosy view of the present
educational system. He did not think
the facts would bear out the oft-ma,ie
statement that any one who wants
an education can get it. The common
schools are inefficient and chatauqua
circles and university extension are
only local in their effects. In these
latter days the colleges have ceased to
turn out classes of men noted for
theiP brIlliancy. as was formerly Tho
case. Modern education is too much !,
collection of dry facts. Too Many
teachers neglect building up charaa-
ter. An education should consist of n
many useful things as possible. Class
zeal studies too often crowd out things
Of greater value in a college course.
Mr.. Sqtnres treated his subject.
Rebels, in rather novel way. Az
PLYING the term to those who strive
seltishly against the fixed order. Some
one has said/ that men are of two
classes, honest people and politicians.
The classification is not so ludicrous
as it would seem. The natural classi
fication of man seems to be the rebel
and the non-rebel-the rebel who
would try to break down that he may
better his own condition. The rebel is
not the same as the degenerate. The
degenerate is born: the rebel is made.
There is no need to seek the rebel
he is present everywhere. The chief
tenet of society is love thy neighbor
as myself the creed of the rebel is
"let my neighbor love me as ! love
myself" The rebel in modern litera-
ture has produced the cheap novel and
made the liberty of the press unbrid-
led license. The literature of Il nation
must be real or ii is rebellious. The
rebel is an iconoclast, a breaker OF
images. He does not realize that
change to be enduring must be grad
ual. He would displace order with
chaos
I'm politics the rebel puts pull for
principle. He goes to the standard Of
l.. IL, 4
but because it is popular. The pessi-
mist is a rebel. He can never find
anything right because he is wrong
himself.
All of the Young gentlemen were
heartily apDlauded. as were the re-
marks of Mr.. Douglass in presenting
the medals at the close.
The hall was very handsomely
decorated for the occasion with flow
ers. evergreens and flags.
After the exercises a dance was