The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-31
AN AMERICAN.
From the sun.

political science in an American univer-
sity writing about the policy Of cXpan-
sion with some breadth OF view and some
patriotic confidence In this nations 1bi-
ity to take care of itself under any cir
cumstances. Such qualities distinguish
an article in the Forum. on the in
fuence Of the war on our public life, by
Professor l.. s. Rowe, of the University
of Pennsylvania.
Concerning the practical aspects of the
question of expansion. Professor Rowe
remarks: "Our interest i'm the West In
dies and In the Philippines, whatever may
be the ultimate disposition of these
| Islands, is certain to hasten the adapta-
| ton OF our political ideas to the demands
of economic and social growth. The ad-
vance from a position of economic depend
| ence to one of equality with Europe car
ries with it obligations from which we
| cannot escape. Closer contact with the
Far East will make clear where the
! great commercial opportunities iie The
| peculiar conditions of trade in that pOr-
| tion of the globe demand that our gov
ernment pave the way for commercial su-
premacy. Our merchants and manufac-
| turers will no longer remain Indifferent to
| the scramble OF the European Powers for
| special trade privileges. Thus, little by
| little. the negative attitude of the Amcri-
can people toward government will Give
! It's role. Non-nterference with Euro
| pean affairs will no longer bc interpreted
| as isolation from European contact In
| short, the doctrine of political isolation
| based on the Monroe doctrine, Is likely to
| be set at rest By recent events"
Nor does the bugaboo which some of
| the professors discover in the failure Of
| the Constitution to provide specifically for
! the present situation, frighten Professor
| Rowe of the University Of Pennsylvania:
1.-THE control of Spains former colonial
| possessions, whether temporary or per-
| manent, viii make it necessary to devise
! forms of government hitherto unknown
| to the Constitution. This alone will place
| the instrument in a new light before the
| people. 1t will show us that great cues
! tions Of public policy cannot be summary
| disposed of by the argument that the
| Constitution docs not contemplate any
| such development. Whatever the de-
| cision upon the question of territorial eX-
| pansion, it must be based upon a careful
! consideration of all the factors involved,
! of which the Constitution is but one. A
| century of growth has developed prob
| lens which the founders of the republic
could not have foreseen; and to these the
| Constitution must be adapted"
| o.
This professor of political science secs
no gloom ahead. no reason for despair
| ing of American Institutions: UNLESS
| the signs Of the times are fundamentally
misleading, the influence of the period of
strong national feeling into which we are
| entering will be most clearly felt in its
! effects upon our civic life. Indications OF
| the change are already apparent in the
| newspaper press, in the tenor OF public
meetings, and in all the organs of public
! opinion. They give evidence of an in
! tensitY of patriotic feeling which is GER
! tain to give a new Importance to our
! pcrpleXing internal problems. The sac"
| rfice of life and treasure in the VindiCa-
ton of national policy will lOnG leave its
| impress upon the public mind. nation
| that has once placed itself in the SER
! vice Of a great cause will not permit cor
ruption and inefHciency to sap the
| strength of its institutions" This is sane
| thinking and healthy teaching, and we
! congratulate the class in political science
! in the University of Pennsylvania upon
! the sort of instruction it is getting.