The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-20
OUR TRUE NATIONAL DESTINY.

From the beginning American states
men have cautioned this republic
against the temptations of avarice
and power ever reckoning us to other
continents. ever dazzling our eyes with
the glittering booty of conquest. ever
seeking to entangle us in the meshes
of international intrigue.
Washington congratulated this coun-
try that its detached and distant situa-
ton enables and impels US to remain
aloof from foreign entanglements. He
showed how unwise it would be to put
ourselves in a position to be affected
by artificial ties in the ordinary vicis-
STUDIES of European politics."
There is but one path that can lead
the United States to destruction" said
Benjamin Rush in 1887, land that is
their extent of territory" But there is
danger in this, he added. ''only when
we advance our standard where the
settler will not follow"
IF l were called upon to prescribe
course OF policy most important for
this country to pursue" said De Witt
Clinton in 1908, sit would be to avoid
European connections and wars. The
time must arrive when we will have to
contend with some of the great powers
of Europe, but let that period be put
off as long as possible 1t is our inter
est and our duty to cultivate peace
with sincerity and good faith. AS a
young nation pursuing industry in
every channel, and adventuring COM
merce in every sea, it is highly i'm
portant that we should not only have
a pacific character but that we should
really deserve it. If we manifest an
unwarrantable ambition and rage for
conquest we unite the great powers
of Europe against us. Will the people
it by the colorings of rhetoric. by
vehement appeals to their pride and
artful addr,.sses TO their cupidity?"
Said John Randolph in 1906: For my
part l will never favor war but in
self defence 1 have no desire for con-
quests-I hold the liberties of this peo-
pie at a higher rate
@ 8 @
There was time when Mr.. Mckinley
would not speak of ''forcible annexa-
ton which. by our code of morality,
would be criminal aggression" But
that time has passed. The president
has since Informed the F'ilipinos that
complete subjugation is what he in
tends to enforce ON the archipelago at
the mouth of the cannon, If needs be,
or by hiring allegiance AT so much
per diem wherever practicable. AT all
events he says that he has purchased
the Filipinos from Spain at $3.50 per
head with their ma tive land thrown in.
that the stars and stripes have been
raised over his purchase and that the
flag mustn't be hauled down. This he
contends. is not conquest, but an at
tempt to quiet title purchased from
Spain. Yet he knows, as every school
boy in this country knows. that the
only title Spain, had was one of con-
quest and an unfinished conquest at
that. Is the presidents war to COM
plete it? What is a conquest anyway?
The Standard dictionary defines it as
the act of conquering, subduing.
overcoming. or acquiring. whether by
physical or moral power; especially the
act OF acquiring by force, as of arms;
subjusation." The Century dictionary
gives practically the same definition
and adds: Acquisition, by military or
other force AS applied to war it
means to conquer a people and take
possession of their lands.
Now if that isn't exactly what is go-
ing on in the Philippines today what is
the object of this conflict? 1t cannot
be revenge. as blood-thirsty medieval
contemporaries have intimated, from
time to time I'VE want revenge"