The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-22
THE GATEWAY TO ASIA
CLARK Howell Upon the Philip
pine Problem.
THE MISSION OF AMERICA
Education Must Follow tho Subsection
OF the Insurgents - Then a Gov
eminent Under United States
Protection.


friends from that city, arrived here last
evening, as the guest Of the Independ-
ent club, to-day visited the site of the
exhibition and inspected the service
building, which has just been complet-
ed, and inspected the other work in
progress
Tonight Mr.. Howell was the guest
Of honor at the monthly dinner of the
Independent club, and delivered an ad-
dress on THE Man With His Hat in
His Hand" He said, in part:
There is the East; there is India
so spoke Thomas II. Benton in con-
GLIDING one of the most memorable and
prophetic addresses ever delivered in
the United States senate, time, just
half century ago, when realization
of the magnificent opportunities of the
great West had first dawned upon the
nation, riveting the attention of the
whole country upon its possibilities and
illuminating the sphere of it's CONNER
cial hope with suggestions of re-
sources SURPRISING the wealth of Col
conda, and of riches beyond the dream
of avarice.
Like the meteor which lights the
heavens for a moment and then fades
into obscurity. the words of the great
commoner flashed upon the public
mind as an Inspiration; the building of
the transcontinental line which would
connect the Atlantic with the Pacific
was accepted as an assured undertake
Ing by the government, and what Ben
ton described as the elimination of the
grand design of Columbus to put
Europe and Asia into communication
through the heart of our country was
regarded as certain development in
the scheme of the westward extension
of our commercial domain.
But stagnation and uncertainty sue
ceeded the fervor of impulse; greater
issues, involving the life of the repub-
lie itself, diverted the public mind;
tnaction oppressed and irresolution
preyed upon the national commerce,
and the most important and promis-
ing project in which our country had
then engaged for the extension of it's
commercial facilities was delayed for
more opportune consideration. Nor
was it until the scourge of war had
bathed the union in the blood of broth
ers that government sanction of the
undertaking was born of the demand
for better transportation facilities for
moving troops between the West and
East.
In those days the pathway of COM
mercial development was not freer
from the obstacles of opposition and
attack than it is to-day, Since the
organization of the IS original states
each generation has produced some
misguided citizens who, blind to the
benefits offered by extension of ma
tional domain, have sought in vain to
thWart the march of commercial prog
ress and check the current Of ma
TONS destiny. Even prior to the birth
OF our republic, the great Frederick
characterized as absurd the idea Of
maintaining an independent form of
government covering so vast domain
as that embraced between Maine and
Georgia Every extension of our Dor
der line was met by similar argument,
and when the Oregon country was un-
der discussion in the forties, q senator,
with becoming seriousness, declared
that no such remote land could ever
be incorporated and held as an inte-
grail part of the United States; that it
would require 10 months out of every
IL for its representatives in congress
to go to and from the national capital,
and that the contemplated annexation
would prove a topheavy construction,
which would weaken and crush the
tender foundation of the national fab
Tic.
nodded from new territory, and the
republic, built on the hearts of the peo-
pie, strengthened in proportion to its
growth When the last link was riV-
eted in the chain of states binding the
Atlantic and the Pacific, the once
struggling republic, fresh in the vigor
of its youth, and brave in the strength
of all its members, stood before the
nations of the earth model govern
ment founded on the rights of all its
people, secure in the bond of their 10y
atty, and permanent in the promise of
their posterity.
1.-THE transcontinental lines were con-
structed San Francisco was placed
within five days touch of the national
capital; the Western states blossomed
among the fairest flowers of our ma
tional garden, and though the ideal
picture which Benton painted of the
r-+o TTrJI TNN+a
bodying the triumph of our country's
progress is as yet unrealized, the lapse
of so years but emphasizes his sugges-
ton. The time has come when his
burning thought can find expression
with still more fitting apnlica ton, in
a single change of its inscription:
"'There is the East: there are the
Philippines, the gateway to Asia.
1--WE have the Philippines, and the
real cues ion-the living ouestion-is
what are we going to do with them?
To reach correct solution Of this mo-
mentous problem we must approach
It's discussion not solely with the view
of ascertaining what is best for us to
do from a selfish standpoint; but also
with tie broader and more cOmpre-
hensive recognition Of our duty to our
selves, to the Filipinos and Of the OBJ
legation imposed upon us by providence
to the rest of the civilized world.
ut seems to me there is one PROPOSE
ton, however which should commend
Itself to the judgment of every one
who applies the proper standard to his
country's duty. and who cannot look
with indifference upon assault upon its
flag from whomsoever 1t may come,
and whatever may be the conditions
prompting such attack. Those who re-
gard the islands as an undesirable and
a burdensome asset should be accorded
fun sincerity of motive and honesty
of purpose in the expression of their
opinion; but in the present state Of
affairs they should join none the less
heartily in the patriotic effort of those
who hold contrary view to sustain
the government in its declared policy
of removing the firebrand from the
hand of the revolutionist before treat
ing with him concerning his future
state.
"Our mission, after putting down the