The evening times., 1899-03-04
Modern ImperiaIism

pldceu III Sucu SITUATION Dy tne Seuale
minority.
Modern Imperialism.
In the interviews of Cecil Rhodes, Ian
Maclaren." and others, we have a clear
view of the Briton's idea of our acquisition
of the Philippines. 1t is worth attention on
many accounts. To them. the class of
Americans who seem proud TO call them
selves anti-imperialists and who use the
term imperialism as 4 reproach, are the
embodiment of selfishness and cowardice;
men out of sympathy with the spirit of
Christendom and the dominant moral pur-
pose of civilization-the extension of the
fruits of modern thought and labor to peo-
pies who are under the dark shadow of
primitive Sayagery. There is not a normal
Englshman who loves his country whose
heart does not beat more proudly when he
considers what his people have done to
give TO barbarians the benefit of the laws,
morals and political system wrought by
centuries of conscientious struggle in Great
Britain. The rescue OF benighted races
from the worst evils of the rule of selfish
monarchs, the Englishman regards as the
chief glory of his country. That the twen-
ty-seven millions of English should have
circled the globe with the benefcent rule
of civilization is no small claim to honor
Few Intelligent Britons doubt that their
people have been moved by a noble inspi-
ration. by the sense of grand mission to
humanity. Blunders they have made-nO
people could know il better than the de-
scendants of the American colonists; but
under the lessons Of experience they have
been a blessing to every dark land over
which their power has reached. From the
little isle has extended an influence that
affects nearly three hundred millions OF
people who have the benefit of England
laws and her commercial greatness. She
has spread her language until il is the dai-
ly speech of hundred and twenty millions
and is understood by fifty millions more
Ii Will be the universal tongue.
1t is easy 10 say that England is selfish
in her imperial policy, yet it cannot be de-
MED that there is not a land in which she
rules but is vastly the better for it. How
ever deplorable many of the conditions oi
such lands may still be- she has abolished
the most barbarous practices that shocked
civilized man. There are still famines and
plaques in India, but no one doubts thai
! they are less frequent and destructive than
/ before. Egypt has been saved from posi-
/ tive destruction and transformed into g
( tolerable country by England. There have
been uprisings and rebellions in most lands
where the English flag flies, and she has
been forced TO deal harshly with rebels
but it has been for the good of the whole
The greatest men of the age, English
statesmen. men of science, philanthropsts
fnanciers. soldiers. and others, have given
their best talents. and, like Gordon, their
lives. TO the enlightenment and government
OF ignorant races of men, and they have
gloried in the unselfshness of their labor
So every loyal Briton is proud OF the fact
that his nation has not been content tC
stay at home and prosper. Indifferent to the
hideous spectacle of great countries given
over to the despotic rule of monarchs tC
whom human life is less than a dogs life
and with no sense of responsibility for the
well-being OF their enslaved peoples.
Naturally. the Englishman cannot BE-
lieye that in seeking merely our own hap
piness and holding aloof from all mission.
airy work we are anything but supreme!y
selfish and without the guiding principles
OF Christianity which makes of every ad-
! vanced man his brothers keeper. He /:
shocked by the spectacle of this rich na,
/ ton of more than seventy millions cling
/ ing to the selfsaving policy that was es.
! sential to the existence of the few mil
lions of Washington's bodybuilding
wall about its great continent agans
commerce and against the expectation Of
fepublicanism. Mankind may copy our in
stituti0ns if they choose, but we do no
incur the cost and labor of becoming in
structors. So the Englishman regards the
Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World
as having been created in irony. England
believes in herself-in her political princi.
pies, her system of morals, her CONNER
ciaI methods-and will never be conten
until they are recognized and adopted by
all mankind. She wants America for al
! ally because our ideas of human liberty
and justice are like her own and she car
see the tremendous advantage of such ar
associate missionary.
To the Briton it appears that the Phil.
! ippines were forced on us by Providence
| that had become impatient of our selfish.
| ness and cowardice, our apparent distrust
OF our own institutions and people, and
our own ability 10 resist the temptations
TO corruption that lie in a colonial polio,
and which England has overcome with
honor. He believes that we have no righ
| TO shrink from the responsibility of thi:
small missionary field, and he is sure NJ
| domestic evils can result from a full
| acceptance of the duty imposed on us
/ He believes, too, that this is but the be.
| ginning of our greatness, and that in al
| enlightened, benefcent imperialism WI
shall find the destiny for which we hav,
had a century Of growth and preparation
England has not lost or suffered at home
| by hor policy. She has found a field fol
her young men in whatever department
of enterprise, and has developed men like
the late Lord Herschell, who are an honor
! TO mankind.
| Spanish Testimony.
In some cases the testimony of an enc
my is the best which can possibly be had